The Curtain Fabric That Naturally Repels Mosquitoes (And Lasts Longer Too)

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On a warm summer night, opening the patio door or cracking the window to let a cool breeze in feels marvelous — at least until the bugs come out. Nothing ruins your time in the fresh air like a pesky mosquito buzzing in your ear. Of course, you can combat these blood-thirsty bugs with traditional bug spray, special candles, or DIY mosquito traps and repellents. But did you know the type of curtains you have covering your doors and windows can also help? Cotton/linen blends are known for their outstanding ability to withstand laundering. In addition, information published in the book "Functional Finishes for Textiles: Improving Comfort, Performance and Protection" (via ScienceDirect) found that after applying essential oils, cotton/linen blend curtains showed the "highest mosquito repellent retention capacity and highest resistance against washing." This means that cotton/linen blend curtains aren't only durable, but they serve as the best fabric for retaining natural mosquito repellents. So, if you're looking for a way to keep the bugs at bay, dousing your curtains in essential oils is an easy, effective, and natural way to repel mosquitos.

Oils like citronella, lemon grass, cinnamon, lavender, or peppermint are ideal for this project because they repel mosquitos but still smell nice. When it comes to the actual coating of your curtains, there are a few options. One of the easiest ways is to simply fill a spray bottle with an essential oil/water mixture and douse your curtains as needed.

To use the spray bottle method to coat your curtains, first dilute the oils in water. For instance, an effective DIY bug repellent with a mixture of 10-15 drops of peppermint oil (similar to this Brooklyn Botany Peppermint Essential Oil) every 2 cups of water should do the trick. If you plan to treat multiple curtains in your home, you might want to consider sticking to one kind of essential oil so that you don't feel overwhelmed with various scents. It's recommended to reapply your DIY repellant after a few washes. And be sure to use lighter color curtains, like these White Linen Semi Sheer Curtains, since muted colors reflect light and heating, making them less attractive to mosquitoes. 

In addition to using these curtains on your home's windows and doors, you can also use oil-soaked cotton/linen curtains outdoors to mosquito-proof your patio while adding privacy. To do this, simply install curtain rods around the perimeter of your patio and attach your pre-soaked curtains. You could also fashion a simple DIY tent using linen curtains and a hula hoop to cover you while you sit in the yard.