Q. Can you use amber Listerine as a mosquito spray? I don’t like the usual repellents.
A. As far as we can tell, DEET remains one of the most effective mosquito repellents, but many readers prefer to avoid this chemical.
They have tried many alternatives, including eating garlic or taking vitamin B1. Some use applications of catnip oil, basil oil or oil of lemon eucalyptus (Off! Botanicals, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, Fite Bite).
Listerine may be another option. One reader reported: “A couple of years ago, I read in The People’s Pharmacy about Listerine (original amber) as a mosquito repellant. I mix it half and half with water in a spray bottle.
“Spray your arms, legs, around your body or under a picnic table where they collect. You can use the house brand to cut expenses.”
No one approach works for everyone. Some people are especially attractive to mosquitoes, so you may need to experiment. If the problem is limited to a few mosquitos that have gained entry to the house, spraying them with isopropyl alcohol seems to kill them.
