How to Repel Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are annoying little suckers, and if you think all they do is cause itchy red bumps to appear all over your body, they bring something worse: diseases, like dengue fever and malaria. Don’t worry, though, because there are ways how you can repel these nasty bugs.
What You’ll Need:
Commercial insect repellents
Garlic
Mosquito-repelling herbs
Mosquito-repelling plants
Use Commercial Insect Repellents
There are numerous brands of mosquito repellents available today. These topical, and can be in spray or lotion form. The next time you visit a drugstore or the supermarket, buy one, and apply it all over your body. These contain DEET, an active ingredient that drives away mosquitoes. Make sure you reapply them every few hours, especially in hot weather, since these repellents can sweat off in the heat.
Get Rid Of Stagnant Water
Mosquitoes breed and lay their eggs in dirty, stagnant water. If you always have containers that collect water or dirty water sources near you (such as a canal or an uncleaned fountain), chances are you’ll have a large mosquito infestation. Get rid of tarps, planter saucers, plastic wrappers and clogged gutters. Cover buckets and basins, and change your birdbath water at least twice a week. Your pets’ water bowls should also be cleaned out. If you have recycling bins, drill drainage holes in them, so there’ll be no standing water.
Try Garlic
mosquitoRemember how garlic is supposed to repel vampires? This belief must have been taken from the fact that garlic repels another kind of blood suckers, mosquitoes. Of all the herbs that are said to repel these nasty insects, this is the most effective. If you eat large quantities of garlic, an invisible layer of garlic oil comes out of your pores, creating a mosquito barrier. Make sure you include this herb in your meals.
Another way of using garlic is making a garlic repellent. Mix five parts of water to one part of garlic juice, then shake in a small bottle. Spray all over your body. This will make you smell, but it’ll effectively shoo mosquitoes for at least five to six hours.
Use Herbal Oils
If you want something natural and also smells good to get rid of your mosquito problem, you can try using volatile oils made from plant or herbs. Although they also repel mosquitoes effectively, they need to be reapplied more frequently. Some effective types are:
Cinnamon oil
Cedar oil
Castor oil
Citronella oil
Clove oil
Peppermint oil
Rosemary oil
Lemongrass oil
Geranium oil
Lavender oil
Improve Your Garden
If your garden needs revamping or if you need to get new blooms, one great idea is to pick out plants that can repel mosquitoes. There are several kinds with odorous attributes that mosquitoes hate. Examples include:
Agetarum
Marigolds
Rosemary
Horsemint
Basil
Tansy
Agastache Cana
Plant these around your yard, and throughout your garden. You can also get some of their leaves and rub them on your skin and clothes.
Other Tips
Throw some rosemary or sage into your coals, the next time you barbecue. They help shoo away mosquitoes.
Put some crushed parsley in a jar filled with apple cider vinegar, then rub all over your body. You can also tie a hanky dipped from it around your neck or hat.
Keep your place breezy. Mosquitoes hate breezy places.
Invest in a good mosquito zapper.
Use florescent lights instead of incandescent types. They don’t attract mosquitoes.
Take a Vitamin B-1 tablet. It can give off an offensive odor that humans can’t smell, but mosquitoes can.
Don’t kill bats. They feast on mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are nasty, but they can be dealt with easily. If they already bug you too much, turn to these suggestions, so you can protect yourself and your health effectively.