5 easy ways to keep mosquitoes away from your windows – enjoy easier summer nights and sleep in peace

Take advantag of a summer breeze without the buzz of mosquitoes

Two wooden arm chairs with pink cushions, either side of a small round wooden table. A large window in the background.
(Image credit: Susie Atkinson)

One of life's summer joys is being able to throw open windows and catch a cool summer breeze. But how do you keep mosquitoes away from windows?

Prevention is always better than a cure, so finding clever ways to keep these pesky pests out of your home should be your first port of call in the summer, preventing itchy bites, illness, and infestations, pros say.

Here, pest control experts have broken down the five best ways to get rid of mosquitoes to prevent them from entering your home.

How to keep mosquitoes away from windows

Like keeping mosquitoes away from the front door, the best way to avoid these bugs is to keep them closed when you can. When you do want to open windows, however, these five tips can help.

1. Remove standing water

Sparrow perched by the side of a bird bath drinking water

Keep birdbaths away from the edges of your home to protect from mosquitoes.

(Image credit: Andi Edwards / Getty Images)

Mosquitoes love water – that is why it is so difficult to keep mosquitoes away from your pool.

To keep them away from your windows, David Price, entomologist and VP of strategic growth at Mosquito Joe, says, ‘Eliminate standing water around your property: Empty bird baths, flower pots, clean gutters, and any other water-collecting containers that become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.'

A telescopic gutter brush, available from Walmart, can make light work of freeing drainage from blocks that can result in standing water.

David continues, ‘While you’re at it, clean up outdoor areas such as garbage cans, grills and patio furniture, and keep lawns mowed, bushes trimmed and mulch minimal to remove mosquito hiding spots.’

A resin outdoor storage shed, available at Amazon, is perfectly sized to store outdoor trash cans, preventing pests from gaining easy access to scraps.

2. Use repellents

A wooden four wick candle on a coffee table

Citronella candles on window ledges can keep mosquitoes away.

(Image credit: Pottery Barn)

If you want a surefire way to keep mosquitoes away from windows, Louisa Messenger, entomologist, malaria expert and School of Health professor at University of Nevada, suggests, ‘You can spray insecticides or repellents (like transfluthrin, metofluthrin or permethrin) on the windows and door frames where mosquitoes may rest or enter.'

Hot Shot Flying Insect Killer, from Walmart, is good for this, promising to continue killing bugs for up to four weeks on non-porous surfaces.

Louisa adds, 'There are some insecticides available to spray in the backyard to provide a perimeter. However, personally I would be less in favor of these because they may affect non-target insects, including friendly insects like bees.’

Luckily, there are several scents that deter mosquitoes if you would prefer a way of getting rid of mosquitoes from your house naturally.

Louisa continues, ‘You can also burn things like citronella candles [available at Walmart] or use electric repellent diffusers, which will repel mosquitoes from entering the house.’

If mosquitoes do manage to get into your home, the plug-in Zevo flying insect trap, from Amazon, can make light work of terminating them before they cause havoc, with thousands of shoppers (and the experts) swearing by Zevo fly traps.

3. Use warm-toned lighting

a reading corner with a mustard yellow chair, a striped ottoman, and small side table with a table lamp in a room with striped brown and white walls

Your lighting plays a big role in pest prevention.

(Image credit: David Hunt Lighting)

Your patio lighting ideas can play a big part in keeping mosquitoes away from windows. Nicole Carpenter, president at Black Pest Prevention, explains, ‘Cool-toned or white bulbs attract mosquitoes. Switching porch and entry lights to warm-toned LED bulbs marked "bug repellent” [available at Walmart] or “low UV” can dissuade them from coming too close to your windows.’

The same goes for any indoor lighting ideas that are close to windows. Move them further away, swap the bulb, or close window treatments. To make lighting control easier, consider investing in the Philips Hue White Ambiance Bulbs, available at Amazon. I love that you can turn these bulbs from bright white to warm orange with a single swipe on a phone, offering the perfect multi-functional task and ambiance light.

4. Utilize fans

A small round glass kitchen dining table in front of a banquette bench, with two red velvet chairs tucked beneath. In a large window at the end of a narrow kitchen.

Creating a cross breeze can stop mosquitoes from getting too close to your windows.

(Image credit: Angel O'Donnell)

Do fans keep mosquitoes away? According to Kris Bagnara, director of service and entomologist at All U Need Pest Control, yes.

He explains, ‘Mosquitoes are weak fliers. This is why we recommend using fans outdoors to keep them at bay. This is especially useful when you'd like to use the outdoor areas of your home, and not be trapped inside while the mosquitoes swarm outside.

‘If you have a patio or lanai with an overhead fan, have those fans turned on, and mosquitoes will not be able to invade your space easily. If no overhead fans are available, box fans or oscillating fans can work great as a portable, temporary solution. Position these to blow across, or away, from windows, and other potential entry points such as garage doors.’

The Shark FlexBreeze pro Mist Fan, from Best Buy, was rated as our best fan, and can be used both indoors and out to help keep mosquitoes away from your windows.

5. Install screens

bedroom window seat

Screens can give you peace of mind when sleeping with the windows open in summer.

(Image credit: Amy Bartlam)

Of course, one of the best ways to keep bugs out of a bedroom when sleeping with an open window is to use pest screens. This is the best fail-safe should your attempts at keeping mosquitoes away from your windows fail.

Louisa recommends, ‘Install fine-mesh screens on all windows and doors. Ideally, this would be a screen with a mesh size smaller than 1.2 mm, and would be regularly maintained/repaired.

'Mosquitoes and other biting insects can squeeze through very small spaces, especially when they're hungry, so even small tears or if fittings become loose around corners, will allow bugs inside.’

This adjustable Ritescreen window screen from Lowe's has been praised by customers for being easy to install and maintaining good air flow without allowing bugs in.

Knowing how to clean window screens can help to keep these eyesores a little less bothersome, too.

What to shop

Meet the experts

David Price
David Price

David Price is the Entomologist and Technical Director at Mosquito Joe. David is responsible for developing technical expertise, researching and introducing new product lines and services, training current and new service personnel, and ensuring quality service in field operation practices throughout the Mosquito Joe system.

Louisa Messenger, Ph.D., MSc
Louisa Messenger, Ph.D., MSc

Dr. Messenger is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health’s Environmental and Global Health Department. She has worked for more than 14 years in international public health, specialising in control of vector-borne diseases, primarily malaria and Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis).

Nicole Carpenter
Nicole Carpenter

Nicole Carpenter started working at Black Pest Prevention when she was in high school. She continued working there while attending N.C. State University and eventually became the CEO. Black Pest Prevention is a company that helps with pest control in Charlotte and serves both North and South Carolina.

Kris Bagnara
Kris Bagnara

Kris is an Associate Certified Entomologist (A.C.E.), Certified Pest Control Operator, and Certified Sentricon Specialist. With a deep background in pest control and team leadership, Kris is passionate about developing technicians, refining service protocols, and ensuring that every customer interaction reflects the company’s high standards.


Open windows are not your only concern when it comes to mosquitoes. There are several ways insects are entering your home, such as gaps around entry points that could also lead to an infestation.

TOPICS
Chiana Dickson
Content Editor

Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for two years and is our resident 'queen' of non-toxic living. She spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website, helping readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips. She was named one of Fixr's top home improvement journalists in 2024.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.