Summer is always a wonderful time, but a common little bug often chooses this season to become the most active: mosquitoes.
Mosquito bites are annoying by themselves, but these pests can also transmit diseases and trigger allergies, which is definitely not the way to enjoy the season. Of course, you can use a chemical repellent or pesticides to keep them at bay, but there are better ways to deal with this issue by focusing on prevention instead.
So how to deal with mosquitoes at home and prevent them from coming in the first place?
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you." – Walt Whitman
Avoid stagnant water
Nothing invites more bugs into your home than stagnant water. Step number one on how to deal with mosquitoes is to avoid stagnant water. This is where they lay eggs – and they hatch in only 48 hours, giving you very little time to react.
The solution is to avoid stagnant water at all costs. Buckets, pools, old tires, flowerpots – look around the yard and deal with anything that could hold water.
In the case of pools, it can be covered to deny the opportunity to mosquitoes, especially if you’re not using it for the moment. But pools are often too deep and high in chlorine to house mosquitoes, so as long as you’re taking care of it, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Clean your gutters
Clogged gutters are definitely inviting to mosquitoes, as well as the pools of undrained water that form around the yard.
Cleaning your gutters is already an important step in house maintenance anyway, so you’re doing yourself a great favor by investing in it. Tons of direct benefits, as well as an important step in mosquito prevention!
Mosquito netting and bug screens
Bug screens are excellent for leaving the windows and doors open during a summer evening without having to worry about bugs.
These are not enough to repel mosquitoes by themselves, meaning that if you have a mosquito infestation in your yard, this certainly doesn’t fix it. But at least it prevents them from entering your home in large numbers!
Netting has the same purpose, but it can be placed directly over beds or baby cribs to keep them safe from mosquitoes. If you’re looking for tips on how to deal with mosquitoes at home, this is a good way to throttle them, but you still need other ways to eliminate them.
Mosquito traps
Electric trap
This one is pretty self-explanatory: mosquitoes approach the trap because of the light and heat it generates, but then they get zapped upon touching it. Once again, a trap like this won’t handle everything by itself, but it certainly helps in reducing the number of mosquitoes in the yard.
If you’re looking for a quick way on how to get rid of mosquitoes outside, this is a great place to start.
DIY Bottle trap
A DIY bottle trap like this one is a low-budget alternative that works quite well. The idea is to create a funnel with a solution that mosquitoes will be drawn to, but they will get stuck inside it, unable to fly away.
Indoor solutions
While you’re dealing with the mosquitoes in your yard, they will also try to bother you indoors. Here are a few solutions to keep them at bay:
Rotating fan
The simplest way to disrupt mosquitoes is by turning on a rotating fan. Mosquitoes are very light and easily lose control when confronted with a fan. A few of these in areas where you’re hanging out is enough to make them change direction.
Mosquito repellent plants
Some plants have natural properties that repel mosquitoes because they’re often sensitive to smells. Lemongrass, citronella, catnip, and mint are a few examples that they’re not fond of. You can decorate your home with plants that bring fresh scents and keep mosquitoes away for no extra effort.
Chemical repellents
Obviously, chemical repellents like those plugged in outlets or pesticides work really well, but they should be used with caution. Some people may have allergic reactions to their smell, or even become intoxicated themselves with prolonged exposure.
Pets and children can also suffer by getting in contact with them, so if you choose to use them, be sure to read the instructions carefully and take the necessary safety measures. Or even better, get in touch with a pest control company that will handle it safely for you!
If you’re really struggling with a mosquito infestation, you can try contacting a pest control expert in your area to get free quotes!
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