Mosquitoes are kept away best by a mix of proven repellents, smart clothing, and reducing standing water where they breed.

Quick Scoop

1. Things you can put on yourself

  • Use an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin: products with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) are among the most effective and widely recommended.
  • Reapply as directed on the label, especially if you sweat or swim.
  • For a more “natural” lean, look for repellents that clearly list OLE/PMD or soybean oil as the active ingredient; they work better and longer than most DIY essential-oil mixes.

2. Clothes and gear that help

  • Wear long sleeves and long pants that are loose-fitting , so mosquitoes have a harder time biting through the fabric.
  • Choose light-colored clothing; darker colors tend to attract more mosquitoes by holding heat and standing out visually. (This is an observational tip often echoed in outdoor and health guidance.)
  • Treat clothing, shoes, and camping gear with 0.5% permethrin (or buy pre-treated items); it repels and can kill mosquitoes on contact, but it should never be used directly on skin.

3. How to keep them out of your home

  • Install or repair window and door screens so mosquitoes can’t slip inside.
  • Keep doors closed instead of propped open, and use air conditioning when you can; cool, filtered indoor air is less mosquito-friendly than warm, humid, open rooms.
  • If you still have mosquitoes indoors, targeted indoor insect sprays or professional pest control can knock down lingering populations.

4. Remove what attracts and breeds them

  • Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs, so the most powerful long-term strategy is removing that water.
  • Once a week, empty and scrub or cover things that hold water: buckets, plant saucers, old tires, toys, kiddie pools, birdbaths, and trash containers.
  • Outside, trim very tall, dense grass and vegetation near where you sit; it removes some of the shady, wind-free hiding spots mosquitoes love.

5. Simple tricks when you’re outside

  • Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn if possible; that’s when many mosquito species are most active.
  • Use a fan on porches or patios; even a basic box fan makes it harder for mosquitoes to fly and also disperses the carbon dioxide and body heat they use to find you.
  • Sit in screened-in areas when you can—screened porches, tents with mesh sides, or gazebos all cut down the number of mosquitoes reaching you.

6. Popular myths vs what actually works

  • Common “internet hacks” like putting coins in cups, using random phone apps, or relying only on certain plants around your deck usually don’t have strong science behind them.
  • Some plants (like citronella, lemongrass, or catnip) may help a little when their oils are actually released and concentrated in products, but simply planting them by the patio rarely keeps mosquitoes away by itself.

7. Tiny backyard game plan (example)

Imagine a summer evening barbecue:

  1. Everyone wears light, long sleeves or pants and applies a DEET or picaridin repellent.
  2. There’s a box fan blowing across the seating area, and the patio door is kept shut with a good screen.
  3. Earlier that week, you cleared standing water from buckets, toys, and plant saucers and kept grass trimmed around the patio.

With those three layers—repellent, barriers, and no standing water—you dramatically cut how many mosquitoes show up and how often they bite.

TL;DR: What keeps mosquitoes away most reliably is a combination of EPA- registered repellents on skin, treated or covering clothing, tight home barriers (screens/AC), and weekly removal of all standing water where they can breed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.