Let’s say adios to the mosquitoes from your home! Mosquitoes are a nuisance for every one of us and have caused a lot of pestilence every now and then. Today we’ll look at ways on how to get rid of mosquitoes from our places of living.
Mosquitoes are an annoyance since the Jurassic period, from about 210 million years ago. These annoying little creatures still plague our homes and offices. Apart from the itchy bites and blood sucking, these diminutive vermin are carriers of a great number of diseases with high fatality rates. These diseases include Zika Virus, Dengue, West Nile Virus, yellow fever, and malaria. See, there’s a good reason we want to get rid of these little demons.
A Handy Guide: How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes
There are numerous methods and ways of how to get rid of mosquitoes. Some methods work well but are unhealthy as a whole, while others are natural and non-toxic ways but a little less effective. Let’s take a look at all the approaches to get rid of mosquitoes.
Get rid of Mosquitoes through Artificial Repellents
The first way on how to get rid of mosquitoes is by using the popularly available products in the market. These products can easily as well as effectively repel and kill mosquitoes so that they don’t bother you. However, some of them are toxic and can cause allergies. Let’s take a look at them:
Chemical Repellents
You can put these wearable chemical repellents on your skin by rubbing or spraying them on. These are specially made substances that contain 30 to 50 percent DEET, the most effective chemical substance known to repel mosquitoes. These wearable chemical repellents are usually safe to use on your skin and won’t cause any skin irritation or allergies. Although, it is advised to rub some on a small portion of your skin to test if they suit you or not, before buying them. If your skin gets red and itchy causing a fungal acne, then you’re having a reaction to the repellents.
Coils
These are easy and a cheap fix to get rid of mosquitoes from your home. Mosquito repellent coils work on the similar principal as aromatic sticks, instead they’re shaped as coils, and when burnt, their scent repels mosquitoes. It is wise to note that some people might be allergic to the smoke and aroma of these coils.
Liquid Vaporizers and Mats
These are a more modern alternate to the mosquito repellent coils. Liquid vaporizers and mats are safer than coils in terms that they don’t actually burn with fire. Instead, for mats, a small electric heater heats the mat so it releases incense that repels mosquitoes. While, in vaporizers, a small coil heats the graphite rod that is submerged into the liquid repellants, that then vaporizes it into the air. These can still cause irritation and allergies to people though.
Insecticides & Pesticides
This is a popular way of pest control and a great way to get rid of mosquitoes from a large area. However, this method is quite controversial and people are protesting against the use of these insecticides all over the globe. As NY Department of Health warns people that while the insecticide is sprayed to get rid of mosquitoes, still it is a toxic and harmful substance that can cause a number of health problems.
Bug Zapper or Swatter
A bug zapper is a device that attracts and kills flying insects by electrocuting them. You hang it near the entrance of your home or windows and zaps any mosquitoes or insects that fly into it. However, its effectiveness depends totally on the chance that the mosquito will fly into it.
The mosquito swatter is a similar product to the bug zapper; however, it is portable and easier to use. Its shape is like a racket, so you can easily swing it at the mosquitoes flying nearby. Furthermore, the swatter has a button that when pressed acts similarly to bug zapper and electrocutes the mosquitoes in the net.
Natural Ways of How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes
As stated above, the artificial ways of clearing mosquitoes from our homes can be harmful for us. But how to get rid of mosquitoes naturally? Well, we have solutions for that too. Let’s dig into some natural remedies to get rid of mosquitoes.
Lemon and Cloves
This is an easy, cheap, and a natural remedy to rid our homes free of mosquitoes. The smell of citrus fruits and cloves repel mosquitoes greatly. How to get rid of mosquitoes using lemon and cloves? Well, you can use this to your advantage by cutting a lemon and placing cloves in each half. Then leave these natural mosquito repellents in your home where the pests are most likely to hide.
Camphor
Camphor is an effective repellent and works in many ways. You can use camphor tablets in water and leave it open to evaporate. Or, you can burn the camphor and close the room for about half an hour. This is a very efficient and natural way to get rid of mosquitoes.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes using Essential Oils
Essential oils are essential for a reason, they help us in so many ways and provide a plethora of natural therapies. Another one of the great attributes of natural oils is that they can repel mosquitoes. You can either rub them on your skin or prepare some mixture in a bottle to spray it on. The essential oils that work best as mosquito repellents are:
- Citronella,
- Neem and Coconut,
- Lemon,
- Eucalyptus,
- Lavender,
- Peppermint,
- Clove,
- Basil.
Mosquito Repellent Plants
Just like essential oils, the plants producing them are also natural mosquito repellents. You can grow these plants in your home to rid the place of mosquitoes. Other than fending off mosquitoes, these plants also beautify your home and you can also extract natural oils from them. It’s a great way of living green as well as kicking the mosquitoes to the curb. Let’s take a look at the best mosquito repellent plants:
- Citronella Grass
- Lavender
- Marigold
- Basil
- Catnip
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Bee Balm
Scented Candles
You may be wondering is this real? how to get rid of mosquitoes using scented candles? Does this work? Well, it surely does. The principle is same as essential oils and plants. It is actually the scent of these flowers and plant oils that helps keep away the mosquitoes. So, when you burn a candle scented of lavender or such, the mosquitoes run away from that place.
Clearing Mosquitoes without Liquid Vaporizers and Coils, and Scented Products
This is for the people who are allergic to smokes and scents used in the mosquito repellents. Using any type of artificial or natural remedy can be difficult for people with allergies. So, how to get rid of mosquitoes when you can’t bear the smell of the repellents? Well, to do so, we’ll have to stop the mosquitoes from coming near you. We can do this by the following methodologies:
Mosquito Nettings
If you can’t apply a mosquito repellent on your skin, it is best to get mosquito nettings. This way, the tiny blood suckers are unable to reach you. Most people use netting for the bed only, however, you can also get nettings for your windows to make a screen.
Mosquito Traps really helps for how to get rid of mosquitoes
Mosquito traps are a great alternative to just fending off the annoying creatures. Instead, you lure them in a trap and leave them there to die. You can make a mosquito trap at home for cheap, or you can order it online. There are many different types of mosquito traps that you can use.
Closing Entryways
Mosquitos are miniscule creatures that can find their way in our homes through smallest of gaps. Be sure to close up all the windows and doors properly and fix any cracks and holes in the screens. This way, new mosquitoes won’t find their way inside the house.
Turn on fans
Mosquitoes don’t do quite well in windy situations due to their small wings. We can use this to our advantage and use oscillating fans to create a windy environment in our homes. Accordingly, the mosquitoes will stay away from the windy places and hide in the corners. Though, it is a not a permanent solution.
Get rid of stagnant water
Mosquitoes lay eggs in still water. The imperative thing to do is to clear off any hatching grounds for these vampires. Indeed, it is best to get rid of stagnant water altogether. However, if you have a container of water that you need outside, you should cover it properly.
Cleaning the house thoroughly
Moreover, to get rid of any mosquito eggs or larvae it is best to clean your house thoroughly. Don’t be shy to move the furniture around a bit and also clean those moist and dark corners. Also, if you have small kids, their stuffed animals and baby toys can get moist and act as a petri dish to a number of germs. Clean the baby toys properly and place them in a warm and airy place.
Foreword
Consequently, we hope that this guide on how to get rid of mosquitoes helped you. We tried our best to cover all the vital information and the vast topics in a summarized way for your ease. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please feel free to comment below.
