Don't Throw Out Orange Peels Without Trying This Summer Hack

Dusk on the deck with good company and a drink is memory-making material. The long summer evenings and temperatures that've finally dipped to comfortable levels are things we anticipate for months. This romanticized vision doesn't include mosquitoes, but for a lot of us, they're a reality. Mosquitoes are present, and they're hungry. That slice of orange adorning your cocktail glass or wheat beer has useful properties beyond giving your drink an extra bit of flavor. Specifically, the orange peel contains a compound called limonene that has potential as a DIY mosquito repellent.

Researchers have found that limonene can keep insect pests at bay. Limonene is also found in other citrus fruit peels, such as lemon, which also have mosquito-fighting capabilities. Bugs are put off and confused by the strong scent in citrus peels. Among the many household staples that repel mosquitoes like magic, the sweet pong of orange is actually enjoyable to have around.

Scattering citrus peels around your patio's perimeter is the easiest method for applying this hack, but it may take a whole heck of a lot to put up an effective barrier against mosquitoes. While some entomologists mention using orange peels on their own as a repellent for some bugs, others are not convinced that they'll keep away mosquitoes by themselves. Promising studies have focused on either extracting the essential oils to use or employing the peels as a base in a prepared formula.

Incense made from orange peels and other additives was effective as a mosquito repellent in studies, and making your own incense from spent peels could be a fun project to take on. However, with packed summer schedules, you'll probably appreciate a quicker solution. One option is to steep orange peels in boiling water and apply the liquid as a spray. People share plenty of anecdotal recipes for this online. A simple DIY mosquito repellent to try involves boiling the peels of two oranges in a pot of water for five minutes, then letting the liquid steep for 24 hours. Strain the liquid, and pour it into a spray bottle for immediate use.