7 Quick Tips to Keep Mosquitoes Away from Your Home
Mosquitoes, what a nuisance! Every year, these little creatures make life difficult for us. Stings, buzzing etc. They invade us and invite themselves with their share of hassles. Fortunately, their presence is not inevitable. It is possible to keep them away from the house without resorting to chemicals harmful to health and the environment.
Are you looking for natural and safe mosquito repellents? We have the solution. No more nights spent fighting their annoying sounds and soothing the itch they leave us as memories. If these critters show up, be prepared to keep them away from your home. Without resorting to industrial insecticides full of chemicals, it is possible to repel insects naturally without polluting the air you breathe. Discover in this article our selection of the best natural insect repellents to keep mosquitoes away.
To keep insects away, start from the outside
To keep mosquitoes and other harmful insects away, your first instinct should be to eliminate them outside your home. To do this, it is important to pay attention to stagnant water such as small basins or open tanks which must be emptied frequently. If you have ponds of water in your garden, place one or two goldfish there. The latter feed on mosquito larvae and can therefore slow down their proliferation. Another reflex to adopt? Place mosquito repellent plants in your garden. And for good reason, certain plants can effectively keep them away. Simply plant them on window sills, around your terrace or in your garden. The key is knowing how to place them in the right place.
What plants to fight against mosquitoes?
As you will have understood, to effectively get rid of these pests, it is essential to start from the outside. For this, certain plants are very effective. Bonus: they also allow you to beautify your surface.
1. Lemongrass
Citronella is a very effective repellent in the fight against mosquitoes. The reason ? This plant gives off an odor that scares away these insects. And good news: you can easily grow lemongrass in your garden or on your balcony.
2. Basil
Less known than lemongrass, basil is no less effective. This plant is a natural , accessible and economical anti-mosquito solution. You can grow them in pots that you place in the balcony or around your terrace or plants in your garden. Another advantage? This plant is a skin repellent and a natural antiseptic that helps soothe itching in cases of cuts. Simply take a few leaves and rub them on the area.
3. Geranium
In addition to bringing color to our gardens, geranium is an effective mosquito repellent. To chase insects away from your house, plant them in your garden. The smell of this plant is very similar to lemongrass and also helps repel mosquitoes and other pests. You can also grow geraniums in pots and place them on the edges of the balcony or terrace for pleasant evenings outdoors without the risk of being stung.
4. Lavender
With its scent that smells like Provence, lavender not only gives off a pleasant smell but is also an unrivaled natural repellent. We love the smell, but mosquitoes hate it! In case of a mosquito bite, you can use lavender leaves as a topical treatment to soothe the itching.
5. Mint
A plant with many uses and benefits, mint is also a most effective mosquito repellent. Planted in a pot, it greatly keeps these pests away from your garden. In addition, mint also has a soothing effect in case of insect bites. Simply crush two or three mint leaves until you obtain a sort of paste then apply it locally to soothe the itching.
6. Lemon balm
Known to combat stress and anxiety, lemon balm is also a 100% natural mosquito repellent. To repel mosquitoes, grow this plant in pots that you place in your garden or on window sills. The lemony smell of these plants helps keep these pests away.
A tip using coffee grounds to repel mosquitoes
Like the smell of lemongrass, the scent of coffee grounds repels mosquitoes and other insects, particularly the tiger mosquito. To keep these pests away as much as possible, the latter no longer needs to land in the trash. Collect the coffee grounds from your coffee maker, dry them in the sun for a day then distribute them in a container that you place on window sills and in areas infested by mosquitoes.
6 other natural tips to fight mosquitoes inside the house
1. Natural mosquito repellent candles
For ultra-effective protection against mosquitoes, citronella is at the forefront of natural repellents. Its smell acts on the nervous system of these pests and repels them. In essential oil, in a repellent spray or by lighting a citronella-scented candle to keep them as far away as possible. You can make the latter at home and at a lower price. To do this, you will need a clean empty glass jar, a wick, a bain-marie container, wax and lemongrass essential oil. Start by cutting the wick to the length of your jar. To make it stick to the bottom, use a drop of wax that you will melt. Then heat around 200 g of wax flakes in your bain-marie container. When it is completely liquid, pour around twenty drops of lemongrass essential oil and stir. Pour your preparation into the jar, being careful not to burn yourself. You can light your candle when it has completely cooled.
2. Avoid stagnant water
For effective mosquito control, it is important to pay attention to stagnant water. Leaks, pipes, tanks filled with water etc. it is essential to go through the house with a fine-tooth comb. And for good reason, stagnant water is the perfect environment for mosquitoes to lay their eggs and accelerate their proliferation.
3. Essential oils
Geranium essential oil, mint essential oil or even eucalyptus oil are particularly effective in fighting insects. A few drops in a diffuser and you can say goodbye to these little critters. Mixed with a vegetable oil, these EOs can act as a topical treatment to soothe itching.
4. Bat boxes
Are tiger mosquitoes invading your home? Place bat traps to get rid of them. To make this natural mosquito repellent, simply make a box 35 cm high, double the width, and 5 centimeters thick. Place it at least two meters from the ground far from sources of light to attract these birds which appreciate calm and darkness. They will happily feed on the insects that nest in your garden.
5. Rosemary
Are you having a barbecue? Place a few rosemary leaves on your grill. The smell will keep these parasites away so you can have a pleasant time without being disturbed by these pests.
6. Vinegar
An ingredient with multiple domestic uses, vinegar has more than one trick up its sleeve and also allows you to get rid of mosquitoes. To use it as a repellent, place a glass of vinegar on the edge of windows. The smell is so unpleasant for these critters that you can be sure they won’t show up.