When comparing mosquito repellents, Emily Mader, program manager of the Department of Entomology at the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEVBD), recommends that you limit your search to repellents registered with the EPA for safety and efficacy in repelling mosquitoes. “Repellents are technically pesticides and thus regulated by the EPA; the label on the product gives instructions on how to safely use them.” Some of the other factors to consider include how long you plan to be outdoors and how frequently you will need to reapply the repellent for it to maintain its protective barrier.

When testing mosquito repellents with DEET, we were impressed by the ease of use and long-lasting protection from OFF! Active Insect Repellent I. We used it for outings that lasted from 1 to 4 hours and didn’t wind up with a single bug bite. The formula contains 15 percent DEET, an EPA-registered active ingredient that interferes with a mosquito’s ability to locate humans through the sense of smell. Regarding DEET’s safety and effectiveness, Mader says, “[Deet] is the gold standard in terms of effectiveness against mosquitoes (and many other pests) and has the longest use history for evaluating negative effects and safety concerns.” When considering mosquito repellents for yards, there are two types to give attention to: spatial and topical repellents. Spatial repellents create a zone of protection, while topical repellents are applied to your skin or clothes and provide personal protection against biting insects.Marigolds are a pretty flower with aromas, much hated by insects and flies and even animals like deer. Plant marigolds in your garden for some added decoration, and you will get more than just a beautiful flower – you will now have a functional and purposeful plant in your garden to keep the flies at bay. Bay Leaves If you’re having a fly problem, it would be best to try a natural method like citronella before any other route. Citronella oil is naturally occurring on the perennial plant, citronella grass. The oil on the plant is the essential ingredient used to repel flies and other insects. To enjoy your time outdoors more, it may be worth considering mosquito repellent for your yard. You can use spatial repellents, treatments for your lawn or landscaping, or a topical repellent that you apply before heading outside. Warding off mosquitoes means less bothersome bites and also reduces the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus, Zika, or dengue.

I know this is kind of a gross one, but when you keep your trash actually looking like trash, it will bring flies directly to it. Remember, they love trash. Keeping trash cans closed, using a trash bag rather than throwing garbage directly into the bin, and keeping your filled trash cans in a low-moisture area, will help keep flies and other unwanted pests away. There are a variety of ways that you can introduce citronella into the spaces that need some extra protection from flies and other insects, but first, let’s talk about the types of citronella. Types of Citronella Plants If you need to keep flies out of your trash, you can read our guide on keeping flies out of your garbage here. Keep Windows, Doors and Vents Closed A citronella plant also has its own benefits. It is an easy-growing plant and provides beautiful greenery. It has an amazing aroma for humans, and also will only repel the insects we don’t want around! Any beneficial bugs like bumblebees or pleasant bugs like butterflies will not be affected. How to Use Citronella to Keep Flies Away IndoorsTruly natural incense is an alternative – although natural still doesn’t mean entirely safe! In most cases, it means understudied! The dissolving nature of the product does mean that you’ll need to keep up with reapplication over the span of mosquito season. But considering that Mosquito Dunks are very affordable and require minimal hands-on time for application, it’s an easy and effective way to reduce mosquito breeding grounds in your yard and landscaping.

If flies are a constant problem, planting citronella plants alongside fly-prone spaces is an amazing place to start. However, before planting these grasses, make sure to crunch or rub the leaves of the plant to activate the oils. If you plant the plant as is, you may not grasp all the benefits of the oils – so agitating the greenery a bit is an important step. Flies are attracted to the stinkiest of smells. Seriously, they don’t particularly love any smells that smell good. I am sorry in advance for even saying this – Think garbage. Think rot. Think dampness. Think food waste. Makes you want to hold your nose, doesn’t it? Of course, the real test of an organic mosquito repellent for use in your yard is how well it actually keeps bugs away during your outdoor parties or other activities. Badger Bug Spray carries high marks for effectiveness against mosquitoes; it’s been independently tested and proven effective against mosquitoes for at least 3 hours before reapplication is needed. Overall, it makes a great choice for anyone who wants an organic formula for warding off insects while enjoying time outdoors. The World Health Organization did a revealing scientific reviewon smoke as an insect repellent, focusing on indoor smoke. The results have been largely inconclusive, with no proof that the smoke reduces the number of mosquito bites. Researchers found that burning incense produces these compounds in amounts beyond those considered safe, deeming them harmful. Liquid incense showed to be slightly more polluting than disc incense.Flies just love all the worst smells out there, but honestly, it all comes down to their food source and the type of flies that they are! What Do Flies Eat? The studies used dried powdered plant material such as pyrethrum flower heads, camphor, Acorus, benzoin, and neem leaves, mixed with the additives like joss and charcoal powder, and repelling essential oils like lemongrass essential oil. Now we know of the best ways to use aroma to keep those nasty flies away – there are some other things you can also try that will help! Keep Your Garbage Tidy In oil form, citronella can be easily added to your lotions or carrier oils to effectively repel insects and flies, and can also be easily used in candles and rub-on products. Read More – Does Smoke Keep Mosquitoes Away? What About Essential Oils? Or Fire? The Science on Incense Insect Repellents