The peskiest insects are mosquitoes.They can ruin your plans if they start biting, and they can also carry diseases.While keeping mosquitoes far away, you can re-claim your outdoor adventures, gatherings, and space with some easy home maintenance.
Step 1: Wear long sleeves, pants, and shoes.
Mosquitoes are attracted to sweat and the natural bacterium on your skin.Keeping yourself covered with long sleeves, pants, and shoes will reduce mosquito attraction and make it harder for them to bite you.Even in extremely warm temperatures, wearing long layers is still cool and comfortable because many outdoor superstores carry lightweight outerwear.Light colored clothes include whites, tans, and pastels.Black and navy are popular colors for mosquitoes.
Step 2: It's a good way to repel mosquitos.
There are sprays and creams that contain DEET that can be used to ward off mosquitoes.DEET is safe when used as directed and can be used on children as young as 2 months, but be sure to read safety and application instructions before applying.Follow application instructions if you want to prolong the life of your sprays and lotions.Combine witch hazel and 2 ounces of distilled water in a spray bottle and add a total of 40 to 50 drops of essential oil, like citronella, eucalyptus, and lemon essential oils, you can choose your own combination.If you're applying the repellent to children under 3 years old, you should use half the amount of drops.
Step 3: There are candles with citronella or geraniol wax.
Geraniol candles are 5 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than citronella candles, so it is best to buy those candles.Although citronella is not particularly effective in repelling mosquitoes, the smoke from a burning candle can confuse them and prevent them from biting you.
Step 4: Use tents or mosquito nets.
If you want to lay in your hammock for a nap or host a garden party, consider moving inside a tent or under mosquito nets.If you keep tent flaps and doors closed and allow the net to drape on the ground, you can keep mosquitoes off of your skin.
Step 5: Turn on fans.
Electric fans strategically placed around you or your deck make it more difficult for mosquitoes to reach you and bite, because they are not strong fliers.The fans help keep the mosquitoes away from the CO2 humans expel.
Step 6: Don't go to areas with tall grass, standing water, and heavily wooded areas.
You are less likely to be bitten by mosquitoes if you stay away from these areas.
Step 7: Don't go out in the evening.
The mosquitoes are active at night.You are less likely to get bitten if you wait until the next morning to resume your outdoor activities.
Step 8: Outside, hang bird and bat houses.
Birds and bats are capable of attacking mosquitoes.You can encourage them to stay and feast by giving them a place to live near your home.Birds and bats are good at eating insect pests.
Step 9: You should mow your lawn weekly.
Mosquitoes like to hide.After mowing, remove the clippings.After insects fall to the ground, they can still host them.
Step 10: Plants that repel mosquitoes can be planted in your yard or garden.
You can grow lavender, marigolds, lemon balm, pennyroyal, catnip, and basil near your home to deter mosquitoes.
Step 11: Sources of stagnant water should be removed.
You can fill in holes around your home.These places give mosquitoes a place to breed.If you want to fill holes in your home with a professional grade product, you can either pay a contractor or buy a concrete patch.Water can be gathered in the rainy or snowy seasons.Cisterns, tarps, barbecues, garbage cans and plant pots filled with water are excellent mosquito breeding grounds.Every 24-48 hours, dump and clean birdbaths and pet dishes.
Step 12: You should maintain your swimming pool.
Mosquitoes can breed in the water of a swimming pool, so it's important to keep it clean.If you have a pond near your home, consider stocking it with mosquito-eating fish or comet goldfish.
Step 13: Put in the tree stump.
People tend to ignore the tree stumps as a mosquito breeding area.The tree stumps should be filled with sand, soil, or gravel.
Step 14: Coffee grounds should be spread in the stagnant water.
If you spread coffee grounds in puddles, ditches, or marshy garden areas near your home, you can help reduce mosquito populations.Coffee grounds should not be placed in ponds or wetlands where fish, birds, or other marine life thrive.
Step 15: If you live near woods, use pesticides that are strong.
It's possible to hire professionals to spray around your home.If you have a pond or large body of water, they can spray larvicides that kill mosquito larva but remain non-toxic to other marine life.You can buy pesticides in some regions.Rules and regulations can be different depending on where you live.In North America, some counties and districts spray entire communities.Contact your local health department if you want to learn more about pesticide use.