Table of Contents
What is Pine Sol?
Pine Sol is a well known and popular household cleaning product, which is primarily used for disinfecting, cleaning, and deodorizing surfaces like floors, table tops, bathroom fixtures, kitchen tables, etc. It can easily remove grease and grime, so became widely popular in households. The Pine Sol consists of Pine oil and other cleaning agents that together acts on the grease and grime effectively. It has a strong fresh pine scent because of Pine oil, which is the active compound. This strong pine scent makes it eligible for using Pine Sol as mosquito repellent.
Can Pine Sol keep mosquitoes away
Pine Sol is also a potential mosquito repellent, as it contains Pine oil which has insect repellent properties. Pine oil gives it a strong fresh pine scent. Being sensitive to strong odors, mosquitoes and insects fail to detect their target hosts when comes in area filled with strong scent. This strong pine oil smell, masks the human scents and interferes with their ability to detect hosts.
Although, we believed the above concept that Pine Sol keep mosquitoes away, and is also an insect repellent. This is due to its intense pine oil scent, and in one of the research study in Journal of Vector Borne Diseases, it is found that it is effective in large dosages against mosquito larvae (larvicidal activity) which is practically not possible, however showed strong mosquito repellency (repelling activity) in couple of mosquito species, and so it can be categorized or called as ‘Mosquito repellent’ scientifically.
Due to its capacity to masks the human scents, it can deter mosquitoes to some extent, but cannot provide the same level of protection as other commercial repellents do.
Image Credit: WHDH.com
How to Use Pine Sol as Mosquito repellent
Pine Sol can be used in a spray form by diluting it with water and spraying from a spray bottle. It can be incorporated in our mosquito control routine along with other control methods. It can be used:
- To clean outdoor surfaces like tables, decks and porches.
- Near windows and doorways to create a barrier to entry. It’s strong scent repel mosquitoes away and distracts them from the entry points.
- To mop floors near the doors and other entry points of your home, to deter mosquitoes away.
- For outdoor locations simply spray the Pine Sol water solution around the areas where mosquitoes may be hiding. Any standing water, like pond, birdbath, puddles, etc. or any dense vegetation, tall grass, etc.
How to prepare Pine Sol mosquito repellent spray
Follow below instructions to prepare Pine Sol Mosquito spray:
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup of Pine Sol
- 3 Cups of Water
- A spray bottle
Preparation:
- Mix the Pine Sol and water in 1:3 ratio as per your required quantity, you can adjust the ratio if you want to increase the strength of the spray.
- Transfer the mixed Pine Sol and water mixture into the spray bottle.
- Mix it thoroughly and label the bottle before use
- Avoid direct contact with the skin and test in small areas for any staining.
Using Pine Sol in combination with other repellents
Pine Sol as mosquito repellent, can be used effectively when used in combination with other natural or commercial mosquito repellents. The following can be used along with Pine Sol:
- Citronella candles
- Essential oils like Eucalyptus oil, Lavender Oil, Tea Tree oil, etc.
- Mosquito traps
- Mosquito netting
- Burning coffee grounds
- Fire pits, etc.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Pine Sol as mosquito repellent
The Pine Sol as mosquito repellent has few advantages as well as drawbacks as mentioned below:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Readily available as a common household item | Not scientifically proved as mosquito repellent and so its effectiveness is not reliable against variable mosquito population and diverse environmental conditions. |
| Its a multipurpose product, can be used as a cleaning agent, disinfectant, deodorizing agent, as well as insect repellent | Pine Sol is not not advisable to use in contact with the skin. Some people may experience allergies, which is not confirmed, but may affect people with sensitive skin |
| Pleasant and refreshing scent |
Alternative uses of Pine Sol for pest control
Along with mosquitoes Pine Sol can also be used as insect repellent for other pests. Ants, flies, spiders, rodents, etc., can be kept away from your home by using Pine Sol. The strong scent of the Pine Sol can disrupts their senses and masks their scent trails, and discourage them from entering your home.
Spray the Pine Sol mixture in areas near spider webs, vents, corners in the sides and below furniture. Focus on entry areas and hiding spots for these pests and rodents. Maintain cleanliness and declutter areas to eliminate any spaces to hide.
Conclusion
Since, the Pine Sol is mainly used as a cleaning agent, but it’s strong scent makes it a potential insect repellent. It can be used in cleaning routines in our homes where we can also expect some mosquito repelling effect.
While adding Pine Sol as mosquito repellent in your mosquito control strategy you can create environment that is clean and less inviting for pests, rodents and mosquitoes. It is advised to take precautions while spraying near babies, toddlers and pets, and also avoid direct contact with skin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Is Pine Sol a good repellent?
As per research study, it has been found that Pine oil has good mosquito repelling properties. But since Pine Sol is a commercial product that has pine oil along with some cleaning agents, so this final product is not that effective as compared to other commercial mosquito repellents.
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Is pine oil mosquito repellent?
Yes Pine oil has been found to be a good mosquito repellent. It masks the scents that mosquito detects as a trail and releases a strong pine scent that discourages them and repel away.
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Does pine tar repel mosquitoes?
Yes, the sticky nature and strong intense scent can deter mosquitoes and other insects. Since it is obtained by burning pine wood (carbonization) into a thick tar like substance which is brown to black in color. And so it cannot be used inside homes. Mostly used in outdoor locations to repel pests and insects, including mosquitoes.
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How long does Pine Sol keep flies away
Flies finds the strong intense smell of pine oil very unpleasant. It’s effect vanishes as the scent fades away in air. So, the pine Sol can keep flies away for hardly 3 to 4 hours. It may be necessary to reapply after every couple of hours to get desired effectiveness. It’s effectiveness also depends on environmental factors like wind, temperature, humidity, etc.
