Not only can mosquitos cause uncomfortable welts, but they also have the potential to spread harmful diseases such as Zika fever and West Nile fever. These risks can be avoided by following 10 simple summertime secrets to protect your family from mosquitoes!
1. Eliminate standing water.
Out of the four life stages of mosquitoes (egg, larvae, pupae, adult), three take place in standing water. This means that the best way to prevent mosquitoes from reproducing is to get rid of all standing water in your yard. Mosquitoes only need very small amounts of water to start breeding, so dump out everything from sandboxes to bottlecaps.
2. Plug in a fan.
Mosquitoes are relatively weak fliers, so simply placing two or three box fans outside and setting them on low can physically prevent many mosquitoes from reaching you and your family. This works best in small areas, such as your back deck. You may have to use additional methods if you're going to be spending time in a larger area.
3. Plant citronella.
Mosquito-repelling candles are made with citronella, but you can forgo buying these candles every year by simply planting citronella in your yard instead. The scent of this plant repels mosquitos, and there are several other plants that do the same, including catnip, basil, peppermint, and lavender.
4. Remove yard debris.
In addition to breeding in standing water, mosquitoes can also breed in moist areas, such as piles of leaves or branches. At the beginning of each spring, do a cleanup of the yard and throw away any piles of debris that may have collected over the past year.
5. Trim vegetation.
When mosquitoes aren’t sucking your blood, they’re usually feasting on plant nectar. To eliminate that food source for them, you need to be vigilant about keeping your vegetation under control. An easy way to keep up is to trim all of the shrubs and plants around your house every time you mow the lawn.
6. Make a lavender body oil.
Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, but it smells great to humans! So, this is the perfect way to smell nice and avoid mosquito bites. Add 30 drops of lavender essential oil to two tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil and rub it on your skin.
7. Throw rosemary on the grill.
Mosquitoes also cannot stand the smell of rosemary, so if you are planning an outdoor barbecue, simply throw some fresh rosemary on the grill alongside your food. The rosemary will add a nice, subtle flavor to the food while also keeping the dreaded mosquitoes at bay.
8. Eat garlic.
If you eat a lot of garlic, your pores will start releasing small amounts of garlic oil, which mosquitoes (and some humans) despise. Add garlic to salad dressing or various meats and sides if you don’t want to consume garlic by itself.
9. Buy bug wipes.
Choose wipes that don’t have a lot of odor and that contain the repellent picaridin instead of DEET. DEET can damage clothing and potentially cause damage to your health. Picaridin is a much safer option. Keep plenty of these wipes outside so you can your family can wipe them on your skin as needed.
10. Hire an exterminator.
If all else fails, you do have one option left: hiring an exterminator. An exterminator can provide a barrier spray treatment that will kill adult mosquitoes and a larvicide that will kill mosquito larvae. These chemicals are approved by the EPA and have not been shown to harm adults or children. You shouldn't have to worry about your family's safety.
