Mosquito season is open! To protect yourself all summer long, here is the best mosquito repellent, recommended by UFC-Que Choisir.
It’s finally summer (or almost)! Despite the unpredictable weather, the summer solstice is here. While waiting for the sun to come out, it may be high time for you to prepare for your vacation. In your toiletry bag, in addition to your sunscreen, you will certainly store your mosquito repellent. What is the most effective mosquito repellent? UFC-Que Choisir tested 37 mosquito repellents against the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Here are their conclusions.
Summer holidays 2024: what is the most effective mosquito repellent?
DEET mosquito repellents
It is in the laboratory that the 37 mosquito repellents were tested by UFC-Que Choisir. The products were applied (1g of each) to the forearms of 4 volunteers, who then placed their limbs in a cage full of mosquitoes (150 females) in search of fresh blood. “The duration of protection varies from a few minutes to more than 10 hours without bites. The potential toxicity of these repellents to be applied to the skin has been evaluated in the short and medium term”explains the consumer association.
The relevance of the information on the labels, the toxicity of the product and its effectiveness were evaluated during this test. A score out of 20 was given to each product, whether it is a mosquito repellent spray, stick or other. The 4 mosquito repellents that stand out from the crowd are from the same brand: DEET. The highest rated of all, with a score of 18.1/20, is the DEET Infected Areas Screen. UFC-Que Choisir appreciates the absence of allergens and the effectiveness of this product on mosquitoes and ticks, sold at 5.80 euros.
Beware of broken promises
However, the association has reservations about the promises of protection against tiger mosquito bites for 16 hours. “THE 16 h de protection highlighted are valid for 2 applications per day! It is better to take 8 hours of maximum protection for 1 application as a benchmark. Our test confirms its very good repellent effectiveness: more than 9 hours against tiger mosquitoes and 8 hours against ticks with 1 g/600 cm²”we can read in the conclusions.
Summer holidays 2024: how to get rid of mosquitoes naturally?
What smell do mosquitoes hate?
Just like gnats and cats, mosquitoes are sensitive to odors. Certain perfumes repel them to the point that if you use them or perfume your room with them, the mosquitoes may let you sleep peacefully! Planting cloves in a lemon wedge, for example, can save you from mosquito bites. Certain plant odors such as lavender, basil or lemongrass are smells hated by mosquitoes. If you have a pot of basil, you can place it on your windowsill: mosquitoes will not risk entering your house!
How to avoid attracting mosquitoes?
If you want avoid using chemicals such as anti-mosquito plugs or repellents whose frequent use can become very dangerous for your health, know that there are some tips to know to avoid attracting mosquitoes. First of all, it must be remembered that mosquito larvae are born in stagnant water. If you have a garden, be careful not to leave puddles or water points become mosquito nests. Next, know that mosquitoes are almost blind and that they are not attracted to artificial lights, as one might think, but more to dark colors, day and night. Wearing light-colored clothing helps ward off their bites.
