13 Natural Springtime Pest Repellents

In some places, mosquitos are a year-round annoyance. And constant exposure to insecticides to keep those flying menaces away has its risks. However, there are less toxic and more natural ways to keep mosquitos—and lots of other insects—away.

Lemon eucalyptus oil, mixed with water and sprayed or diluted in a diffuser, is one natural repellent for mosquitos. Offensive to them, but pleasant for us!

Lavender, your basic all-around essential oil, is also a turn off for mosquitos. If you can get your hands on fresh or dried sprigs of lavender, crushing them to release their natural oils and placing in bowls or vases around your home will also do the trick (and add color to your space).

Cinnamon may be able to go beyond being a natural repellent for mosquitos and other insects. One study finds that cinnamon oil can also kill off mosquito eggs, which gets you closer to solving your mosquito problems.

A solution of 5 percent thyme oil kept mosquitos away from hairless mice in one study, making it another effective repellent for those disease-carrying insects.

Catnip is famous for attracting felines. But you know who can't stand the stuff? Annoying mosquitos and perhaps other flying insects. Catnip is a member of the mint family. And though its long flowers are pretty, it's the crushed and bruised petals of the flowers—and the essential oil created from them—that works its magic on clearing pests.

Soybean oil, the active ingredient in the child-friendly Bite Blocker for Kids, has been shown to be an effective repellent for mosquitos and other pests. However, the product must be re-applied after 1.5 hours.

Citronella is a tried-and-true way to keep mosquitos and other insects away from your outdoor entertaining space. Light up coils or citronella candles, which are made from the oils of a mix of ingredients including citrus, and you can clear the area of these annoying and sometimes disease-carrying pests.

Tea tree oil is a natural repellent for a number of annoying bugs, including lice and mosquitos. Derived from plants that are native to Australia, it is also known for its antiseptic properties. Keep in mind, if you're using it to treat lice, tea tree oil only repulses them—it doesn't actually kill them. So it should be used in tandem with deep removal of nits and lice or an over-the-counter insecticide formulated for lice treatment.

Geraniol is a solution of alcohol and different essential oils, such as citronella, lemongrass and tea tree oil, used to repel insects. A quality geraniol spray works for 2 to 4 hours.

Reviews on the effectiveness of neem oil are mixed, but a study in Ethiopia found it was 70 percent effective at keeping malaria-carrying mosquitos away.

Wasps are the worst. They're not only hard to get rid of, but their stings hurt and they can be dangerous for small children. Removal of wasps' nests is the best way to get rid of them. In the meantime, hanging bouquets of rosemary can be effective at keeping the stinging critters away from your kids and guests.

Fruit flies are annoying, and just when you think you've swatted them all away, more come in. Let them be the makers of their own demise and create bottle traps. Find a bottle with a narrow neck, pour in one inch of juice, vinegar, sugar water or even plain water. They'll fly in but they can't fly out.

Similarly, you can catch cockroaches with a banana peel in a jar. Line the rim with petroleum jelly or some other oily, slick substance. They'll never make it out of there alive. You might want to use colored glass, since the results may be too gruesome for some to see.