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Keep the Bugs Away With the Best Eco-Friendly Mosquito Spray

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The Best Eco-Friendly Mosquito Repellents for the Entire Family

Warmer weather means barbecues, picnics, afternoons at the park, and plenty of other fun outdoor activities. Unfortunately, it can also mean itchy bug bites from pesky mosquitoes. However, rather than turn to chemical sprays that can harm your health and the environment, consider the best eco-friendly mosquito spray.

These natural insect repellents use plant-based ingredients to effectively keep biting bugs away. Best of all, you can find options to treat your yard or spray on your body, so you can stay protected at all times.

Learn more about the best natural bug repellents to protect the whole family and some other helpful and natural tips to keep mosquitoes out of your yard so you can enjoy plenty of outdoor fun without worrying about disease-carrying insects.

The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Mosquito Spray

Mosquito sucking blood on human skin with nature background

Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying insects because they can leave behind itchy bites. They also spread dangerous diseases, including malaria, dengue, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and Chikungunya virus.

Unfortunately, there have also been numerous studies showing the damaging effects of insect repellent chemicals, such as DEET, permethrin, pyrethroids, and cyfluthrin. Many of these chemicals can cause health issues that include seizures, asthma, headaches, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and neurotoxicity.

You certainly don’t want to expose yourself to itchy bites and potential diseases, but you also don’t want to risk health complications from the synthetic chemicals in conventional mosquito sprays. So what should you do?

You should make the switch to the best eco-friendly mosquito spray!

Natural insect repellents keep the bugs away without harming your health or the environment. They use natural ingredients that you can recognize and pronounce, such as citronella, rosemary, and peppermint.

Even though these mosquito repellents are a natural product, they’re incredibly effective at keeping the biting bugs away. Take a look at the top options on this list so you can choose the ones to best protect yourself and your family.

1. Kinfield

Kinfield Golden Hour Bug Spray

Kinfield Golden Hour insect repellent is a natural mosquito spray that’s amazingly effective. Its formula contains a unique strain of Indonesian citronella that’s more effective than anything else on the market right now.

And this isn’t just the company making these claims. The insect repellent has been put through independent testing to prove it!

In addition to citronella, some of the other natural ingredients include lemongrass, clove bud, and lauric acid. Plus, instead of smelling like gross chemicals, it has a slightly citrusy vanilla scent that smells incredible.

Related: Keep Unwanted Insects Out of Your House With the Best Eco-Friendly Bug Sprays

Since this is a DEET-free bug spray, it’s safe to use on pregnant women and children 6 months and older when applied by an adult. For most people, it provides 3 or more hours of protection time. For best results, you should reapply every 2 hours.

If you need something convenient for traveling, you’ll love these Golden Hour Wipes. They’re made with the same effective mosquito repellent, but they come in wipes that you can easily slip into your backpack, purse, or pocket.

Kinfield is a proud member of 1% for the Planet and donates 1% of annual sales to environmental causes.

2. Sunday

Sunday Mosquito Deleto

If you want to protect your home and family without using harsh chemicals and synthetic pesticides, get the Mosquito Deleto Bug Control Spray and Repellent from Sunday. This plant-based yard control formula uses concentrated lemongrass oil and cedar oil to kill mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks.

These ingredients are biodegradable and safe for people, pets, and the planet when used as directed.

Related: The Best Eco-Friendly Ice Melt for Safe Sidewalks (They’re Pet-Friendly Too!)

Even better, not only does this yard spray eliminate these bugs on contact, but it also repels newcomers, so you can enjoy plenty of backyard barbecues and time on the patio without worrying about biting insects.

One bottle covers around 5,000 square feet and provides protection for up to 4 weeks. It’s also incredibly easy to use. Simply attach the bottle to a garden hose and spray in the targeted zone you want to protect. It should only take you about 10 minutes to apply.

3. Badger

Badger Natural Anti-Bug Spray

This Badger Anti-Bug Spray has an all-natural, DEET-free formula that your skin will love, but bugs will hate. It doesn’t contain any nasty ingredients like phthalates, parabens, BPA, harmful chemicals, synthetic fragrances, or GMOs.

Instead, the spray uses non-toxic essential oils like citronella oil, rosemary oil, and wintergreen oil. It pairs these oils with organic soybean oil and castor oil to help soothe itchy skin while naturally warding off mosquitoes.

Related: How to Make a DIY After-Sun Spray With Essential Oils That Ease Sunburn Pain

The organic bug spray is Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free and made in the United States by a family-owned and operated B Corporation in New Hampshire. To help you and your family enjoy a more sustainable summer, the mosquito repellent comes packaged in a recyclable aluminum bottle with a plastic pump.

You can find Badger products at EarthHero, which is one of the best zero waste online shops for all of your eco-friendly essentials. If you decide to order from EarthHero, be sure to use the code EARTHFRIENDLY to enjoy 10% off your order!

4. Murphy’s

Murphy’s proves that you don’t need to rely on DEET for worry-free mosquito protection. This natural bug repellent spray uses the power of plant-based ingredients like oil of lemon eucalyptus to protect against mosquitoes for up to 6 hours.

Plus, in addition to repelling mosquitoes, Murphy’s also protects against deer ticks for up to 4 hours and lone star and brown dog ticks for up to 8 hours.

Related: The Best Organic Weed Killer for More Natural Lawn Care

This insect repellent doesn’t contain any dyes, synthetic fragrances, or harsh chemicals. Unlike DEET, you can safely spray this mosquito repellent on your camping gear, fishing line, and other favorite outdoor equipment without worrying about it degrading any materials.

In addition to being a B Corporation, Murphy’s is also a member of 1% for the Planet.

5. Eco Defense

If you’re looking for another excellent yard spray to help keep mosquitoes away, check out this Eco Defense yard spray. Unlike other pest control sprays that use toxic chemicals, this spray contains plant-based and naturally-derived oils, such as cinnamon, cedarwood, clove, and peppermint.

Plus, in addition to repelling mosquitoes, it’s also good at getting rid of ticks and fleas. It also destroys larvae and eggs as well as adult bugs.

The ready-to-spray formula is easy to use. Simply attach it to your garden hose and spray it around your yard. One bottle can cover 5,000 square feet.

Related: The Hassle-Free Way to Throw a Zero Waste Cookout at Your Home

Since it’s made with a non-toxic formula, it’s safe to use around pets and kids. You only have to wait about 15-20 minutes to let the product air-dry before you can use your yard again.

After the first application, you only need to reapply every 30-45 days to keep the bugs away.

6. Medella Naturals

Medella Naturals is a non-toxic bug spray that’s made without the use of DEET and other harmful ingredients. Its plant-based formula uses lemongrass essential oil to keep mosquitoes away while also giving the bug spray a fresh lemony scent with a hint of vanilla.

Related: Protect Your Skin and Your Health With the Most Effective Natural Sunscreen

It also contains other skin-nourishing ingredients like castor oil, vitamin E, glycerin, and purified water. The non-irritating and non-greasy formula goes on smoothly and leaves no sticky or irritating residue on your skin.

In addition to repelling mosquitoes, Medella Naturals can also keep away black flies, gnats, and no-see-ums. Plus, it’s safe for pets and kids.

7. Mindful Mixtures

Mindful Mixtures Natural Mosquito Repellent

If you want to protect yourself from annoying mosquitos without harsh chemicals, you’ll love using this natural mosquito repellent from Mindful Mixtures. The all-natural bug repellent provides a long-lasting barrier on your skin that safely repels bugs, while also nourishing your skin.

It contains a powerful combination of citronella, lemon eucalyptus oil, cedarwood, basil, and eucalyptus lemongrass to keep bugs away and leave behind a gentle scent. This formula doesn’t contain any synthetic ingredients and is safe for the entire family.

It’s also free from parabens, dyes, alcohol, harsh chemicals, heavy metals, mineral oils, and laurel and laureth sulfates. It’s made in the USA and comes packaged in a glass bottle so you can reduce your plastic use as much as possible.

To use the spray, shake well and spritz it onto your exposed skin. You should reapply after several hours or immediately after excessive sweating or swimming.

In addition to being a family-owned business, Mindful Mixtures is also a member of 1% for the Planet.

8. Repel

No matter what type of outdoor adventure you have planned, Repel Plant-Based Insect Repellent can keep you protected. This DEET-free insect repellent uses oil of lemon eucalyptus to keep away mosquitoes for up to 6 hours.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus is an excellent DEET-free alternative to create a mosquito barrier that’s recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s safe to use on children 3 years and older.

The repellent leaves you with a cool, refreshing scent and won’t leave your skin feeling sticky or greasy. You can apply it to your skin and clothing. For best results, spray it on your skin and spread it around evenly with your hands.

9. Quantum Health

Quantum Health Buzz Away Extreme Insect Repellent uses a powerful, proprietary blend of citronella, geranium oil, lemongrass, cedarwood, and peppermint oil to help repel insects and provide a terrific scent.

The innovative botanical formula is DEET-free. Since it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, artificial preservatives, or toxins, it’s recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and is safe for kids.

Related: Must-Have Eco-Friendly and Plastic-Free Baby Products

You can apply it to your skin, but for added protection, you should apply it to clothing as well. For best results, reapply every 3.5 hours or more often as needed. For protection against ticks, reapply every 2 hours.

In addition to the spray, you can also get Buzz Away Extreme in a convenient pop-up dispenser with 25 towelettes.

10. Natrapel

This Natrapel Plant-Based Insect Repellent uses oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is the only CDC-recommended naturally derived active ingredient to repel mosquitoes. It offers effective protection for the whole family for up to 6 hours.

The insect repellent comes in a convenient 3.4-ounce pump spray bottle that makes it easy to take with you everywhere you go.

In addition to spraying it on your skin, you can use it on all types of outdoor gear since it won’t damage clothing, toys, water bottles, backpacks, and more.

Along with the mosquito repellent, Natrapel also offers this DEET-free insect repellent that uses an essential oil blend that’s safe for dogs, cats, and the whole family. It kills fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes on contact.

Additionally, they have a plant-based tick spray that repels ticks that may carry Lyme disease and other diseases for up to 4 hours.

Other Natural Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away

These eco-friendly insect repellents do a fantastic job of keeping those annoying mosquitoes away. However, they’re not the only way you can make your yard less welcoming to those pesky bugs. Here are some other effective tips you can use to get rid of mosquitoes.

Plant Natural Deterrents

There are a lot of scents that are perfectly pleasant to humans, but animals can’t stand. For example, you can naturally keep ants out of your house with peppermint and naturally repel spiders with citrus.

Mosquitoes are no exception. There are a variety of plants and flowers that naturally repel mosquitoes. Best of all, not only do these plants emit a scent that mosquitoes can’t stand, but they also look lovely in your yard.

Install Bat Houses

Bats get a bad rap for being spooky, but these nocturnal flying mammals are natural predators of mosquitoes and other pests that might be bothering your garden, including beetles, hornworms, grasshoppers, stinkbugs, and moths.

If you want to attract insect-eating bats to your yard, they need a safe place to roost and raise their young. In the wild, bats tend to live in caves or dead trees.

Since you likely don’t have these in your yard, bat houses are a simple alternative. Mount the houses around 12 to 20 feet off the ground with about 10 to 14 feet of clear space around the house so nothing obstructs the bats’ flight in and out.

Keep Grass Trimmed

Mosquitoes like to rest in areas that are cool, damp, and dark, such as tall grasses. To make your yard less hospitable to mosquitoes, keep your grass trimmed back.

Related: The Best Grass Alternatives for People Who Tired of Wasting Time on Yard Work

Of course, if you’re tired of wasting all of your time maintaining your yard, you should check out these non-toxic lawn care tips and discover how an eco-friendly yard actually means less work for you!

Eliminate Standing Water

Female mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs. Check your yard for stagnant bodies of water and empty out as many as you can. Common places where water collects include buckets, gutters, pet bowls, and trays under potted plants.

For standing water that you can’t empty out, you can use these mosquito dunks. This product contains bacillus thuringiensis (BTI), which is a bacteria that’s only toxic to mosquito larvae.

Since it’s non-toxic to all other wildlife, including pets, fish, and humans, you can use them in birdbaths, rain barrels, fish ponds, and more. I use these in my rain barrels, and they work perfectly to eliminate mosquito larvae.

Consider a Bug Zapper

Electric bug zappers are an effective way to keep mosquitoes away when you’re enjoying time outside. This bug zapper uses a blue-violet light to attract flying insects and a high-voltage electric grid to zap them on contact.

It’s lightweight, so you can hang it anywhere you like. Plus, it starts working as soon as you plug it in.

The Best Natural Bug Spray to Keep Mosquitoes Away

You don’t want to have to deal with itchy insect bites every time you step outside. Of course, you also don’t want to worry about the environmental and health concerns associated with chemical and synthetic bug sprays.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be concerned with either when you use the best eco-friendly mosquito spray.

Whether you choose a mosquito spray for your body or yard, you know you’re getting a product that uses natural ingredients that are safer for you and the planet. However, they’re just as effective as commercial bug sprays that contain harsh chemicals.

Make the switch today and enjoy plenty of outdoor fun without worrying about pesky mosquitoes!

More Helpful Eco-Friendly Living Tips

Did you enjoy learning more about the best eco-friendly mosquito spray? Are you interested in discovering additional tips that can help you live a more sustainable life? Then please be sure to take a look at some of our other popular posts:

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