A New Mosquito Repellant

Diswashing LIquid - Dishwashing liquid can be used as mosquito repellant.
Philippines
October 20, 2007 3:12am CST
Someone gave me this tip. I think there's no harm trying it too. Try this, it really works. I held off sending this until I tried it myself--in our kitchen. It sure works! While my family members didn't see the fallen mosquitoes, not one has bitten them since we started the experiment? three days ago. Here's the tip:Put some water in a white dinner plate (I suppose a small white saucer will do) and add a couple drops of Lemon Fresh Joy Dish Washing Liquid (or any brand of diswashing liquid.) Set the dish on your porch, patio, picnic table, park bench, or other outdoor area. Not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white plate color, or what, BUT ...mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead shortly after drinking the Lemon Fresh Joy & water mixture, and usually within about 10 feet of the plate. TRY IT --- it works just super! It may seem trivial, but it may also help to control mosquitoes around your home, (especially in areas where the dengue and malaria carrying mosquitoes are reaching epidemic proportions) . It is safer than mosquito coils - no offensive odor and harmful fumes, no risk of fire.
1 person likes this
14 responses
• United States
20 Oct 07
My "trick" for natural mosquito control is to put a container of water (something that holds a20 gallons or more) out in your yard. Put some good garden soil in and then fill it with water and put some aquatic plants in it. Make sure that it is in sunlight for the plants to grow and then put some hardy tropical fish in to eat the mosquitoes and their eggs. Just make sure to feed them sparingly so that they will eat all of the eggs and adults mosquitoes. They might become immune to insecticides but they cannot become immune to being eaten.
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I love the idea that they are not immune to being eaten. Also citrusy smelling plants of all kinds will repel mosquitoes. I grow lemon balm.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
don't you think this will pose a threat because you will be allowing mosquitoes to breed. if the mosquito population increases and can't be controlled, and if the number of fish to eat them is not enough, this will result to more mosquitoes. what would be the assurance that the fish would eat all the eggs and adult mosquitoes?
1 person likes this
@trinihd (996)
• United States
20 Oct 07
I think this could work, but the question about control is a valid one, so you have to be sure the fish are eating more mosquitoes than the mosquitoes are breeding. What sort of fish do you mean? I am very ignorant about types of fish. Can you name some that would work? Normally if you keep fish, you're supposed to aerate the water...will that affect whether the mosquitoes breed? I think they prefer stagnant water...unless of course by hardy tropical fish you mean the ones that can survive without the water being aerated...it's an interesting experiment to try...I would definitely consider trying it in water that was already "inhabited" by mosquitoes...but I have to know for sure which fish would work best. Thanks for the suggestion though...right now I am fending off mosquitoes, so I think I will go put some dishwashing liquid in a saucer and see if it helps!
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
20 Oct 07
will try it but havent had any mesquuitos here but does it kill flys too? For some reason this year we have flyes and they are real little and annoying.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
20 Oct 07
Basil is supposed to repel flies. I also find that if I put white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray around my windows and doors it keeps them away. I would love to have a garden of several types of basil, then hang it in bunches to dry. Maybe next year I can do it.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
good day to you lakota12. i haven't tried it with other flies. you can do the experimenting and give me updates so we can include in the list.
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
hi GardenGerty. Correct me if I am wrong. Do you use also the Basil leaves and get extract from them? or you simply hang them around until dried out.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
i'll remember to try this at home when the rain comes again. ^__^ it hasnt been raining and i think there's only a mosquito or two at night and they havent been biting any of us. LOL they just increase in number when there's continuous rain and the land is not drying up, and so as the clothes. ^__^;; but im really curious about this ryanphil. all i know is about placing a basin with water when there's a lot of "raga-raga", those big ants with wings that usually appear when its going to rain. they would be attracted to the water instead of the light. ^__^
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
yep. these ants with wings are being blinded by the reflection of the light in water. i have been doing this all the time when it is about to rain. these ants usually appear just before the rain drops. they are very annoying! meanwhile, the dishwashing liquid is indeed a practical way to get rid of these mosquitoes that may infect us with dengue or malaria.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
22 Oct 07
annoying indeed. especially when they go to the tv if the lights are turned off. and then they would also crawl on the floor and sometimes they'll lose their wings which are so difficult to sweep!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Oct 07
yes. they are attracted to lights, even when you turned off all the lights and leave just the TV on you will see them flying around the TV. i think you better turn off the TV as well for a while. LOL
@ellie26 (4139)
• Malaysia
20 Oct 07
That a very good tips indeed. Do you just add a couple of drops of lemon washing liquid and leave it there or do you need to stir it?
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• Philippines
20 Oct 07
No need of stirring it. Just leave the liquid as is in the plate. Observe what happens next.
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• Philippines
20 Oct 07
BTW, I asked my friend about stirring and he said you may do so if you want for even distribution.
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@ellie26 (4139)
• Malaysia
20 Oct 07
Ok. Thanks for the information. I will try it.
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@jcyap888 (721)
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
yes a good idea, it is the lime that attract the mosquitoes, we have here tree that they call vicks, if you squeeze the leaves you will smell it like a vick not citrus smell. i think that give us here in my lot a good alternative way of repelling mosquitoes rather than using a mosquito coil, that bad for our lungs.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
hi jcyap888, you may have overlooked my statement. i was trying to say that i couldn't agree NO MORE. i don't disagree with you....i am supporting your discussion 100%...
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
i can't agree no more to what you said jcyap888. if i am not mistaken the tree that you are referring to has the corrugated leaves but are not expanded ones. i forgot the other english name for it. it's the best natural means and safest way to get rid of mosquitoes rather than using the coil or the insect sprays.
@jcyap888 (721)
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
i think you got me wrong my friend, i'm not contradicting your comment and discussion. what i mean is you have given us a good idea for repelling mosquitoes. thanks
1 person likes this
@kiobug (2250)
• United States
20 Oct 07
Thanks for the tip.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 Oct 07
you're welcome my friend. it's nice learning some tips for our own benefits.
@kiobug (2250)
• United States
21 Oct 07
I agree. Thanks again.
@baileym11 (887)
• United States
21 Oct 07
Actually what is working really well for me is rubbing Bounce fabric softener sheets all over. For some reason, this seems to work.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
21 Oct 07
that's interesting. would you share the details please. how is this done?
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
20 Oct 07
We are not in our mosquito season right now, but I will definitely try this next year when we are plagued by those other pesky critters. I know citrus fragranced plants are supposed to repel pests.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
2 Nov 07
I don't want to sound like a spoiled sport, but your tip didn't work for me. I tried it last night and I was hoping that it would work with the few mosquitoes that managed to go inside of my residence. Anyway, I'll try it again tonight-this time, I'll put the mixture of joy and water on a plate or platter. I hope that will do the trick unless the mosquitoes here at our place is immune to this clever concoction.
• Philippines
3 Nov 07
if it didn't work out right, try adding few drops of joy liquid. it's may be on the concentration of the dishwashing liquid that matters. mosquitoes are attracted to the fragrance of joy. try experimenting further. give me update please.
@shakeroo (3986)
• Malaysia
23 Oct 07
That is something that I have never heard if before. I am definitely going to do this experiment in my house and see whether that would work or not. If that rally works, then it should goes up on air especially at those areas where mosquitoes post a health threat. Thanks for sharing!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Oct 07
try experimenting it my friend. if it works, then we all have the reasons to use it and tell the whole world about the benefits of using dishwashing liquid as a new mosquito repellant. it's even economical and safer!
@lyndee22 (1210)
• Philippines
22 Oct 07
Thank you for the tip. I'll try this when we will go to my in-laws. There's a lot of mosquito inside and outside the house. They don't want to use insect repellant because of the bad smell and the components it contain. So good for this dishwashing liquid, it has many uses and another experiment has proven its help to household.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Oct 07
hi my dear lyndee22. when my friend gave me this tip, i immediately tried it and was surprised that it does really work. that's why i am sharing this to all of you here in mylot. yeah, you are right! this dishwashing liquid has other practical uses aside from cleansing household utensils, it also cleanses household flies like mosquitoes. more safe, more healthful...
• United States
22 Oct 07
Another natural mosquito control is bats. If you have bats around you can set up a bat house and have a place for them to drink from then they will eat not only mosquitoes but moths and other flying insects.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
22 Oct 07
This method using bats may be applicable if you have a bigger place and most likely in rural areas but not in urban places, I supposed. But thanks for the suggestion.
• Philippines
17 Jul 08
Hi, As I read your blog I got interested and as of writing I am trying it now. My place is a haven for mosquitos because we have many animals surrounding our place so this will surely help if it works. I'll cross my fingers. Thank you for the information.
@fab315 (1231)
• Philippines
31 Oct 07
Hello! Wow! such useful tip. I better tell my family about this mosquito repellant of yours and tell them to try it. You know mosquitoes are really a problem in our country and it's scary especially for children. Just imagining the malaria and dengue that they causes worries me a lot. And you're right that it's better than mosquito coils and those mosquito sprays. Thanks for the tip again. Take care *smile* ciao! c",)
1 person likes this
• Philippines
31 Oct 07
hi fab315. nice being around. thanks for your interest about the new mosquito repellant. you may try and see for yourself the effects of using the dishwashing liquid. i am sure you'll be surprised how the mosquitoes will be eliminated instantly. it's a safest way than using coils and spray.