Mosquitoes are vectors for dangerous diseases. It is important to take care of your family and yourself to prevent being infected with dangerous viruses and bacteria that could prove fatal. Besides spreading diseases, these pests are blood sucking parasites that cause rashes, itching, redness and swelling when they break the skin to suck blood.
Their incessant humming is extremely annoying and can disturb sleep. Diseases spread by mosquitoes include Yellow Fever, Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya, Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) that causes intense fever, sweating and suffering.
It is important that you deal with a mosquito infestation near your home immediately by taking a few simple precautions and getting rid of mosquitoes and their nesting sites or breeding grounds as quickly as possible. What follows are a few measures one can take to get rid of mosquitoes quickly and safely, with minimum side-effects.
10 Ways To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes
Check Out Your Environment
Make sure you do not live around any stagnant water areas. If you find garbage or water standing for more than a few days, ensure that you get it cleared away immediately. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for flies, mosquitoes and other pests and their larvae. Empty flowerpots, pits, unclean fishponds, large garbage cans and other open areas can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Ensure that your clearing authority cleans the pond as so possible. Until the authorities clean the area, can sprinkle a bit of chlorine in stagnant water to get rid of larvae. Organize cleaing projects and cleanliness drives frequently in your local community to educate people about mosquitoes and other pests y preventing garbage accumulation and water from stagnating.
Natural Mosquito Repellent
Create a natural mosquito repellent using a candle burner, water and an essential oil like lavender, lemon eucalyptus, neem or cinnamon. The heat from the candle will evaporate the oil. The heat and the essential oil will help to create a three meter radius around the candle for a mosquito free zone.
Neem is a powerful pesticide and insecticidal properties. Mix a few drops of neem oil with a tablespoon of coconut oil and apply over your body as a homemade repellent. You can also add citronella essential oil or clove oil instead of neem. Natural mosquito repellents with essential oils are effective home remedies for mosquitoes.
Citronella
Citronella oil is an effective mosquito repellent that can be used in a number of different forms. Citronella can be used in a torch in your garden. A few drops of citronella oil in a burner with water is an excellent way to get rid of mosquitoes in and around your house.
Citronella is a quick acting and powerful mosquito remedy that is inexpensive and extremely effective. This repellent can be found in most stores and is easy to procure, making it one of the best remedies to rid your home of irritating, harmful and disease spreading mosquitoes.
Plants To Rid Your Home Of Mosquitoes
There are a few plants one can place in the balcony, window sill and bedroom to prevent mosquitoes entering the house.
Geranium
Geranium contains citronella and can be used to repel mosquitoes in and around your house. Planted outside the house, it works as a great mosquito remedy and repellent. Have these plants in your balcony or along your windows sill to prevent the entry of mosquitoes into your home. This forms the first line of defense against mosquitoes and other pests and insects.
Lavender
Lavender scent is another way to repel pests and makes for an excellent remedy for mosquitoes. Rub a cream containing lavender extracts on your skin or have lavender oil burning in your home to drive mosquitoes away from home. Lavender creams are often used when camping outdoors to repel mosquitoes and prevent them from biting when sleeping under tents. One can even place lavender air purifiers in the house to repel mosquitoes.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass plants are used as ingredients to make tea to cure headaches and colds, the plant stem is used to repel mosquitoes. Lemongrass contains compounds like terpenes, geraniol, organic acids and citronella that keeps mosquitoes away. Citronella in the lemon grass causes death to the mosquito because of loss of fluids in their bodies. This is a potent remedy for mosquitoes.
Other Simple Home Remedies You Can Follow
Maximize Natural Light
Mosquitoes nest in dark, humid and moist environments. If you keep natural lighting and air circulation going in your house, there is a smaller chance of a mosquito infestation in your home, or you being bitten my mosquitoes. At night, try to have a fan running to improve air circulation. During the day, try to open as many windows as possible to let the sunlight stream in and ventilate your home.
Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus is one of the most effective natural remedies for mosquitoes. Burn eucalyptus oil or add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a cotton ball or clean cloth and place in your room to ward mosquitoes away. Growing the eucalyptus plant at home can also help to prevent mosquitoes from entering and nesting in your house. Apply the oil to your pulse points to keep mosquitoes from biting you.
A few drops of lemon eucalyptus oil in a cup of water placed in a plastic spray bottle is a good remedy to prevent mosquitoes from biting you. The scent of the oil keeps mosquitoes away and prevents incessant buzzing and biting from the pests.
Mosquito Nets
Putting up mosquito nets around a baby, or around you, when out camping will prevent you getting bitten by these pests. Any sports store that sells camping equipment stocks mosquito nets. Mosquito nets allow enough air to circulate through tiny holes so you do not suffocate under it but prevent mosquitoes from fitting through and biting you making this one of the most powerful mosquitoes home remedies.
Things To Avoid
If your local authority has not yet cleared away garbage and sprayed stagnant water bodies, you should avoid dark clothing, cosmetics, hair sprays and perfumes as they will attract mosquitoes to you. Follow these simple steps and home remedies for mosquitoes.