Mosquitos are not just the most annoying insects during the summer, but also the most dangerous ones. The number of diseases that mosquitoes can infect you with is vast, so you should consider our list of the best ways to get rid of mosquitoes.
We’ll focus our attention on prevention and killing mosquitoes in your home as well as in your outside living space. The pesky flyers stand no chance against some of the best repellents on the market, so if you want to have a peaceful and bug-free summer keep on reading.
Signs & Causes of Mosquito Infestation
Mosquitoes might be common but there is still much information you need to know about this pest to deal with it properly. While they carry viruses and pathogens that can cause encephalitis, yellow fever, dengue fever, and West Nile virus in animals and people and heartworm in animals, the mere sight and itchy bites should be enough to get you looking for a solution.
Mosquitoes need standing water to thrive and multiply, and that’s one of the reasons why they usually hang around your yard. A few of the specimens will enter the homes in search of their next blood meal, but most of them will stay outside and wait for their prey.
If you notice a lot of mosquitoes all of a sudden and get a lot of itchy bites indoors and outdoors you might be dealing with an infestation. But, before calling professional pest control there are a few things you can try on your own.
Tips and Tricks for a Mosquito-Free Home
If you have a lot of flying insects in your home, including fruit flies, gnats, flies, and mosquitoes you should follow the list below and discover the cause and the solution to this problem. While most pests like to hang around your home where the food and shelter are abundant there are a few tips and tricks that will prevent them from doing so.
Here are a few suggestions for mosquito control in your home:
Use Door and Window Screens
The most obvious but often overlooked solution for mosquitoes in your home is window and door screens. Aside from keeping your doors and windows closed the screens are the next best thing that will prevent mosquitoes and other bugs from coming in.
Prevention is the key when dealing with pests, so do your best to lower the chances of infestation in the first place.
Get Mosquito Electronic Traps
Mosquito traps can help you a lot in capturing and killing mosquitoes in your home. These traps have UV lights that lure in the mosquitoes and a fan that sucks them into the trap. They are a quiet and safe way to attract and kill mosquitoes that might be wandering around your home.
The electronic traps have a sticky surface on the inside trapping the mosquitoes in, and they are very versatile so any flying insect such as gnat or fruit fly will be eliminated as well.
Turn on the Fans
Apart from making your home less appealing with the cooling system the added circulation of air will confuse and repel the mosquitoes. Fans are a great solution indoors and outdoors to lower the carbon-di-oxide we exhale that attracts mosquitoes and for a fine breeze on those warm summer days.
Use Indoor Candles
Essential oils and candles that contain them are often all you need to get rid of mosquitoes. Most of the time the repellant candles are made from lemongrass and citrus fruits, and apart from freshening up your home they can repel quite a few insects, mosquitoes included.
Just make sure the candle is for indoor use and don’t leave any flame unattended.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Outside?
Now that you have a bug-free home and you managed to kill or repel all the mosquitoes in your home you might be wondering how to get rid of mosquitoes in the backyard. If you want to enjoy outside dining, a picnic, or any event during summer you know there will be plenty of mosquitoes waiting to bite.
There are ways to stay safe from itchy bites and potential diseases with a few simple and effective tools and methods.
Eliminate Standing Water
Considering prevention is the key here, you need to focus on making your yard less attractive to bugs and mosquitoes. This should include regular mowing, trimming, and cleaning of the outside living space. But, in addition, you need to find and eliminate all standing water that mosquitoes love so much.
This can be a simple bird bath, an old can left outside, tree stumps, and even kid pools.
By eliminating the standing water you will force the mosquitoes to find another place to reproduce and leave larvae, and thus reduce the number of mosquitoes in your own yard.
Use Airborne Repellants
One of the best and most efficient ways to repel mosquitoes outside is to use high-quality airborne repellants. They are created to release scented smoke that irritates and eliminates mosquitoes and still be completely safe and pleasant for humans.
One stick will cover and protect 12 feet outside and burn for at least 2,5 hours. The natural oils used in the airborne repellants will freshen up the air while being the best mosquito treatment at the same time.
Apply Mosquito Repellent Lotions
Another sensible thing you can do is protect your skin with natural and efficient mosquito repellent lotions. The smell of the lotion and mosquito sprays will make you a less desirable meal and protect you for more than eight hours.
You can use the sprays on your clothes and the lotion on your skin to maximize the repelling effect. It’s also good to know that with the right products and mosquito sprays you will be protected from other insects such as ticks and chiggers, and midges.
Light Up Citronella Candles
Just like you would use specialized and scented candles inside you can use them outside too. There are many candles that smell like lemongrass, eucalyptus, or lavender that repel pests. Just make sure to light a few candles on your deck or table, or use one that has multiple wicks and a large surface to emit more scent.
Use Bug Zappers
Bug zappers are an efficient and fast way to kill mosquitoes and other bugs in your backyard. They have a light that attracts the bugs and a low voltage and quiet zapper that eliminates them completely. They are safe for your children and pets, but deadly to all flying insects.
Apply Outdoor Mosquito Repellents
There are many mosquito sprays such as the famous DEET that can help you repel mosquitoes from your yard. There are sprays with insecticides and natural-based ones that contain essential oils.
It’s also a good idea to plant a few mosquito-repelling plants such as basil, lavender, rosemary, or mint. The more you have the stronger the scent will be and fewer bugs will be able to tolerate it.
Call Pest Control Professionals
If the infestation is severe and you don’t see progress with the methods we listed above, it’s time to call professionals. Companies such as Terminix and Orkin and others have dedicated teams to help rid your mosquito problems. Visit this link to find our top recommended providers in your area.
With the right tools, years of experience, and knowledge these professional teams are in charge of efficient and fast pest removal.
FAQs
1. How to protect children and babies from mosquitoes?
To protect the young ones from pesky mosquitoes and possible infections you should avoid taking them outside during dusk or dawn when the mosquitoes are most active. It’s also a good idea to apply age-appropriate repellants to clothes and skin and keep the babies inside.
2. What are the best natural mosquito repellants?
There are a few plants and oils you can use as natural mosquito repellents such as rosemary, lavender, thyme, tea tree, and eucalyptus. But, keep in mind that some essential oils are too strong for a direct application so you might have to dilute them in coconut or olive oil beforehand.
3. How to deal with mosquito bites?
If you get a mosquito bite you need to resist the urge of scratching it and instead wash the bite with soap and water and apply something cold. You can also add over-the-counter medication that will soothe the itchy skin.
So, Can You Get Rid of Mosquitoes?
Yes, mosquitos might be persistent and dangerous but there are ways to repel and kill them in your home or outside. With our detailed guide, you will be one step closer to a peaceful and bug-free season.
Always remember that prevention is the key and try to repel the mosquitoes before they even appear in large numbers. But, if you want to enjoy the outside more, consider an airborne repellant or good bug zapper that will keep the pests away!
