Plus they’re usually annoying, their bites become painful. That’s why we all prefer to keep mosquitoes away from us, and if we can do so safely for our health and that of our family, so much the better.
In addition to the mosquito nets that are placed on windows and doors, there are some clever homemade tricks to get rid of mosquitoes. With them you will avoid products that can damage your skin or affect people’s respiratory tracts, while still being effective in repelling these annoying insects.
12 effective home tricks to keep mosquitoes away
There are homemade and ecological alternatives to repel mosquitoes.. Some repellents that are sold in the market, can bring substances that do not do very well to the body, and if at home you have children or babies, it is better not to take risks.
It is better to make use of what nature gives us to avoid being bothered and bitten by mosquitoes. These home remedies to keep mosquitoes away are very effective, economical and ecological. If they still bother you, you can relieve the discomfort by reading our article: “Mosquito Bites: 9 Home Remedies to Relieve Them”.
1. Vinegar
Vinegar has many uses in the home, one of which is to ward off mosquitoes. It’s a simple, homemade trick.This is a great way to find out if you have mosquitoes in your area.
Just put a glass half full of water and a quarter of white vinegar near the window. The intense smell of vinegar will keep mosquitoes away. Another idea is to use a small sprinkler to spray vinegar on the outside of windows and doors.
2. Chamomile
Use chamomile to prepare a natural mosquito repellent.. If you’re outdoors and mosquitoes lurk, you can make chamomile a beneficial repellent for your skin, rather than acquiring one that may contain harmful products.
With a bouquet of chamomile and water you’ll have enough to repel these beasts and prevent them from biting you. Wash the chamomile flowers very well and rub them on your skin. It is very effective when applied on arms and legs, to prevent mosquitoes from getting too close.
3. Lemon and clove
A very effective household trick to keep mosquitoes away is to use lemon and clove. For this you only need a container, half a lemon and a small fist of clove. It’s a repellent that repels mosquitoes from the room where you are.
Place half a lemon in the bowl and sprinkle the cloves around and over it. This is enough to keep these insects away. This format works well on the night table at bedtime.
4. Peppermint and clove
A repellent to apply to your skin made with mint and clove. This trick is a little more complex. but it’s worth it because it’s very effective as well as natural. You’ll need peppermint essential oil, clove essential oil and citrus essential oil, as well as degreasing soap.
In a spray bottle mix 25 drops of mint, 15 drops of cloves and 5 drops of citrus fruits plus two tablespoons of soap. Mix perfectly and sprinkle on exposed skin to keep mosquitoes away.
5. Orange and clove
If you want to keep mosquitoes away for good, follow this orange-and-nail trick.. You need an orange, nails and a small candle that you can put inside the orange. First, cut the orange in half and squeeze it until all the pulp is removed but leaving the gabazo.
To the shell that goes on top, insert around and in line all the nails. Place the candle inside the other half and cover with the shell with nails. Put it in a safe place, you’ll get amazing results.
6. Citronella
Citronella plant keeps mosquitoes at bay. While you can use citronella essential oil to apply to your skin and prevent itching, another efficient way to use citronella is to have a plant indoors.
If taking care of the plants is not difficult for you, then you can try this trick. The plant doesn’t smell bad and you can keep it inside your home or near doors and windows to keep mosquitoes out. If you want to know more about this plant, you can visit our article: “Citronella (plant): benefits, properties and natural remedies”.
7. Cat herb
Catnip has proven to be a potent mosquito repellent. You need essential oil of catnip to apply on your skin and with this you avoid being bitten by these small insects.
In some regions you can get this oil in pharmacies or herbalists.. Some studies have shown that catnip is more efficient than the most potent repellents on the market.
8. Mosquito nets
One of the best known tricks and that does not cease to be very efficient. In some regions where the presence of mosquitoes is very intense and annoying, people usually place mosquito nets everywhere.
In cribs and beds you can place a thin cloth, which works as a mosquito net. This way the mosquitoes don’t get close, but you don’t keep the heat in your room either. Putting screens on doors and windows allows you to let the breeze through, without attracting the annoying mosquitoes.
9. Incense
Lighting incense inside or outside the home helps repel mosquitoes. If you don’t want or can’t apply any repellent to your skin, then you can use specific scent incense to keep mosquitoes away from you.
Check for toxic-free incense. and choose aromas such as citronella, lavender, lemon, eucalyptus or basil. Some scented candles or essential oil diffusers also work.
10. Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil also works as a mosquito repellent. A practical way to use eucalyptus oil as a skin repellent is to mix a few drops of eucalyptus oil with body cream.
You can find eucalyptus oil for sale, but you can also prepare it yourself by boiling a little water and adding leaves from this plant. You add the resulting liquid to your cream and spread it on your skin.
11. Mosquito trap
Learn how to make a mosquito trap so they don’t come near you. You need a bottle of pet, vinegar, sugar and yeast. Cut the mouth off the bottle and separate. Mix the vinegar with the sugar and pour into the base of the bottle you cut.
Then place the top you cut but funnel-shaped and sprinkle a yeast envelope over it. The sugar will attract the mosquitoes into the bottle, but they won’t be able to get out of there, so it’s a very effective trap to keep the mosquitoes away from you.
12. Basil
In addition to citronella, basil is also very effective in keeping mosquitoes away. If plants are your thing, consider planting basil in your garden. This way you can enjoy a summer afternoon outdoors without mosquitoes ruining everything.
You can also plant basil in pots so you can keep it indoors. It doesn’t have an unpleasant smell, so there’s no problem having a little basil inside your house like in the living room or dining room.
Bibliographic references
- Maia, M., & Moore, S. (2011). Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing. Malaria Journal, 10(S1). doi:10.1186/1475-2875-10-s1-s11.
- Avoid mosquito bites. (2016). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 06/09/2019 from /www.cdc.gov/spanish/especialescdc/mosquitos/index.html