Effective Mosquitoe Repellent. Friend Of Mine Claims She Found The Most Effective Repellent Ever.

[Destrey]

For the last year and a half she read somewhere to buy Listerine - put it in a spray bottle - spray it on her skin and clothes - and she hasn't had a bite in the last year and a half.Has anyone else heard of this remedy? She claims OFF didn't work - but Listerene does. Anyone else heard of this?

[Omar]

For instance this is what Snopes www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/mosquitoes.asp says about it:   Likewise, spraying Listerine around your home or outdoor areas isn?t an all purpose mosquito preventive.  It may kill some mosquitoes on which it is directly sprayed, but it won?t serve to keep knocking mosquitoes dead for hours and hours afterward.     Urban Legends indicates that commercial mosquito repellent works better and has a sound scientific basis, which Listerine lacks.  urbanlegends.about.com/od/medical/a/listerine.htm   Here is another answer which is balanced:   Unfortunately there are no scientific studies to confirm or disprove these anecdotal claims, though laboratory tests have shown that standard chemical-based mosquito repellents are generally more effective and longer-lasting than botanical-based alternatives(and Listerine Antiseptic mouthwash would have to be counted among the latter).   The primary active ingredient in Listerine is eucalyptol, a derivative of eucalyptus oil, which in turn is commonly used in botanical repellents. According to various clinical studies it actually does repel mosquitoes. However, the eucalyptus-based compounds tested in these studies contained much higher concentrations of the essential oil than that found in Listerine Antiseptic -- 40% to 75% concentrations as opposed to Listerine?s .092% -- and were applied topically, not simply sprayed in the air or on surrounding objects. Given Listerine?s extremely low eucalyptol content, it?s doubtful the product would function very effectively as a repellent -- not for long, at any rate -- even if applied directly to the skin.   The claim that Listerine sprayed around door and window frames actually killed mosquitoes is even more dubious. Listerine consists mostly of water and alcohol, which means it would evaporate quickly whenever and wherever it is sprayed. I have no doubt that drenching mosquitoes with the stuff would kill a significant number of them, but there is little reason to suppose that spraying it on hard surfaces would have any lingering effect. wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_Listerine_work_as_a_mosquito_repellent   My guess is that the strange smell and the eucalyptus oil in the Listerine work, but not as well as commercial products.    

[Fernando]

Snopes says no...http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/mosquitoes.aspShe might be like me, that the mosquitoes just don't bite us. I hate bug spray, and it's a good thing as I never use it and the mosquitoes don't bother me, which is a GOOD thing! My husband uses the Avon Skin So Soft, though, which he feels is effective. I don't know!

[Wessley]

Didn?t work for me and since then I have heard and read several studies that show it does nothing. They say in no way does it do anything to stop mosquitoes or kill them. Just another urban myth making the rounds of the internet.   Here is just one link to the reality:  http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/mosquitoes.asp

[Jankia]

Multiple sources on the Internet disagree. For instance this is what Snopes www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/mosquitoes.asp says about it:   Likewise, spraying Listerine around your home or outdoor areas isn?t an all purpose mosquito preventive.  It may kill some mosquitoes on which it is directly sprayed, but it won?t serve to keep knocking mosquitoes dead for hours and hours afterward.     Urban Legends indicates that commercial mosquito repellent works better and has a sound scientific basis, which Listerine lacks.  urbanlegends.about.com/od/medical/a/listerine.htm   Here is another answer which is balanced:   Unfortunately there are no scientific studies to confirm or disprove these anecdotal claims, though laboratory tests have shown that standard chemical-based mosquito repellents are generally more effective and longer-lasting than botanical-based alternatives(and Listerine Antiseptic mouthwash would have to be counted among the latter).   The primary active ingredient in Listerine is eucalyptol, a derivative of eucalyptus oil, which in turn is commonly used in botanical repellents. According to various clinical studies it actually does repel mosquitoes. However, the eucalyptus-based compounds tested in these studies contained much higher concentrations of the essential oil than that found in Listerine Antiseptic -- 40% to 75% concentrations as opposed to Listerine?s .092% -- and were applied topically, not simply sprayed in the air or on surrounding objects. Given Listerine?s extremely low eucalyptol content, it?s doubtful the product would function very effectively as a repellent -- not for long, at any rate -- even if applied directly to the skin.   The claim that Listerine sprayed around door and window frames actually killed mosquitoes is even more dubious. Listerine consists mostly of water and alcohol, which means it would evaporate quickly whenever and wherever it is sprayed. I have no doubt that drenching mosquitoes with the stuff would kill a significant number of them, but there is little reason to suppose that spraying it on hard surfaces would have any lingering effect. wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_Listerine_work_as_a_mosquito_repellent   My guess is that the strange smell and the eucalyptus oil in the Listerine work, but not as well as commercial products.     Sources: above   Snow_Leopard's Recommendations Mosquito: The Story of Man's Deadliest Foe Amazon List Price: $17.95 Used from: $1.00 Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5(based on 8 reviews) Snow_Leopard 53 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[halsey43]

Also, if you eat a lot of garlic it seems to repel them, and any humans too! :) lol

[jabarl]

HELENofTROY said: 3 We've found that Bounce Fabric Softener sheets work well. We go dog walking every evening and a Bounce sheet in your pocket keeps both mosquitos and yellow(biting) flies away...and we sure smell good