5 Ways to Have a Mosquito-Free Home
Save yourself and your family from contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these simple, effective steps
According to the World Health Organisation, the worldwide incidence of dengue has risen 30-fold in the past 30 years. Mosquito-borne diseases, such as zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever are still on an increase.
The best way to tackle a problem of this scale is by taking precautions. While you need to be careful of mosquitoes when outside, the home, too, needs to be protected against the mosquito onslaught. Below are important steps that can help prevent a mosquito attack; these home remedy tips will help safeguard your home.
The best way to tackle a problem of this scale is by taking precautions. While you need to be careful of mosquitoes when outside, the home, too, needs to be protected against the mosquito onslaught. Below are important steps that can help prevent a mosquito attack; these home remedy tips will help safeguard your home.
2. Clean out the drains and ensure there is no stagnant water around
Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check the gutters for water clogging and clean out the debris to ensure that there is no residual water in them. Ensure your balcony and gardens have a dry floor and do not have small water puddles. Also, change the water in your pet’s bowl often, so you leave no stone unturned.
Home remedy: If you find stagnant water in or outside your home, sprinkle a handful of used coffee grounds on it. The pungent smell and properties of coffee are known to ward off not only mosquitos, but also other insects like wasps and bees.
Check out this room-by-room cleaning guide
Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check the gutters for water clogging and clean out the debris to ensure that there is no residual water in them. Ensure your balcony and gardens have a dry floor and do not have small water puddles. Also, change the water in your pet’s bowl often, so you leave no stone unturned.
Home remedy: If you find stagnant water in or outside your home, sprinkle a handful of used coffee grounds on it. The pungent smell and properties of coffee are known to ward off not only mosquitos, but also other insects like wasps and bees.
Check out this room-by-room cleaning guide
3. Use screens and nets at home
Cover your bed with a net. Of course, even with a net the rest of your home will not be entirely mosquito-free, which is why you might want to consider installing good-quality mosquito screens on all your exterior windows and doors. Do a regular check for holes and tears on your nets and screens. And remember to shut all doors and windows by sundown (or better still, an hour before).
See how to use screens indoors
Cover your bed with a net. Of course, even with a net the rest of your home will not be entirely mosquito-free, which is why you might want to consider installing good-quality mosquito screens on all your exterior windows and doors. Do a regular check for holes and tears on your nets and screens. And remember to shut all doors and windows by sundown (or better still, an hour before).
See how to use screens indoors
Picture is representational
4. Try aroma therapy
Mosquito coils and plug-in devices can cause indoor pollution and are potentially toxic. Consider aromatherapy – eucalyptus leaves slowly warmed over a tea light are a powerful and aromatic substitute You could also try sticking a mosquito patch (made of citronella and eucalyptus oil) on your body.
Home remedies: Don’t like using mosquito-repellent creams sold in the market? You could make your own. Mix Indian lilac oil and coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio and apply evenly on exposed body parts (feet, ankles, arms and neck). Or mix 50 millilitres of apple cider vinegar with 50 millilitres of water with 10–12 drops of essential oil and apply on exposed areas of your body. These home remedies are, of course, not a fool-proof solution.
Learn how to make your own non-toxic household cleaning products
4. Try aroma therapy
Mosquito coils and plug-in devices can cause indoor pollution and are potentially toxic. Consider aromatherapy – eucalyptus leaves slowly warmed over a tea light are a powerful and aromatic substitute You could also try sticking a mosquito patch (made of citronella and eucalyptus oil) on your body.
Home remedies: Don’t like using mosquito-repellent creams sold in the market? You could make your own. Mix Indian lilac oil and coconut oil in a 1:1 ratio and apply evenly on exposed body parts (feet, ankles, arms and neck). Or mix 50 millilitres of apple cider vinegar with 50 millilitres of water with 10–12 drops of essential oil and apply on exposed areas of your body. These home remedies are, of course, not a fool-proof solution.
Learn how to make your own non-toxic household cleaning products
5. Experiment with mosquito-repellant apps
The jury is still out on whether or not this is an effective solution but you could consider trying it, all the same. iOS and Android provide dozens of apps such as Mosquito Repellent, Anti Mosquito - Sonic Repeller, Mosquito KillerX that promise to thwart the hostile insects. The idea behind it is simple: the app makes the phone emit a high-pitched sound intended to mimic the sound of predator insects, such as dragonflies or male mosquitoes. These sounds make the female mosquitoes (they are the ones who bite; male mosquitoes only feed on plant juices) stay clear from the vicinity.
Read more:
Toxic Bedrooms: 8 Things Making You Sick Every Day
Tell us:
Do you have an effective remedy to get rid of mosquitoes? Share it with us in Comments below.
The jury is still out on whether or not this is an effective solution but you could consider trying it, all the same. iOS and Android provide dozens of apps such as Mosquito Repellent, Anti Mosquito - Sonic Repeller, Mosquito KillerX that promise to thwart the hostile insects. The idea behind it is simple: the app makes the phone emit a high-pitched sound intended to mimic the sound of predator insects, such as dragonflies or male mosquitoes. These sounds make the female mosquitoes (they are the ones who bite; male mosquitoes only feed on plant juices) stay clear from the vicinity.
Read more:
Toxic Bedrooms: 8 Things Making You Sick Every Day
Tell us:
Do you have an effective remedy to get rid of mosquitoes? Share it with us in Comments below.
Usually, the mosquitoes that cause malaria prefer to bite up to the ankle and knee level, and the ones that cause dengue usually bite the ankles and elbows. Mosquitoes also hover around low-lying vegetation during the day because they are attracted to higher humidity levels, allowing them to survive daytime temperatures. Therefore, it’s important that your grass is mown and flat.
Home remedy: Consider bringing in mosquito repellent plants like peppermint (Mentha × piperita), basil or tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), lavender (Lavandula) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis).