Indoor vs. Outdoor gnat repellents – are they different?
There is not much difference between these two products. You can use most of these repellents both indoors and outdoors. But keep in mind that most indoor repellents don’t have a strong scent, and they are suitable to be worn inside the house.
You also need to understand that most indoor gnats are non-biters while most outdoor gnats bite. But they both are pretty similar, and you can use these repellents whether you are outside the house or inside.
Repellents tend to stay on to you long as you are inside and not exposed to various elements. So when you are outside, you might have to reapply your repellents to keep them effective continuously.
Factors to consider when buying the best gnat repellent
Most gnat repellents are similar, but they are different regarding their staying power and price. Here are some of the factors you must keep in mind when buying a gnat repellent.
Natural ingredients
Many brands are available on the market that claims to have all-natural ingredients and extracts. These products have essential oils and extracts such as citronella and cedar. But these natural extracts don’t have much-staying power.
Look for the ingredients that have lemon and eucalyptus oils. You will have to apply these products repeatedly to make them stay.
Beware, not all-natural ingredients and extracts are suitable for sensitive skins.
As soon as you apply them, these repellents will start causing irritations. So, keep this in your mind and then buy a product. Lemon eucalyptus is one of the oils that can cause irritations, and you have to apply it repeatedly to make it work.
Chemicals/Pesticides
The gnat repellents have permethrins, a type of pesticide made from the extracts of chrysanthemum flowers used by pest control companies.
This pesticide targets gnats, gnat larvae, and other biting bugs directly attacking their nervous system. But in recent years, more and more companies have entered the market that uses natural products.
Most gnat repellents come with pretty similar active ingredients. But not all of them work in the same manner. These repellents also have inactive ingredients that tend to develop a concentration of multiple other ingredients.
These can result in differences when it comes to overall effectiveness. Some of them might even have adverse reactions. So be careful when buying such repellents that have chemicals in them.
Repellent with sunscreen
These products aren’t the best choice because sun blockers are applied every two hours. In contrast, an insect repellent doesn’t need to be applied with this frequency (depending upon the bug repellent). Any over-exposure to such active ingredients can harm your skin and health.
Price
These gnat repellents vary in terms of their price. Some of them are pretty expensive as they come with natural ingredients. But you can understand the value of a product based on how frequently you have to apply it.
For example, Ben’s 100 bug repellent can easily last for up to 10 hours, and it has DEET in it. But the Bug Soother Spray comes with natural ingredients and has a DEET-free formula. But it will only last up to 3 or 4 hours.
No, it’s up to you what your preferences are. For example, whether frequent reapplication is a problem for you, or do you need a DEET-free product. There is always the right option available to you based on your budget based on the features that it has to offer.
What smell do gnats hate?
Fruit flies and fungus gnats are common gnats and rely on their sense of smell for navigation. Therefore, these repellents take advantage of fungal gnats’ traits and use some atoms they don’t like.
These include lemon, peppermint, vanilla, lavender, eucalyptus, DEET, and citronella. Peppermint is the most effective of them all. But you can also use cinnamon, cedarwood, geranium, tea tree, rosemary, and garlic.
Make a homemade gnat repellent
You can conveniently make a homemade gnat repellent spray using dish soap. Make a mixture of dish soap, baking soda, water, and vinegar, and put the mixture into a spray bottle. You can also use apple cider vinegar for this purpose.
Just use some dish soap (a few drops), a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar, and a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water. Just a few sprays of this mixture are effective against gnat infestation.
FAQs
How long does gnat repellent last?
It all depends upon the products that you are using. Most of them tend to last around 2 to 3 hours. But some gnat repellents can last well over 10 hours. But keep in mind that these long-lasting results also have the highest concentration of DEET to provide them with their longevity.
Conclusion
The Bug Soother Spray is the best product that you will find for repelling gnats. It is highly effective against mosquitoes as well. It comes in a small bottle that you can conveniently carry on your outdoor trips.
Remember that you will have to apply it every 2 to 3 hours to make it effective. It has a scent too that has hints of lemongrass and vanilla. Gnats don’t like both these scents at all.