Does Alcohol Repel Mosquitoes?

Everyone, at one point or another, has probably tried a home remedy of some sort to get rid of mosquitoes.

Today, we’re looking at a common household item you can usually find in a bathroom cabinet: rubbing alcohol.

Does rubbing alcohol repel mosquitoes? What about drinking alcoholic beverages? We did the research for you.

Does Rubbing Alcohol Repel Mosquitoes?

Everyday rubbing alcohol could be a great way to repel mosquitoes with household items.

This study from Ohio State University found that rubbing alcohol is effective at killing and repelling bed bugs, so its likelihood of reacting in a similar way to mosquitoes is high.

Rubbing alcohol with 70% and 91% concentration was most effective at killing bed bug eggs and adult bed bugs.

The problem with this, though, is that rubbing alcohol evaporates very quickly, so frequent reapplication would be necessary. The higher the concentration of alcohol, the quicker it will evaporate. A mixture of alcohol diluted with water could be more beneficial, as it wouldn’t evaporate as quickly and could stay around long enough to repel mosquitoes.

Does Drinking Alcohol Repel Mosquitoes?

Drinking alcoholic beverages does not repel mosquitoes. In fact, one study concluded that it might even do the opposite.

For this study, mosquitoes were weighed before being exposed to participants. After a set amount of time, the participants were taken away and the mosquitoes were weighed again to get a base measurement.

Next, the participants were given one alcoholic beverage and the experiment was repeated. When the weight of the mosquitoes was recorded after they were exposed to the participants after drinking the alcoholic beverage, it was found that the percentage increase in weight was greater than it was for the base measurement.

The conclusion is that the mosquitoes bit participants who drank the beverage more frequently. This is due to increased ethanol excretion through the pores.

How to Use Rubbing Alcohol to Repel Mosquitoes

The most effective way to manage mosquitoes with alcohol is to spray them with it, causing them to dry out and die.

While we don’t recommend using large concentrations of alcohol indoors, carrying a spray bottle with alcohol in it to the patio or front porch wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Repel Mosquitoes Without Harmful Chemicals

If you’re looking to repel mosquitoes as safely as possible, opt for a mosquito repellent, like Mosquito Magician! Made from natural active ingredients including garlic, lemongrass, and geraniol, it’s proven to be effective and is safe for your family, children, and pets when used as directed!