The DIY Mosquito Remedy Our Expert Doesn't Recommend (& What To Try Instead)

When looking for simple DIY mosquito traps and repellents to try in your home and garden, you may have stumbled across hacks involving rubbing alcohol. Some online sources claim that spraying mosquitoes with rubbing alcohol will kill them, but our expert explained that it's not the best way to eliminate the pesky insects. Emma Grace Crumbley, an entomologist with Mosquito Squad, told House Digest exclusively that rubbing alcohol is capable of killing mosquitoes but that this control method is not the most effective.

Crumbley explained that spraying a mosquito with isopropyl alcohol is likely to kill it because it will dehydrate the pest. "Rubbing alcohol, like isopropyl alcohol, and other highly volatile chemicals can also kill insects by drying them out. These compounds evaporate quickly and cause the exoskeleton to dry via desiccation," she said; however, Crumbley noted that household rubbing alcohol is not made for killing insects, and you may not know how much to spray or what concentration of rubbing alcohol to use. "As an industry professional and expert entomologist, I would not recommend this DIY mosquito control strategy," she said. To keep mosquitoes out of your home, Crumbley suggests avoiding alcohol and using more tested and true extermination methods.

Though Emma Grace Crumbley explained exclusively to House Digest that there are some pros to using rubbing alcohol as a mosquito remedy — it's inexpensive, and the smell doesn't linger, unlike DEET repellents — there are more potential downsides. One reason spraying mosquitoes with rubbing alcohol isn't particularly effective is that you'd have to wait for the bug to land and then spray it. This would mean you'd be working one mosquito at a time and would need to have your spray bottle constantly at the ready. Additionally, even if you hit the mosquito, Crumbley explains that it might live if your alcohol isn't strong enough or you don't use enough.

When using rubbing alcohol indoors, you'd also need to keep in mind that it's highly flammable and be careful where you're spraying it. If you're trying to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard, Crumbley stressed how important it is to consider the effect of the chemical on your plants and other insects. "A high percentage of rubbing alcohol, the kind you would need for this hack, can damage nearby plants and grasses... [and] if you decide to spray your flowering plants with any chemical, you run the risk of harming pollinators," she said. To keep your home, grass, garden, and nearby beneficial insects safe, it's best to skip the rubbing alcohol hack.

Emma Grace Crumbley doesn't recommend the rubbing alcohol hack, but she still gave House Digest some exclusive tips on how to be safe if you're determined to try it. She suggests ensuring the alcohol is kept away from pets and children, labeling the bottle with the type of alcohol and concentration, and wearing protective gear like gloves. Rather than trying your luck with this hack, Crumbley explained that it's better to take measures to make your home, patio, or yard less enjoyable for the pests. "I would recommend readers to try other DIY strategies, like removing standing water and installing deck fans or screens to help control mosquitoes," she said. This will help keep mosquitoes away without potentially harming anything else, and it's a simple first step to try.

For those who already made an effort to eliminate standing water and ward off mosquitoes with physical deterrents but see no improvement, you may be beyond a DIY solution. "Sometimes, a mosquito problem is too complex to manage by yourself," Crumbley said. Instead of trying risky or unproven control methods, she recommends contacting a pest control expert to ensure your property is free of these annoying, blood-sucking bugs.