Last month, I wrote about some advice I read that Listerine kills mosquitoes only to go to Snopes and find it to be false, or at least according to them. After doing some more digging on the subject for my new blog that Listerine may in fact might work to kill mosquitoes.
Apparently what works with Listerine or even the generic brand is the ingredient Eucalyptol. It’s an active ingredient in Listerine(.092%), and that has been proven to work well to kill both mosquitoes and their larvae. There were a few journal articles, and all I could read was the summary or pay $30 to read the entire thing. But from the summary you could tell that there was proof that it help curve the mosquito population.
I found on Amazon a repellent spray - Repel Lemon Eucalyptus. You can buy Eucalyptus oil, so in theory, you could make your own mosquito repellent that is a higher percentage of the ingredient that is suppose to work on them. It’s definitely something I will try this summer as we have a terrible mosquito problem.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I have been searching the net for about 1/2 hr looking for the formula for Listerine. You gave me the essential ingredient! Thanks!
June 20th, 2008 at 9:41 am
why your not soo geeky after all-and I can’t spel or grammer.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I went to Walgreens today to by some Listerine, they didn’t have any. Apparently there has been a run on it lately and they can’t keep the stuff on the shelves so, I bought the Walgreen brand. It worked. Now, I don’t know if it kills them but, I sprayed it around the outside door and the little buggers had left the deck. It is so nice being able to open the door without having them come into the house. It might not kill them but, they don’t like the smell.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:53 am
I told my fiance’ that when maple leaves turn upside down, that means its going to rain. She replied that it was just the wind. I know this is a good way to tell if it is goig to rain, could you please tell me if this is true?
Thank you so much!!
Brad Hawkins
November 13th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I am battling mosquitoes and just tried spraying with Listerine, and will let you know if it works.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
We have just been over run lately with mosquitoes and the city just is not spraying anywhere. Will try this and if it works…god bless you.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
I heard of the Listerine effect on mosquitoes so I will join the ranks and try as well. But I have a question:
with 3 young kids and a summer coming in, I dread the time when the kids want to have the small paddling pool inflated: they are eaten alive by mosquito attracted to the water.
would it work if I pour listerine in the water? or would spraying Listerine on the (rubber / plastic) pool edges work as well?
I guess I will try anyway but if anyone has done it before me, please let us know!
June 19th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
The mouthwash will work as well as the lemon scented dishsoap. This is nothing new. Started in farmers almanac, and also you can find a mosquito lemonade on Jerry Bakers website.
The caveat is generally it does not work for long.
It’s wiser to just invest in the Deet and Neem oil and spray it regularly.
July 18th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
i live in tucson az and surprisingly we have a real mosquito problem during the monsoon season. the fall of 08 i found the info about listerine and had success on the last two or three mosquitos of the season. i was ready for them this year i have three spray bottles full of straight listerine or the copy available at walgreens, target, walmart etc. knocks them immediately down, usually kills them instantly.the nice thing about it is you dont have to worry about poisoning yourself or pets spraying listerine right on your arm or leg etc
October 12th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
this is a new way for listerine to be used. for years I have used this product. I am a beleiver that it wards off keep germs from invading your body such as colds and flu why not advertise it as away to ward off H1N1 VIRUSES. IT DOES LIMIT THE POSSIBILITIES OF CONTACTING the virus.IF YOU USE THIS IDEA AND IT WORKS YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY.
May 23rd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Another thing that Snopes got wrong. I don’t know why people go to Snopes and treat it like it’s the “end word”. Listerine really works, but for some reason Snopes says it doesn’t and a lot of people dismiss it or treat it as an urban legend.
Doing a Google search gives much better results than Snopes does - you will find blogs and message boards where real people have used Listerine as a bug repellant.
June 14th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
will it kill just the airborne ones or will it also kill the ones on the ground,in shrubs etc.?
June 15th, 2010 at 7:02 am
Not sure it actually ‘kills’ mosquitoes but really seems to keep them at bay. My experience is that spraying around an area usually gives me a day or two with less mosquitoes. After rain or heavy dew I would have to spray again.
June 25th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Sorry, Listerine does not work for mosquitos in Mobile, AL. Mosquitos still bite thru the Listerine and OFF. Its not just a few mosquitos around here its swarms (like walkin thru clouds). If there is any other suggestions for repllent, please let me know. I’m gonna try DEEP WOODS OFF, maybe that will work.
June 25th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Sorry, Listerine does not work for mosquitos in Mobile, AL. Mosquitos still bite thru the Listerine and OFF. Its not just a few mosquitos around here its swarms (like walkin thru clouds). If there is any other suggestions for repllent, please let me know. I’m gonna try DEEP WOODS OFF, maybe that will work.
June 29th, 2010 at 6:36 am
We started using Skeeter Ban found at Wal-Mart in the camping section. It’s deet free. We haven’t had a good test with it but my sister-in-law uses it and loves it. Each year we say we are just going to bite the bullet and try one of those expensive mosquito vacuum contraptions for outside. If I knew it would work, then I’d start saving now! LOL
August 9th, 2010 at 7:49 am
Fancy J. You could maybe try Neem Oil or Catnip Oil. As for snopes being the end all, I definitely agree with Anna. This is the 2nd time I have “proven” their “false” answer “false” They say food combining does not work, and from personal experience at having digestive problems, guess what, it does work - and there are plenty of people that will agree with me!