What is an effective/safe way to repel mosquitoes?”
Here’s the bottom line: it’s impossible to get rid of them completely. But you can reduce their numbers a lot. Ideally, your municipality will spray regularly during mosquito season. This is the most effective thing I’ve come across, but you have very little control over it. Second, as to your pool, make sure the chlorine levels are appropriate. If it has a regular filtration system, then it should be the source for mosquito breeding. If it’s one of those standalone pools that don’t have a filtration system, then you need to add a larvicide to it and use a pool net to cover it. Like you said, get rid of all other standing water. That’s where they breed. Even a very small puddle is enough for them to breed in. And try getting a CO2 trap. From what I’ve read, they’re the most effective way to control mosquitoes locally. I’m talking about something like this: http://www.megacatch.com/ Now, I don’t have one of these, so I can’t give yo
