The best mosquito repellents
Cream or lotion, fumigator or aerosol? What commercial mosquito repellents are the most effective and safe – find out in the WDay.ru review.
There are two types of mosquito repellents: fumigants (from the Latin fumigo – fumigate, smoke) – liquid, solid and gaseous chemicals that kill insects, and repellents (from the Latin repello – repel, drive away), which simply scare away bloodsuckers.
Mosquito repellent
Spirals
Smoking spirals are classified as fumigants. They kill insects on the spot (and not only mosquitoes, but also flies, horseflies, wasps) and are especially suitable for outdoor use – on a veranda or on a picnic. The compressed coil consists of an insecticide that is simply ignited and begins to smoke. And this smoke is terribly disliked by mosquitoes. True, you will not like it if you leave the smoking spiral in the house with the windows closed. For indoor use it is better to use electric fumigators.
The action of the coil begins 10-15 minutes after ignition. Complete combustion time is 6–7 hours.
Attention!
According to research results, 12% of Russian citizens are intolerant of insecticides. Flying insect repellents cause allergic reactions in these people, no matter what substance is used.
The principle of operation of electrofumigators is simple – you plug the device into an outlet, and a cardboard plate impregnated with an insecticide begins to heat up in it (most often these are substances from the group of pyrethroids – weakly toxic compounds that nevertheless have a long residual effect). So your room will be protected from mosquitoes for some time after you unplug the fumigator.
Liquid electrofumigators act in a similar way, with the only difference that the rod heats up, dipped in a can of insecticide. The insecticide begins to evaporate from the heat, and after 10-12 minutes the mosquitoes cease to be interested in you, and die overnight.
The efficiency and speed of action of the electrofumigator depends on the size of the room. A good fumigator (not a fake!) Is designed for an area of approximately 12 square meters. If the room is larger, you will have to turn on several devices.
Indoor aerosols
All spray cans are effective not only against mosquitoes, but also against all flying insects. However, such versatility is unsafe for health. Insecticides used in aerosols are toxic to humans and animals, therefore, their use requires caution. When starting to spray the room, take children, cats and dogs away, remove food, dishes and utensils, cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief or gauze bandage, put on rubber gloves. Spray the can into the air, in no case inhale the vapors of the substance. After spraying, it is recommended to close windows and doors for 10-15 minutes, after which the room can be ventilated. On average, the effect of aerosols lasts up to 8 hours, even with open windows. If necessary, the treatment can be repeated after a day.
Creams, lotions, gels, soaked wipes, pencils and aerosols are all insect repellants. It is convenient to defend with such means while walking, in the forest or in the garden.
Diethyl phthalate (DEET) is the most common repellent. Its percentage is from 15% (for children) to 30% (for being in the wind). This substance is quite toxic in itself, so it is important to make sure that the repellent does not get into the eyes, mouth, or damaged skin. In this regard, emulsions, lotions and creams are safer, since they are slowly absorbed through the skin and do not enter the respiratory tract or eyes, unlike aerosols. It is better to spray aerosols on clothes and hair, and protect open areas of the body with emulsions, gels and creams. By the way, it is not worth rubbing the repellent into the skin as a nourishing cream, you just need to lubricate it. And keep in mind that of the listed funds, the cream has a longer effect. The average effectiveness of repellents is 2-3 hours.
Creams and emulsions with a reduced content of a toxic substance (15% or less) are produced especially for children. The most modern remedies are based on pralletrin (analogues: cypermethrin, deltamethrin, tetramethrin) – a substance of the latest generation, a synthetic analogue of an extract from Dalmatian chamomile.
Candles with an anti-mosquito effect are used to repel mosquitoes and midges in living quarters. Specially selected natural essential oils released during candle burning not only scent the air (cloves, eucalyptus, chamomile), but also have a repellent effect, preventing insects from entering the room.
When using a candle, precautions should be taken: do not leave a burning candle unattended, do not light it near flammable objects, do not tilt the burning candle, do not allow children to play with it.
- How to choose scented candles
Indoor adhesive tapes that are suspended from the ceiling are not very effective, but they are cheap and have a long lifespan. They can be used if you are not confused by the aesthetic side of the issue.
Folk remedies
Natural repellents include tobacco smoke, citrus, geranium, tomato tops, valerian, wild rosemary and elderberry branches, bird cherry flowers, and basil leaves. The aroma of cloves, lavender, anise and eucalyptus also repels mosquitoes. Use any of these essential oils to protect your home from intruders.
- All folk remedies for mosquitoes
In hot weather (+ 28–30 ° C), you don’t need to douse yourself with clove oil – even mosquitoes do not bite at this temperature.