Can You Really Use Dryer Sheets To Help Deter Mosquitoes?

There's a lot to love about a summer barbecue, from the food to the weather to the late sunsets. However, one aspect of those warm hazy evenings can kinda, well — suck. Literally, as mosquitos are most active during two times of the day: dusk and dawn. And if you're among their targeted prey, it bites. Fortunately, there are several clever ways to keep mosquitos away, and one is likely already stashed in your laundry room: dryer sheets.

The same dryer sheets that soften your clothes (and can be used in a surprising number of ways in your bedroom and closet) could get mosquitos to buzz off. In a 2010 study published in the American Society for Horticulture Science journal HortScience, researchers found that major volatiles inside the sheets — specifically the fragrant chemicals linalool, benzyl acetate, beta-citronellol, and hedione — could repel the fungus gnat. The connection to mosquitoes is that the experiment began with the premise that a specific dryer sheet could repel mosquitoes and "gnats."

The study stated that, based on the results, under laboratory conditions, the fabric softener dryer sheets tested "do in fact repel B. sp. nr. coprophila adults." And so if it worked against the gnats, then it could possibly work against mosquitoes, too, as claimed.

With that said, another part of this question is how effective the dryer sheets are, and it appears that any effect it could have is temporary, at best. So, even if you find that dryer sheets provide you with some relief, the odds are those mosquitos will likely be back to bugging you by the end of the evening.

For those looking for a more natural insect deterrent, file this method under tricks that are worth a shot. Again, the idea is that mosquitoes are bothered by the odors of specific chemicals in the sheets, such as those mentioned in the study: linalool, benzyl acetate, beta-citronellol, and hedione. 

So to keep them at bay, you would transfer those odors onto yourself or around you. For example, you could tuck a few dryer sheets into your pockets or place them on a chair you're sitting on. This will create a sort of force field for you with the sheets. But as you do, keep in mind that mosquitoes tend to home in on their targets by smelling the carbon dioxide they emit, and so most persistent pests will most likely be able to break through and buzz past any sort of scent block like this.

To ensure your evening doesn't end with an armful of itchy spots, it's best to use a combination of defenses, including to spray on a mosquito repellant that contains DEET, or alternatively, picaridin, which, according to Consumer Reports, is based on piperidine, a "clear colorless liquid with a pepper-like odor" (per CAMEO Chemicals). Like the dryer sheets, it's possible the smell of picaridin repels mosquitoes, temporarily.

Another strategy is to stand near plants like lavender, sage, bee balm, or other easy-to-grow herbs that help keep mosquitoes out of the yard and garden. Plus, there are other household staples known to repel mosquitos like magic. For example, you could put out bowls of dried coffee grounds, rub some grapefruit peels on your skin, and spray a mix of apple cider vinegar and water to help turn those mosquitoes away so you can ditch the itch.