Looking for natural ways to repel mosquitoes? Mosquitoes might be tiny bugs but they pose a great risk to people. Keeping mosquitoes away is important because they carry diseases such as West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever, and Malaria. With a variety of methods available, it is simple for you to keep them off you, your family, and your property.
In this article, we will give you 10 natural methods of keeping mosquitoes away. They are all chemical-free solutions that you can access easily. But, if you already have a serious mosquito infestation, call a professional mosquito control in Singapore to get rid of them.
What are things to know about mosquitoes?
There are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes worldwide and about 80 species of them are in Singapore. A common misconception is that mosquitoes exclusively feed on blood. But the truth is, they are not parasites because they only consume blood to create healthy eggs.
It would be helpful to learn about mosquitoes and their lifespan so you’ll know what to expect when these unwanted guests visit you. It is also worth mentioning that repelling and killing mosquitoes are not the same. Repelling mosquitoes will make them stay away from you by making yourself less appealing to them.
Killing mosquitoes may seem to be an appealing option, but it’s not always in our best—or the environment’s—interest. That is because mosquitoes can become resistant to pesticides, making them harder to kill as a whole. Killing mosquitoes can also be damaging to the ecosystem, depending on the pesticide. It is likely to mess up the natural habitat, as birds and other wildlife feasts on mosquitoes.
What are the different ways to repel mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes are easier to see during the day than at night. If it’s getting late, and you want to track them down before they feast on you, turn on a flashlight, a lamp, or your smartphone. These bugs will be drawn to the light. If you can confirm their presence in your home, here are ways to keep them from biting you or your family members.
1. Close off any gaps
To stop mosquitoes from infesting your home, fix any gaps in windows or screens. When you see sunshine come through below your closed door, it’s a sign that your screen is not sealed well. A simple door strip will prevent mosquitoes from entering the home.
2. Use mosquito netting
If you sleep with opened windows at night, protect yourself from mosquitoes by hanging a mosquito netting over your bed.
3. Turn on the oscillating fan
Mosquitoes cannot fly against the wind created by a fan. This may be an overly simple tip, but at times, that’s precisely what you need to handle the situation. These pests will not approach you and eventually leave the room.
4. Make a homemade mosquito repellent with essential oils
Essential oils are said to repel mosquitoes, but they may not be as effective as traditional pesticides. You can use essential oils like lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, clove, or tea tree oil to create the spray solution.
To prepare, gather the essential oil, one cup of water, and a spray bottle. Just mix up a few drops of the oil with the water, pour everything into a spray bottle, shake it up, and you’re all set. You can spray it on your bare skin and your furniture, but avoid spraying it on sensitive clothing.
Read also: 5 Tips for Avoiding Mosquito Bites During the Dengue Season
5. Light up candles
Mosquitoes can’t stand the smell of citronella and lavender. Burn candles with these scents to repel mosquitoes.
6. Burn coffee grounds
Pour coffee grounds in an ashtray or an egg carton. Burn them to release smoke that drives these bugs away. Do this carefully in an area where no damage will be done and will not set off a smoke detector.
7. Apply lemon balm to your skin
Lemon balm can be applied to the skin, especially to the ankle and wrist regions, because it has been proven to discourage mosquitoes. Just crush it and put it onto your skin.
8. Repel mosquitoes with burnt sage and rosemary
Burning sage and rosemary can soothe you. But mosquitoes will hastily escape the room once they smell them.
Read also: The Best Indoor Plants To Keep Bugs Away
9. Install mosquito traps
You can buy a mosquito trap by ordering online or buy one through the local hardware store or grocery store. Another option is to make your mosquito trap at home with sugar as bait. Mosquitoes will be attracted to the sugar you’ve infused, get drawn toward it, and drown. You’ll have to replace your solution every few days.
10. Buy bug zappers
Though the bug zapper can kill insects on contact, doing this repeatedly can become tiring. You can also likely kill good bugs with it. Due to this reason, a bug zapper may not be the best mosquito repellent for you.
The ultimate method to get rid of mosquitoes? Professional mosquito control!
While you might find some degree of success with homemade mosquito repellents, if you’re dealing with lots of mosquitoes, you should call in a specialist in NEA pest control. Professional pest control companies can eliminate mosquitoes at all stages of their life cycle. They are highly experienced in working toward safety while applying mosquito control solutions.
