Does it feel like the steps you’ve taken to protect yourself from bugs haven’t worked? It turns out that not all types of insect repellent products are equally effective. Thanks to trials conducted by Consumer Reports and the American Mosquito Control Association, we can share what repellent products you might want to steer clear of this summer if you want the bugs to steer clear of you.
Before We Begin…
To be fair, results may vary depending on each person’s body chemistry, and someone will always swear by a product that is widely panned by critics. That being said, let’s take a peek at the different types of insect protection in the marketplace.
Insect Repellent Products: What Not to Use
Citronella Candles
They may smell nice, but you have to hover over them to achieve any degree of relief. An oscillating pedestal fan was demonstrated to work better, provided it is on the “high” setting and you are in close proximity.
Wristbands
Repellent-infused wristbands were shown to be almost completely ineffective in laboratory settings. Subjects wearing the bracelets put their arms into an enclosure full of mosquitoes and were bitten quickly and frequently.
Sonic Repellents
These are on the market despite but currently have no scientific proof that they work. Most insects do not hear airborne sounds. Some moths, praying mantises, and lacewings do hear high frequency sounds like those emitted by bats, but none of those insects bite people.
Clip-on Fans
Consumer Reports discourages use of these devices because some contain dangerous chemicals. One uses metofluthrin, a neurotoxin and potential carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Metofluthrin is a pyrethroid insecticide, very effective at repelling mosquitoes, but not friendly to humans, either.
“Natural” Repellents
We all want the least-toxic but most effective repellents. The problem is that repellents labeled “natural” require no proof of their effectiveness by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Without a way to quantify their strength, it is buyer beware. Those “natural” products tested were effective for one hour or less.
Insect Repellent Products: What to Use
For repellents that are applied to your skin, look for these three active ingredients, which performed well in testing.
DEET
There is overwhelming consensus and evidence that repellents with 15-30% DEET as the active ingredient, such as Ben’s products, are the most effective and longest-lasting solution.
Picaridin
Testing also showed that products with 20% Picaridin like Natrapel are also reliable for repelling biting insects.
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
The most efficient repellents featuring a naturally-derived ingredient are those with 30% Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, which worked for at least six hours in the trials conducted by Consumer Reports.