Listerene As Mosquito Repellent

According to a contemporary legend, the mouthwash Listerine is an effective mosquito repellent. The truth is that natural or home remedies like this do not repel mosquitoes effectively, and traditional chemical repellents work best.

Usage

• The recipe for a Listerine mosquito repellent calls for equal parts mouthwash and water. After making the mixture, you apply it all over your body and let it dry to repel the mosquitoes.

Warning

• Listerine is a mouthwash and designed to kill bacteria and remove plaque on your teeth. You should never apply Listerine directly to your body, because it absorbs into your bloodstream through the skin.

Expert Insight

• Listerine as a mosquito repellent is an urban legend, says Snopes.com, which also lists dish soap as another urban legend mosquito repellent. The site claims that sprayed directly on mosquitoes, the Listerine kills them, but it won't serve to repel bugs for hours like traditional repellents.