There's nothing so irritating as the ringing of a mosquito near your ear, and usually within a few minutes you'll have a fresh bug bite on your exposed skin. Mosquitoes invade areas of high humidity, and in many parts of the world they are responsible for the spread of disease. Whether you want to be free from mosquito bites on your next camping trip or you want to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard, this article provides a way to help you. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of mosquitoes and keep them from coming back.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Get Rid of Mosquitoes from Your Skin
Step 1. Hit them with the mosquito swatter
Mosquito swabs, which are usually made of metal or thicker plastic than regular fly swabs, are attached to the end of a flexible wire. This dramatically increases the chances of killing a stationary mosquito by accelerating the slap.
- Anything that extends your reach, so you can swing faster, can be useful if you don't have a mosquito swatter. Try magazine or newspaper rolls.
- Don't have a mosquito swatter? Kill the flying mosquitoes with a clap of your hand. Using two hands will be more effective than one, because the air coming from each hand will blow mosquitoes into the other hand.
Step 2. Use chemical mosquito repellent
Repelling mosquitoes from the body is the best way to avoid being bitten. Use insect repellent on uncovered skin surfaces when you are outdoors, especially during the day. If using sunscreen, apply your sunscreen before applying mosquito repellent.
- Mosquito repellents containing 30% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are the most popular types of mosquito repellent, and are recommended for adults and children over 2 months of age and will be effective for several months. o'clock. Mosquito repellents containing lower DEET will provide a shorter protection period and should be applied more frequently.
- Mosquito repellent containing 15% picaridin, which should be applied more frequently, is available in the US. Picaridin is odorless, has a comfortable texture, and is not sticky like DEET. Research has shown that picaridin is as effective as DEET and can also be applied to babies as young as 2 months old.
- Protect babies who are less than 2 months old by using a baby basket equipped with a mosquito net that has an elastic end so that it can be closed tightly, instead of using mosquito repellent.
Step 3. Use an oil-based mosquito repellent
The safety of using mosquito repellents made by combining synthetic chemicals in the laboratory has been questioned, and there are many natural remedies you can use instead. Citronella oil, cinnamon oil, and castor oil have been widely known to repel mosquitoes. Most natural mosquito repellents should be applied or used more frequently than chemical mosquito repellents.
- Lemon eucalyptus oil is sold in the form of a product called Repel®. Repel is made from 40% natural eucalyptus and has a pleasant smell and taste without leaving a sticky residue on the skin. It is also effective at repelling fleas.
- Tea tree oil can also be used as a natural mosquito repellent. Look for commercial mosquito repellent products that contain this oil.
- Try Skin Armor Deep Woods Outdoor soap. A combined effort of researchers in Australia and China who have worked extensively over the last decade to find quality mosquito repellent products finally resulted in this product. This is a completely natural product made from a group of potent natural oils and can protect you from mosquito attacks when you are working or camping outdoors.
Step 4. Wear loose clothing that covers the whole body
Long sleeves and long pants will help protect you from mosquitoes when you are outside. Covering the skin is a key approach to repelling mosquitoes.
- Clothing can also be sprayed with a mosquito repellent containing permethrin or another safe mosquito repellent for better protection. Do not apply permethrin directly to your skin.
- Do not wear heavy, dark clothing in warm weather. Mosquitoes are attracted to warm bodies, so keeping your body cool is an effective way to avoid bites. Mosquitoes are known to love the colors black, blue and red the most.
- Don't use perfume when you leave the house when it's mosquito season. Mosquitoes are attracted to sweat, but sweat can mask something mosquitoes prefer, such as perfume.
Step 5. Use a mosquito net to protect you at night
If you sleep in a mosquito-infested area, get a mosquito net to hang around the bed or on a mat so that it touches the floor on all sides. This is the single most effective way to keep them from getting in and biting you, especially if there are open windows or doors nearby.
- Check for holes in the mosquito net regularly; because long toenails can make holes in them when you sleep.
- Make sure you don't touch the mosquito net while you sleep.
- Cages for dogs and other pets should also be covered with mosquito nets if you experience a large number of mosquito infestations.
Step 6. Seal your house to keep insects out
Inspect your home screens and repair any holes and rips that could be used as entry points for mosquitoes. You can use silicone chalk or a gauze patch. Use weather stripping to seal gaps in doors, especially under doors. There's no surefire way to prevent mosquitoes from getting in, but implementing some of these steps can really help.
Step 7. Do not go outside if there are a lot of mosquitoes outside
Mosquitoes tend to come out at dusk, at dawn and in the dark, so if possible, stay safely indoors at that time. If you must leave the house when the mosquitoes are most active, wear layers of clothing to protect your skin.
Method 2 of 3: Repel Mosquitoes from the Yard
Step 1. Use a citronella product to repel them
Mosquitoes don't like being around citronella oil. Apart from being used on your body, citronella oil can be used in the following ways to get rid of mosquitoes from your home:
- Light a citronella candle or torch. The smoke in the air will help repel some insects.
- Plant a citronella tree in a pot on your patio. To use it, take one of the stems and apply it on your skin and around your patio––the smell repel mosquitoes.
- Use mosquito repellent that is made from citronella. Check the content of other ingredients in this mosquito repellent, and don't sit near the source of the smoke, because the smoke you inhale can harm your health.
Step 2. Burn other essential oils
Get an oil burner and use a candle to heat the water mixed with an essential oil such as lemon eucalyptus, lavender, or catnip (preferably a mixture of several types of oil). The heat generated by the wax will vaporize the oil into the air, and the heat and mosquito repellent oil will help create a mosquito-free area within a radius of 2 to 3 meters.
Step 3. Use soapy water placed in a dish
If you eat food outdoors, you can repel mosquitoes by placing a dish of water mixed with dish soap in a hidden place nearby. Mosquitoes will be attracted to the water source, and will get trapped in the soap bubble and drown.
Step 4. Use a lamp that does not attract mosquitoes
Place LED lights on doorways, windows and patios. Mosquitoes won't swarm if the light comes from LED lights, yellow bug lights, and sodium lights.
Step 5. Apply gauze or cover the outdoor area
If you live in a place where there are large numbers of mosquitoes, you can use mosquito nets or screens both inside and outside the house. Place an appropriate mosquito net or outdoor plastic covering around the patio or outside. The waterproof cover will also protect the area from rain, snow and all kinds of insects.
Step 6. Plant some garlic in the yard
Eating garlic daily to repel mosquitoes has not been shown to be effective in scientific studies, however, some people believe that consuming garlic has a protective effect when used as a barrier. Since it tastes good, it doesn't hurt to grow garlic, but don't rely on this one method alone to repel mosquitoes.
- Plant garlic around your house to repel mosquitoes. It can be integrated around the house, on the balcony, etc.
- Spreading garlic powder from the grocery store around your yard can create a mosquito repellent. Spread a little more on the patio and balcony areas. This can protect pets from mosquito bites if they sleep in the area.
Step 7. Use a mosquito trap system
Mosquitoes can be effectively killed using special tools that emit heat and carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes, then trap or kill them using nets, containers or chemicals. Although these mosquito trap systems are expensive, they are quite effective, and well worth a try if you are committed to keeping your yard mosquito-free.
- A mosquito trap system will not eliminate all mosquitoes from your yard. Each environment tends to have more than one species of mosquito breeding in the area, and different types of trapping systems only deal with certain species. Ask around your area to find out what types of trap systems can be used to kill other types of mosquitoes.
- Do not use a mosquito "killer" electric racket. This racket has proven to be very effective at killing many insects, but generally the insects killed are harmless insects. In addition, the sound emitted by this tool tends to be uncomfortable in the ear.
Method 3 of 3: Destroying Mosquito Breeding Sites
Step 1. Remove all standing water in your yard
Mosquitoes are often attracted to water, especially stagnant water. Examples of places for mosquitoes to breed are old tires, puddles in car driveways, clogged drains, unfiltered fish ponds, empty flower pots, and anything that can hold water for more than a few days at a time.
- Use a plastic broom to remove water in small crevices on a hard surface. Use a suction pump for larger basins.
- If you are attacked by mosquitoes from standing water from culverts, sewers or ponds that you have no control over, contact the public service responsible for explaining that you believe the standing water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- If it is not possible to remove a particular water source, add a few drops or a dip of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) into the water. BTI is a species of bacteria that functions as a larvacide (material used to kill larvae) and will kill mosquito larvae for one month. In addition, this material is safe and non-toxic to children/pets.
Step 2. Take care of pools and pools
If you have a koi pond or a swimming pool that is not used very often, this can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Help yourself and your neighbors by doing regular maintenance to keep the water fresh and flowing.
- Prune plants around ponds or other gathering places for water.
- If you have a bird bath or other small source of water, change the water frequently or stir the water so that mosquitoes can't lay eggs there.
- Put the right chemicals in your swimming pool to make it uninhabitable by mosquitoes.
Step 3. Mow grass and shrubs regularly
Grass and shrubs that are too dense can be used as nests and hiding places for mosquitoes. Be sure to mow the lawn regularly and use pruning shears to trim shrubs and other plants.
Tips
- Lavender is great for repelling mosquitoes, and so is lavender oil.
- Use citronella.
- If you live or travel in an area known to have dangerous mosquitoes, consider buying a mosquito net.
- The use of mosquito nets that have been sprayed with anti-mosquitoes or have not been sprayed keeps mosquitoes away from making contact with humans.
- Drying cloths (both rubbed and hung), in several control studies have been shown to have no effect on the number of mosquito bites received.
- Hanging a clear plastic bag filled with water that has a small inlet and placed around an area you want to be insect-free will only catch flies, not mosquitoes, bees, or crawlers.
- Spray permethrin products on walls and ceilings etc. Every time mosquitoes touch the area that has been sprayed, they will die in no time.
Warning
- Sometimes mosquitoes can develop immunity to certain brands of mosquito repellent spray.
- The wax or citronella oil in a tiki torch can be said to be the same as other candles that emit heat, moisture and carbon dioxide that can repel mosquitoes.
- The theory of B vitamins is interesting (and B vitamins are harmless to most people if taken) but theories about the effectiveness of vitamins against mosquitoes are still unproven.
