<p>No, I’m not being rude. 
We’re having a cookout and I’m trying to avoid mosquitoes. Any tips short of rewiring the house and installing some high-tech gadget? TIA</p>
<p>Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide in our breath. Those electronic gizmos are nonsense. Citronella candles may help. But short of screening, you might be stuck with them.</p>
<p>Of course be sure your yard isn’t a breeding source for them. Any standing water is suspect (including bird baths).</p>
<p>I use the sacrificial method. My wife has sweeter blood, and they know it.</p>
<p>Raid makes an outdoor yard guard product. It’s a fogger type spray that supposedly lasts a few hours. I have no experience with it but I’ve seen it on the shelf with other bug sprays.</p>
<p>I usually start with the fogger before anyone gets there. Then I use citronella candles everywhere. Also, Off has some “family” scents and the one that advertises that it goes on dry is pleasant. Make sure and have some around in case the citronella isn’t enough. As long as you aren’t having any little kids around, the mosquito coils that you light and put on the ground in their little holder also helps.</p>
<p>Fans help, if you can set some box fans outside. Plus they’ll keep you cooler.</p>
<p>Also, you can get bug wipes in a dispenser container that don’t smell too unpleasant and guests can use if they want.</p>
<p>Picardin (sp?) spray. It works almost as well as Deet with no odor and less toxic.</p>
<p>I can’t stand citronella, especially when eating, but have found that burning any sort of candle helps. We have two ceiling fans on our porch now, but previously would set up several oscillating fans around the perimeter about half an hour before our cookouts. Supposedly Avon’s classic Skin-so-Soft has been disproved as a bug repellent, but it sure seems to work for us.</p>
<p>As weenie points out, the mosquitos are attracted to the CO2 you exhale. I read somewhere that by putting a chunk if dry ice in the far corner of the yard, they will all go over there, because it is putting out much more CO2 than you are. Worth a try!</p>