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The Daily Insight

What indoor plants repel mosquitoes

Author

Sarah Rodriguez

Published Feb 25, 2026

Lemon Balm. Famed as the Balm Mint, Lemon Balm is a herb that has a very strong smell that mosquitoes at bay. … Catnip. Catnip is known as Nepeta cataria and is widely used in herbal teas. … Lemon Grass. Lemon Grass is called the Silky Heads. … Mint. Mint is a famous plant that has a myriad of uses. … Rosemary. … Lavender. … Basil.

Is there an indoor plant that repels mosquitoes?

Here are some of the most common pests that house plants can be used to help deter: Mosquitoes: A variety of plants and herbs keep these pesky flying insects away, including citronella plants, lemongrass, basil, mint, sage, rosemary, marigolds, lavender, and catnip.

Is lavender a mosquito repellent?

Lavender An animal study on hairless mice found lavender oil to be effective at repelling adult mosquitoes. Lavender has analgesic, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities. This means that in addition to preventing mosquito bites, it can calm and soothe the skin.

What plants deter mosquitoes?

  1. Rosemary. One of the best plants that keep mosquitoes away is rosemary plants. …
  2. Lemon Balm. An incredible pick for a mosquito plant is lemon balm. …
  3. Marigolds. This blossom needs no introduction. …
  4. Basil. …
  5. Lemon Grass. …
  6. Allium Sativum (Garlic) …
  7. Citronella Grass. …
  8. Catnip.

What plant keeps roaches away?

Catnip. The first, and probably the most famous, roach-repelling plant is catnip. Loved by our feline friends but feared by a lot of bugs including roaches, ants, weevils, aphids and flea beetles, this plant is the usual go-to for homeowners who want to use natural ways to ward off pests.

How do I keep mosquitoes away from my house?

  1. Stop mosquitoes from entering your home. …
  2. Stop mosquitoes from breeding inside the house. …
  3. Keep mosquito repellent plants. …
  4. Keep sliced lemon and cloves around the house. …
  5. Use a garlic spray to control mosquitoes. …
  6. Keep a dish of soapy water. …
  7. Keep a dish of beer or alcohol.

What smells do mosquitoes hate?

  • Citronella.
  • Clove.
  • Cedarwood.
  • Lavender.
  • Eucalyptus.
  • Peppermint.
  • Rosemary.
  • Lemongrass.

Do marigolds really repel mosquitoes?

These flowers are colorful additions to landscaping, but they have a distinctive smell that repels mosquitoes and other garden pests, including squash bugs and tomato worms. Marigolds contain a natural compound used in many insect repellents.

Do lemongrass plants repel mosquitoes?

Lemon Grass An Herb that grows up to four feet tall and three feet wide and contains citronella, a natural oil that mosquitoes cannot stand. Lemongrass is also often used to cook for flavor. Any plant carrying the citronella oil is sure to ward of the bite of a mosquito.

Is Rosemary a mosquito repellent?

Garden Design adds, “Rosemary is an herb that many of us are very familiar with and their woody scent is exactly what keeps mosquitoes as well as cabbage moths and carrot flies away.” Lastly, rosemary and thyme are easy-to-grow container herbs. Plus, you can use these when you’re cooking at home.

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Do dryer sheets keep mosquitoes away?

What insects are repelled by dryer sheets? Dryer sheets may not do much to keep mosquitoes away, but they could potentially be used to deter other nuisance bugs. … A dryer sheet bug repellent may be an effective way to keep certain pests out of your kitchen cupboards, but they’re unlikely to ward off mosquitoes.

Do coffee grounds deter roaches?

On one hand, it is used to attract cockroaches while on the other, it is used to repel them. The fact is, cockroaches have no opinion on coffee. They neither love it nor hate it.

Does lavender repel cockroaches?

Lavender. Cockroaches hate the smell of lavender, and that is good news for you. … Lavender essential oils work well for this purpose; you can dilute the oil and place it in a spray bottle, then spray surfaces where cockroaches have been a problem.

Do peppermint plants repel bugs?

Spearmint and peppermint are reputed to work well against insects like mosquitoes, flies, and spiders, making them ideal for the backyard garden.

Does Vicks Vapor Rub repel mosquitoes?

The smell of the menthol in it will repel the insects away. You can also rub it on any mosquito bites you may already have and it will relieve the itching.

What color does mosquito hate?

The Colors to Help Keep Mosquitoes Away There are plenty of options available. Certain colors repel mosquitoes. If you don’t want to become a mosquito’s next meal, try wearing lighter, more subdued hues. White, beige, khaki, pastel yellow, and even soft gray are good options.

How do you make an indoor mosquito trap?

The Fan Favorite Mosquito Trap: A Fan and Metal Mesh Cut a piece of screen that’s the same size as the box fan. If you haven’t any metal mesh handy, mosquito netting or tulle fabric will work just as well. Press the screen against the face of the fan and secure with magnets, zip ties, or duct tape.

Is oregano good for mosquito repellent?

Oregano. … Well, essential oil derived from Oregano plants contains thymol and carvacol (these two compounds are found in thyme as well and are repulsive to insects), which make it effective pest control against houseflies and moths along with mosquitoes.

Does peppermint help with mosquitoes?

Peppermint – For us, the smell of peppermint is a mark of freshness and cleanliness. For most bugs, it’s a horrible odor. Mosquitoes hate peppermint much like wasps and other common pests.

Which is better lemongrass or citronella?

Citronella plants (or Pelargonium citrosum) are commonly thought to be the best at repelling mosquitos. However, Lemongrass (or Cymbopogon) is superior. … The oil from lemongrass (or Cymbopogon) is used to create the perfumed oil which repels mosquitos.

Do lemons repel mosquitoes?

Lemon juice is not the most effective repellent for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are a nuisance, and no one wants to deal with itchy bites, but the thought of spraying harsh, smelly chemicals on your skin sounds less than ideal too.

Do marigolds repel insects?

Planted randomly through a garden, marigold smell tends to confuse flying insects! Grow them amongst crops such as tomato to repel whitefly and soil nematodes, with carrots to deter carrot fly and with brassicas to mask their smell. Between rows of beans, marigolds will deter spider mites and a range of beetles.

Is Basil a bug repellent?

Basil also acts as a good insect repellent for flies and mosquitoes. Very useful using fresh leaves rubbed on the skin. Eucalyptol. According to research conducted by Kansas State University, this compound is effective in eliminating bugs from the kitchen and repelling cockroaches and weevils.

What can I plant with citronella?

4. Citronella makes a great companion plant. If you like to grow tomatoes, citronella makes a great companion plant. When planted near tomato plants, citronella can help keep destructive pests away from the foliage as well as protect you from mosquitoes while you garden.

Does Avon Skin So Soft repel mosquitoes?

Avon’s Skin So Soft dry oil spray costs £2.25, smells pleasant (unlike many repellents) and is surprisingly effective at deterring mosquitoes and midges.

Do dryer sheets repel roaches?

This simple home remedy for infestations involves putting dryer sheets into the favorite hiding places of cockroaches. Dryer sheets contain linalool, a naturally occurring substance found in certain plants. While dryer sheets won’t kill cockroaches, linalool can be a roach repellent.

Does Pine Sol keep roaches away?

Pine-Sol and Fabuloso are strong, all-purpose household cleaners. Similar to bleach, these products kill roaches on contact. Some homeowners suggest spraying Pine-Sol around the outside of your house to keep cockroaches away.

What are cockroaches afraid of?

Bay Leaves. Roaches hate the smell of bay leaves and won’t go near them. Place dried bay leaves or crushed bay leaves around your home. This is also a great deterrent for ants, as well.

Does cinnamon deter cockroaches?

Does Cinnamon repel cockroaches? No, cinnamon doesn’t repel cockroaches. But there’re are other essential oils or spices that can work against cockroaches. You can use bay leaves, garlic, and catnip to reduce some amount of cockroach activity in your home.

Does peppermint oil attract bugs?

Insects hate peppermint. In fact, the stick bug uses a milky substance it can emit from behind its head that fills the air with the scent of peppermint. The bug uses this to fight off predators, as the scent is an unbearable irritant to most insects.

What all does peppermint oil repel?

Peppermint oil smells great to humans and is a good alternative to commercial pesticide. It is a natural insecticide that repels mosquitoes, flies, ants, beetles, and more. In addition, it deters raccoons, woodpeckers, and mice.