How to Keep Mosquitoes Away

Want to know how to keep mosquitoes away? So in this post you will find 9 natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes.

The intense and swelling itching caused by mosquito bites are enough to ruin the mood in both outdoor and indoor parties. Though these pests are small creatures, they can cause dangerous diseases like dengue, yellow fever, malaria, chikungunya, and more.

In addition to the application of anti-itch creams, it is vital to know some of the best solutions on how to keep mosquitoes away.

You can purchase chemical-laded insect repellents in the market. These products can keep your home mosquito-free, but they also have adverse effects not only on your health but also to the environment.

Read more: Top 5 Products That Kill Mosquitoes Effectively

Long and heavy exposure to DEET, the most common active ingredient in most insect repellents, has been linked to headache, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, shortness of breath, tremors, and memory loss.

With natural repellents, mosquito traps, proper clothing, and easy home maintenance, you can enjoy your outdoor activities and indoor space while keeping mosquitoes away.

9 Natural Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away

Listed are some of the tested solutions on how to keep mosquitoes away from you and your family.

1. Drain Any Stagnant Water

Stagnant water that may be present around your house invites mosquitoes. They commonly infest swamps, marshes, ponds, and other wetland habitats. However, they can also lay eggs in any standing water by your patio and garbage bins.

Removing any stagnant water is one of the best solutions on how to keep mosquitoes away outside your home.

• Eliminate standing water in buckets, rain gutters, old tires, plastic covers, or any other container that may serve as their breeding ground.
• Keep swimming pool chlorinated, filtered and circulating to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.
• Drain and change the water in fountains, bird baths, pet dishes, potted plant trays and rain barrels every week.
• The space under your deck can give mosquitoes a perfect breeding habitat. Check if there are any puddles. Drain them and seal with sand instead to keep stagnant water from forming.

Read more: 31 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

2. Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants

10 Plants That Repel Bugs (Save to Your Pin)

One of the best solutions on how to keep mosquitoes away naturally is by adding insect-repelling plants to your landscape.

The most recommended mosquito-repelling plants are:

• Marigold – The scent of marigold drives mosquitoes away. Grow it in your garden or around the house to keep these insects from visiting.
• Citronella – This plant is one of the common ingredients used in mosquito repellents, making it an efficient and natural alternative to chemical sprays. The oil extracted from this plant can also be applied to the skin as a natural insect repellent.
• Catnip – One of this plant’s main active ingredients was found to be ten times stronger than DEET in recent studies. It is also a great non-toxic alternative to chemical sprays.
• Lemon Balm – Crushing a handful of lemon balm leaves make a quick repellent that can be applied directly to the skin.
• Lavender – Even though humans enjoy the scent of lavender, mosquitoes dislike the smell it gives off.

Read more: Top 10 Natural Mosquito Repellents

3. Hang Bat and Bird Houses

Bats and birds are natural predators of many insects, including mosquitoes. Birds, purple martins in particular, can eat up to 2,000 mosquitoes per day. 70% of over 1,000 species of bats are insectivores and can eat 600+ mosquitoes per hour. Certain species like the little brown bat can even capture up to 1,000 mosquitoes an hour.

Hang bird houses or bat houses around your patio. This method will attract beautiful birds while getting rid of unwanted pests.

4. Mosquito Trap

Sugar with yeast can help you reduce the number of egg-laying females. You can purchase trapping systems or make your own. Here’s one of the best solutions on how to keep mosquitoes away from your house.

1. Cut a 2-liter plastic bottle in half.
2. Melt 1 cup of brown sugar in 1 cup hot water. Mix it well and wait for it to cool down.
3. Pour the melted sugar into the bottom half of the bottle.
4. Mix in 1 teaspoon of baker’s yeast as mosquitoes are naturally attracted to it.
5. Place the top half of the plastic bottle upside down and wrap a tape around the bottle.

Place this trap outdoors to attract and kill mosquitoes. Adding vinegar to the solution will also get rid of gnats. Make sure that you change the trap weekly.

Read more: 22 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Gnats

5. Mow Your Lawn

Mosquitoes and other insects hide in tall grasses as these provide them a moist and shady place to stay. Mowing your lawn regularly is one of the best ways to keep mosquitoes away from your yard and reduce the risk of developing diseases caused by these small pests.

• Mow regularly, but do not buzz as it may damage your lawn.
• Trim any tall grass around pools, walkways, or ponds to reduce the population of mosquitoes around your house.
• Get rid of the piles of leaves or grass as it can become a potential hiding place for mosquitoes and other insects.

6. Camphor

Many homeowners use camphor as an alternative to traditional mosquito repellents. It is typically used for colds, coughs, sores and insect bites.

Since mosquitoes smell the carbon dioxide and other chemicals produced by the body, camphor can counter this just like how citronella affects insects. It confuses mosquitoes and stops them from attacking, making it one of the best solutions on how to keep mosquitoes away from your door.

• Add one camphor tablet in a small bowl filled with water. Place it in any corner of the room to prevent mosquitoes from entering. You can also use two containers for big rooms and crush the camphor.
• Alternatively, light a camphor ball and place it in the center of the room. Leave the area for 30 minutes to an hour with all windows and doors closed. Then, go back inside and open the windows. This room will be free from mosquitoes and other bugs.
• Another option is to add 3 to 4 camphor balls and 1 cup of neem oil in an empty spray bottle. Use this to kill mosquitoes just like commercial ones.

7. Garlic

Garlic is among the most powerful weapons against these annoying pests. Its sulfur content naturally sends ticks, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes away.

After a few minutes of spraying homemade garlic insect repellent, the human nose no longer detects the scent of garlic, but mosquitoes can detect the smell for several weeks, making it one of the natural ways to keep mosquitoes away.

• Crush ten cloves of garlic and put them in a jar. Add three teaspoons of mineral oil and seal the jar. Let it infuse for one whole day and strain. Throw the garlic residue. Add two teaspoons of liquid soap. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and fill it up with water. Shake well and use this solution to repel mosquitoes outdoors.
• Alternatively, you can crush few cloves of garlic and add them to 1 to 2 cups of water. Bring the mixture to boil and let it simmer for a few minutes. Let it cool down and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Sprinkle the mixture in all rooms.
• Including more garlic in your daily meals can also repel mosquitoes. Garlic oil is released from the pores and acts as a barrier between your skin and these biting insects.

Read more: 15 Easy Ways You Can Do Today to Kill Flies Effectively

8. Wear Long Sleeves and Pants

Mosquitoes are attracted to the scent released by the skin. Wearing long sleeves and pants will decrease the number of mosquitoes attracted to you, and it will also make it harder for these pests to bite you.

• Choose light-colored clothes, like tans, whites, and pastels. Mosquitoes are more attracted to black, navy, and other dark colors.
• Wear lightweight long sleeves and pants so you can be comfortable in your tasks and activities.

9. Natural Repellent Spray

Most commercial insect repellents contain DEET, which may pose a health risk and may damage the nervous system. To eliminate the chance of developing any health problem, you can make your own natural mosquito repellent.

Whether you want to relax in the garden or camp in the woods, you can enjoy night outdoor activities by knowing how to keep mosquitoes away outdoors.

You will need 1 spray bottle (8 oz), ½ teaspoon of vegetable glycerin, 15 drops of clove essential oil, 4 oz distilled water and 15 drops of cinnamon essential oil and 4 oz distilled water.

1. Put all ingredients into the spray bottle.
2. Shake to mix all ingredients well.
3. Spray to clothing to keep mosquitoes away. Do not spray onto the skin as it may result in irritation.

Lemon and eucalyptus oil are also effective ingredients in insect repellents.

Additional Tips

Follow some of these tips to keep mosquitoes away from you.

• Light candles with citronella or geranial wax. The smoke from burning candle helps in confusing mosquitoes and stops them from biting you.
• Turn on fans. Electric fans make it hard for mosquitoes to reach and bite you.
• Use mosquito nets or tents. Whether just want to relax outside or you are hosting a party, consider using a mosquito net or moving inside a huge tent.

Conclusion

Mosquitoes are a real cause for concern as they do not just buzz and bite. These tiny creatures also carry a range of harmful and fatal diseases.

While bug repellents available in the market are useful in keeping these annoying pests away, many people opt for natural methods to prevent the risk of health conditions caused by heavy exposure to DEET.

You now can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities by using some of the natural solutions on how to keep mosquitoes away.

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