I Tried 6 Popular Methods To Stop Mosquitoes And Heal Bites, And TBH, 1 Home Remedy Reigned Supreme

Warm weather — and hanging out on a patio at sunset — are, undeniably, my jam. I love the summertime, but for every summer of my life, mosquitoes have harshed my mellow, and I am absolutely TARGETED. Until now.

Twitter: @MikeTaddow

Mosquitoes are bad enough as it is, and climate change means they're only going to get worse; their range will expand with higher global temperatures, and warmer winters mean the cold won't kill them off as effectively each year.

Mosquitoes aren't just a nuisance, either: They can be lethal. Estimates place the annual death toll from diseases carried and transmitted by mosquitoes, like West Nile Virus and dengue, anywhere from 700,000 to a staggering 3 million people. There's also been the recent outbreak of the rare but extremely life-threatening eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus in the northeast United States, which killed a New Hampshire man and has been detected in five states this year.

This summer, I was determined to find the best remedies for existing bites, plus how to best repel mosquitoes before they make you into a blood meal (a gross reality, but also a potentially dangerous one).

I selected three methods to relieve the itch from existing bites, and three methods to repel mosquitoes (and thereby prevent bites). Testing took a little over a week: I started by trying out the itch relief methods on my existing bites, then moved on to trying out each repellent method on an evening outside during peak mosquito hours.

My criteria for a winning method in each category was purely based on effectiveness (how well something stopped the itch or repelled mosquitoes), but I also took note of the user experience of each method, since how long something takes and how easy or comfortable it is has a big impact on whether or not you'll actually use it.

Itchiness is pretty easy to measure, but repelling effectiveness is less so. For the repellent methods, I tried to get a feel for how many bugs were swarming me compared to usual, plus how many bites I got using that method versus how many I can usually expect on a summer evening.

When it came to itch relief methods, I looked no further than Reddit. There's a whole thread on r/lifehacks of folks sharing their methods of choice.

With a few simple tricks, you'll be itch-free and not have to take drastic measures:

First up are three methods for mosquito bite itch relief tested and reviewed by yours truly:

The CDC recommends the following treatment:

"Wash the bite and surrounding area with soap and water.

Apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce swelling and itching. Reapply ice pack as needed.

Apply a mixture of baking soda and water, which can help reduce the itch response.

– Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to create a paste.

– Apply the paste to the mosquito bite.

– Wait 10 minutes.

– Wash off the paste.

Use an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to help relieve itching. Follow the product label directions."

So I tried it! First up was this gnarly ankle bite, unequivocally the WORST kind of mosquito bite:

I followed the CDC instructions to a T, washing the bite with soap and water, applying an ice pack for 10 minutes, then following that up with a baking soda paste.

Siena Giljum / BuzzFeed

With a tablespoon of baking soda, you only need a tiny amount of water — just enough to be able to stir it into a paste.

I waited 10 more minutes with the paste sitting on the bite.

Then I washed it off, and voilà! Minimal itch. TBH, though, I feel like the ice was doing most of the heavy lifting by numbing the bite.

I'd give this a 4/10. It helped for a while, and was an easy, basically free home remedy, but the itching returned with a vengeance within a few hours. Plus, altogether it took about 25 minutes, which is WAY more time consuming than a lot of other solutions out there.

On to the next.

This one is kind of a two-for-one. First there's a classic: literally just pressing your nail into the bite in the shape of an 'X.'

Twitter: @midwestern_ope

I mean, it kind of works, but the relief is SO fleeting. It's a good solve when you don't have anything else at the ready, but by no means is it a lasting solution. 3/10.

And apparently it only helps because the pain "overrides" the itch momentarily. BTW, be careful not to dig too deep so as to pierce the skin: It can cause infection.

Now the real hack: heat! When mosquitoes feed on you, they insert a protein that prevents your blood from clotting. Applying heat to a mosquito bite can provide relief by denaturing that protein and by opening the pores, allowing the skin to release toxins from the bite more quickly. Reddit came in clutch with this one:

There are obviously quite a few ways to apply heat to a bite, including a ceramic plate zapper tool some people swear by, but I opted for a free, Reddit-approved method: the hot spoon. Here's the ugly, red welt that would be my next victim:

I heated up my spoon with hot water, as suggested, but rather than "near boiling," I went for the electric kettle's "delicate" setting out of trepidation.

Siena Giljum / BuzzFeed

After my spoon was sufficiently heated, I pressed it into the bite for about 15 seconds. I dunked the spoon back in the hot water and repeated once.

This was an instant favorite of mine. It uses a simple scientific principle about the mosquito bite for a wildly simple, free, and quick solve. Itching was super minimal, and I think if I had used hotter water, it would have been even more effective. It's also supposed to be permanent assuming you break up all the protein. 9/10!

ABC / Via youtube.com

This one was on Shark Tank!

It's literally called "Bug Bite Thing," and it's really simple: It's a suction tool to suck the venom (or saliva in the case of mosquitoes) out of all kinds of insect bites, thus preventing or stopping your body's reaction to it. Plus, at around $10, it's pretty affordable, and you never have to repurchase or refill.

Here are the instructions, according to the package:

This works best within an hour or so of getting bitten, so you have to catch it relatively quickly (which doesn't always happen for me). I picked my freshest bite and went for it.

Siena Giljum / BuzzFeed

It's an odd sensation, but I do think it worked. Most of the itching stopped, but there's a good chance some of that was psychosomatic because I was literally performing the action of "pulling" something out of the bite. So it helped...I think?!? 6/10.

OK, so now that you've healed your bites, here are three ways to stop those pesky mosquitoes from getting you in the first place:

Twitter: @softbfbvnny

Everybody knows and loves OFF!, from summer camp goers to backwoods hikers. How does the time-tested spray hold up?

Honestly, pretty well. I think this one is a standby for a reason. I don't mind the feeling of sprays, but even then, I don't think it feels overly oily or uncomfortable on the skin. It provides protection while you're on the move, great for outdoor activity. Minor deduction for the unmistakeable (and, depending on your opinion, not so pleasant) perfume. 8.5/10!

Repellent Method #2: Tried 'n' True Home Remedy

Next up was another spray, but this one homemade! I found out about it from a video by Instagram creator @ashleyrosereeves, who credits the recipe to a TikTok by user @itscontrarymary.

The recipe is just warm water, vanilla, and an optional sprinkle of cinnamon in a spray bottle.

It worked for others in the comments section, so I hoped the same would be true for me:

So I mixed it all up in a liquid measuring cup...

Siena Giljum / BuzzFeed

...and poured it into my spray bottle.

Siena Giljum / BuzzFeed

Then came time to go outside, so I gave myself (and the patio area) a spray down as you would with a normal repellent.

So, how did it stack up? This stuff smells divine, as you can probably imagine, and barely feels like anything on your skin. You'll literally be a walking sugar cookie. It was also another close-to-free solution, which I love. And it works pretty well! 8/10.

Here's another (albeit untested) all-natural repellent method from the comments:

The Thermacell ($26.50 for the device and a 12-hour starter kit) is designed to be your outdoor companion during mosquito season. It's a cylinder that needs a fuel cartridge and a small "mat" of mosquito-repelling ingredients.

Siena Giljum / BuzzFeed

This is what comes inside this particular bundle:

The Thermacell works by using the fuel to generate heat, which warms up the metal plate that the mat goes on. The heat makes the mat dispense a fine mist of repellent, which the company advertises as protecting about 15 square feet of outdoor space. BTW: This product should ONLY be used outdoors.

Siena Giljum / BuzzFeed

I tested it during a backyard function, but a VERY important note: In super fine print, Thermacell tells users not to have exposed food within range of the device. Because we were having a meal, I had the Thermacell on for about 15 minutes prior to there being any food on the table.

The warning about not having it around food is somewhat concerning (and just kind of annoying, because what good summer backyard function is complete WITHOUT food), but I think the "shield" created by the Thermacell is real!

It's nice to not have to spray something on your body, and we seemed to be pretty bug-free. Again, I don't super love the food warning for a) convenience and b) concern about ingesting harmful chemicals, so 6.5/10.

And that's what I've got! After trying all of these methods, here are my top picks in each category based purely on effectiveness:

Mosquito bite itch relief: Hot spoon, hands down. I will absolutely be using this from now on.

Mosquito repellent: OFF! I've gotta hand it to 'em, this is a winner. If you truly can't stand the smell, go with the vanilla spray — otherwise, think of it as a summer cologne.

What are your go-to methods to relieve itchy bites and repel pesky mosquitoes, or which of these are you definitely trying? Let me know in the comments, and here's hoping we ALL stay bug-free from now on.