Nothing adds insult to injury quite like a mosquito bite on a hot summer day. And if you’ve tried the candles, sprays, lights and everything else, you may think the fight against bugs is hopeless. Luckily, we spotted an easy and odorless way to repel those mosquitoes with this rechargeable mosquito repeller by Thermacell.
About the size of a stemless wineglass, it’s a compact pod that emits an odorless oil meant to repel mosquitoes up to 20 feet from its placement. According to several user reviews, it really works. “Literally the exact day I started [using this], I [did] not [have] one single mosquito bite,” says user Patricia K. And right now, the blue and black 5.5-hour versions are finally back on sale for 18% off, making it under $30 again. Whether you like to camp or grill, this handy device will help ensure bugs don’t take an itchy bite out of your good time.
Customers say it’s been an essential tool to keep on the patio or backyard, and even when camping.
This Thermacell repeller set comes with a repelling device, a 12-hour oil refill and a USB charging cable to keep its power going for up to a claimed 5.5 hours.
“My husband is allergic to mosquitoes and usually gets eaten alive in the summer months,” one user wrote. “While using this little device, he didn’t get a single bite. Worth the money.”
“It actually works!” says another user, Don G. “We’ve tested it by sitting out on our deck without it and getting bit — then placing it on our deck and waiting 15 minutes and then sitting bug-free. We read all of the reviews and found that those who rated it high were right; it works.”
Another shopper reported their success: “I went camping in the woods and allowed the mosquitoes to start coming around first, but once I turned on the Thermacell, they never came near me and my family. I tested this over 2 days.”
If you’re sensitive to bug sprays and looking for a fuss-free way to drive those mosquitoes away, consider this electric repeller for your next outing.
Read on for more promising reviews of the Thermacell rechargeable mosquito repelled:
“I’ve used these for a full summer/fall season and they do indeed keep the mosquitos away. We live in a rural, leafy, buggy area, and I’ve been 99% mosquito bite free since using them.” — armchair
“I have always been a magnet for mosquitos, but they are nothing compared to the vile little creatures called no-see-ums that I first encountered after moving to the South. They come out of hiding at dusk and dawn every day, and you can barely see them. By the time you swat them away, you’ve already been bitten and their bites are as bad as mosquitos’ are. I got this, hoping it might work. It was super easy to set up and start using - after first fully charging it. I am finally able to join my husband (who never gets bitten) on our unscreened front porch with a book and glass of wine in the early evenings and not get a single bite! I’m so happy about that, I could cry. Screens don’t keep no-see-ums out, so my screened porch was never an option... but it is now. It’s a miracle for me to be able to sit outside without first putting gobs of insect repellent on. I use natural oils-based products, but they still have to be applied and then washed off. I far prefer just pushing the button on this little miracle machine. This has been an absolute game-changer for me. Love this product!” — Curious Epicure
“I am the original mosquito magnet and suffer every time we go outside without soaking myself in DEET. So we used it this summer on the front porch in Delaware in the late afternoon when mosquitos are at their busiest. Voila!. No bites. I also used it on my pontoon boat and while camping in wooded areas and I was just fine. I am shocked because I was pretty certain it wouldn’t work, but have been happily surprised. Can’t say it works for everyone, but it worked for me. The refills are expensive, but well worth it until something better comes along (which hasn’t happened yet, even in the age of space travel).” — Avid reader
“We bought one of these of about a year ago and have tested it several times at our neighbors’ outdoor dining area and ours as well. They really do work! Not a single mosquito bite and very unobtrusive. I just set it on the ground under the table, and it protected 14 people! I just gave a bigger more powerful version to some friends of ours who are going to be living on a boat, but are currently in Guatemala working on it. They complained about the mosquitoes and our friend caught dengue fever from one! I gave them about a two-year supply of cartridges as well. They love it! Even down there with the voracious tropical mosquitoes this thing seems to work quite well. Truly an advancement in mosquito protection. The battery lasts a long time, it’s easy to charge, not the most economical device, but when you gain in protection is well worth it.” — Lek
“I’m one of those people who had always been the big repellant for other people... i.e. no one else gets not because I get ALL the bites. Well, after one evening outside and getting 54 bites on ONE leg from ankle to knee (yes - you read that right), I decided to give this a try... I’d tried everything else, what’s one more? IT WORKS!!!!!!!!! I got to weekly outdoor concerts and as long as I have this baby with me, no bites. ALL SUMMER LONG. Going on summer #2 and won’t leave home without this device.” — J.Lia
If you’re looking for more “gentle” bug repellents, check out this list from contributor and self-proclaimed “health-conscious parent” Martha Tuber:
Stem insect killer
I used this spray to take care of a summertime ant infestation and was shocked by how immediately it worked — just a few quick, direct spritzes was all it took to stop the intruders in their tracks. The main ingredients are geraniol and lemongrass.
Zevo Insect Killer ant, roach and spider spray
I also used this spray while tackling my ant issue, and, like the aforementioned Stem product, it was immediately effective. This one uses rosemary oil (another natural bug-deterrent) and sodium lauryl sulfate (a common surfactant that also has insect-killing properties), but the outcome is the same. I also think its powerful rosemary scent is what helped drive out the spiders that had been making themselves very at home under my roof.
Another set of Zevo products that reviewers love
This pair of ant, roach and fly sprays are infused with essential oils of rosemary and cornmint, which are “deadly” to bugs (according to the brand) but safe to use around pets and people, provided you carefully follow the usage instructions. “I was dealing with a big gnat problem, so I got these to help,” wrote TL Sopko on Amazon. “They seemed to work well, but I was pleasantly surprised at the scent. It's giving spa vibes. I was expecting a bug spray smell, but this is very nice.”
Mighty Mint insect and pest control
This peppermint oil-based formula promises to drive out roaches, spiders, ants and flies with “a few sprays every few days,” according to the brand.
Dr. Killigan’s Six Feet Under insect killer
Soybean, cinnamon, and clove oils are the natural ingredients that help make Dr. Killigan’s “safe and soooo effective for everything awful,” and when “literally nothing else has worked.” It can be used anywhere in the home; won’t harm people or pets when used as directed; and can kill 50+ insects both on contact and residually for up to 30 days.
BugMD pantry pest control
If moths are your problem, customers say these discreet, scent-free traps “are a marvel.” They’re small, easy to assemble, and made with extra-strong, pheromone-infused glue that attracts damaging moths and keeps them stuck. Each pack comes with six traps, and the brand also makes a version for clothes moths.
Zevo flying insect trap
Per one reviewer, this plug-in trap “works really well and has the advantage of being artistically eye-catching at night and very inconspicuous during the day.” It’s basically an insect-killing accent light — keep it plugged in 24/7, and its calming glow (a combo of blue and UV light) will attract and trap all manner of flying critters. It’s odorless and silent (no moving parts), and you can buy refill cartridges to keep your defenses up year-round.
Katchy indoor insect trap
Fruit flies, gnats, and mosquitos are no match for this electronic trap, which uses a powerful combo of glowing light and liquid bait to lure bugs in, and a powerful fan and glue board to keep them there. Per one reviewer, its “exceptional effectiveness makes it a must-have tool for maintaining a pest-free environment.” Its glowing neon ring also makes it look very space-age chic.
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)