How to Keep Mosquitoes Away
WouterKeeping mosquitoes away is a huge step toward safeguarding your home. These blood-sucking creatures are known for spreading diseases like malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis and typhus. They can also ruin your outdoor plans, especially if you’re planning to have barbecues or cook outdoors.
To keep mosquitoes away from your yard, the first thing you need to do is remove water sources. This includes standing water, trash containers, birdbaths and planters.
If you’re not comfortable with chemicals, you can always try using natural repellents. These are plants and spices that are renowned for their repelling properties. Some of these include lavender, geranium, mint and peppermint.
Another repellent to use is cinnamon. When crushed, the bark of this tree releases a compound called citronellal that repels mosquitoes. Other compounds that are good at keeping mosquitoes away include rosemary, garlic, chilies and neem.
You can also plant strong-smelling spices, such as basil, in your yard to keep pests at bay. Besides keeping mosquitoes at bay, you’ll also help ward off ants and other common household insects.
If you want to prevent mosquitoes from coming inside your home, make sure your door screens are properly fitted. You can also use natural bug sprays, including neem oil. These oils have strong scents that repel mosquitoes and other insects.
Other common mosquito-repelling plants are lemon balm, lemon thyme, grapefruit and lavender. In addition to their citrusy smells, these plants produce chemicals that mosquitoes don’t like.
To keep mosquitoes away, you can also wear dark clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted to people with light-colored skin, so wearing clothes that are dark will help to keep them at bay.
