Updated: Aug. 13, 2026

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Key Takeaways

• If you must be outside when mosquitoes are active, apply a mosquito repellent to your skin or clothes to help protect you from mosquito bites.
• Consider factors such as how long you'll be outside, the temperature, and the active ingredient concentration to help you choose the right type and amount of repellent to use.
• Wear light colors, long sleeves and long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks or shoes to help keep mosquitoes off.

Skin Products: Look for These Active Ingredients!

The EPA says mosquito repellents that contain one of the following active ingredients are safe, effective, and typically provide solid protection:

For more information, see Active Ingredients in Insect Repellents (EPA).

Protection Times Vary

Typically, the higher percentage of the active ingredient a product contains, the longer it will provide protection from mosquito bites. But, different active ingredients do not all work the same. How well a repellent works and how long it lasts varies and is dependent on several factors:

• The type and amount of active ingredient
  • Sustained release products may offer longer protection.
  • Products that are not sustained release and that have less than 10% of the active ingredient may only protect you for 1-2 hours.
  • Products that have 10-50% of the active ingredient will protect you longer. For most products, concentrations higher than 50% don't improve protection times, for DEET, this protection stops at 30% concentration.
• The types of mosquitoes nearby
• The temperature
  • Each 50°F increase in temperature can lead to as much as a 50% reduction in protection time.
• Wash-off from sweat, rain, or water.

Choose a repellent that provides protection for the amount of time that you will be outdoors. If you plan to be outside for several hours, choose a repellent with a higher percentage of the active ingredient. If not, a repellent with a lower concentration may be suitable. If you are outdoors longer than expected and start to be bitten by mosquitoes, simply re-apply the repellent using the product's instructions.

DEET Protection Times

• The protection time from mosquito bites for products containing DEET depends on the concentration of DEET*:
  • 23.8% DEET = 5 hours of protection
  • 20% DEET = 4 hours of protection
  • 6.65% DEET = almost 2 hours of protection
  • 4.75% DEET = roughly 1½ hours of protection

Facts About DEET

• DEET is the most effective insect repellent currently available. It has been used safely for more than 40 years by millions of people worldwide.
• Do not apply DEET to children under 2 months of age.^†
• The maximum concentration of DEET currently recommended for infants older than 2 months, children, and adults is 30%.^† Concentrations higher than 30% do not provide an increased repellent effect. Higher concentrations increase the degree to which DEET can become poisonous if applied excessively, too frequently, or misused in a way that is not consistent with the label directions.
• Though millions of people have used repellents without a negative reaction, people with known or suspected metabolic disorders should check with their physicians before using a repellent containing DEET.
• You can spray clothing with repellents containing Permethrin or DEET to help keep mosquitoes from biting through thin clothing.

Follow These Precautions When Using Insect Repellents

• Always follow the instructions on the product label.
• Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing (as directed on the product label). Do not use repellents under clothing.
• Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
• Do not apply to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears. When using sprays, do not spray directly on face - spray on hands first and then apply to face.
• Do not allow children to handle the product. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then put it on the child. You may not want to apply the product to children's hands.
• Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. If biting insects do not respond to a thin film of repellent, then apply a bit more.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe. This is particularly important when repellents are used repeatedly in a day or on consecutive days.
• Wash treated clothing before wearing it again. (This precaution may vary with different repellents - check the product label).
• If you or your child get a rash or other bad reaction from an insect repellent, stop using the repellent, wash the repellent off with mild soap and water, and call a local poison control center for further guidance. If you go to a doctor because of the repellent, take the repellent with you to show the doctor.
• Avoid spraying repellents in enclosed areas or around food.

Camping and the Outdoors

Treat Clothing and Camping Gear with Permethrin

Products that contain permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear, and are registered with EPA for this use. Do not apply permethrin directly to your skin.

Permethrin repels and kills mosquitoes and ticks. You can:

• Spray permethrin insecticide on clothing and shoes
• Soak clothing in permethrin soak kits
• Buy pemethrin-treated clothing that will continue to repel and kill mosquitoes and ticks even after repeated washing.

The EPA does not recommend any additional precautions for using registered repellents on pregnant women, nursing moms, or children.

Keep Mosquitoes Off and Out

• Wear light-colored clothing rather than dark colors.
• Wear a long-sleeved shirt and long trousers made of tightly woven fabrics.
• Tuck the pants' cuffs into your socks or boots.
• To protect infants, use white-colored mosquito netting made of cotton or nylon with 23 to 26 mesh per inch.
• Avoid wearing perfume or scented products when outdoors.
• Keep car windows rolled up and garage doors closed at night.
• Screens on windows and doors should have 16-18 mesh per inch, be in good condition, open outward, and close automatically.

Insecticides and Outdoor Area Treatments

• Use yellow light bulbs or sodium vapor orange lights for outside lighting.
• For temporary relief outdoors, use a small hand-held fogger (not a garden sprayer) made for mosquito control. The foggers come with a special insecticide. Use it a few hours before an outdoor activity is planned, but note that fogging will not be effective on a windy day. When used as directed, it should kill the mosquitoes that are flying in the area at the time. Twilight is the most effective time to use a fogger outdoors.
• Heat-activated repellent pads or mosquito coils may be somewhat effective in repelling mosquitoes in a small area such as a patio. Read and follow all label directions.
• Citronella smoke can reduce the number of mosquito bites - but only for people who stand very close to the candle or Tiki torch, as the smoke itself is the repellent.

Home Remedy Myths

• Electrocuting devices or bug zappers that use ultraviolet light to attract bugs are not effective against mosquitoes. Bug zappers mainly kill beneficial moths, beetles, and other harmless night-flying insects.
• The Citrosa plant does not contain citronella: it is actually a scented geranium that does not repel mosquitoes.
• Devices that use ultrasonic waves to repel mosquitoes do not work.
• Garlic or taking garlic pills by mouth will not repel mosquitoes.

For More Information

These online resources contain additional information about repellents and recommendations for their use on adults and children:

• CDC - Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - How to Choose an Insect Repellent for Your Child
• EPA - Find the Repellent Right For You
• New England Journal of Medicine - Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites (July 4, 2002)
• Clemson University - Pesticide Safety

Citations

*Fradin, M. S. and J. F. Day (2002). "Comparative efficacy of insect repellents against mosquito bites." New England Journal of Medicine 347 (1): 13-18.
^†American Academy of Pediatrics (2003). Follow safety precautions when using DEET on children. AAP News. June.