Summers are setting in and its mosquito season yet again. Heat, humidity and stagnant water create an ideal condition for the multiplication of mosquitoes. One female mosquito can lay as many as 100 eggs in one go. Scary, isn’t it?
Mosquitoes transmit many diseases including Malaria, Dengue and Yellow fever, diseases that can be life-threatening. Personally, I feel that mosquitoes are very annoying and also dangerous, so I do my best to keep my home mosquito free. There are in my opinion three steps to getting rid of mosquitoes.
Don’t let mosquitoes get into your home
If you live in a mosquito infested area, it’s important to not let them enter your home.
-
Your doors and windows should be fitted with mosquito meshes. It is also useful to install an auto door closing mechanism on doors. Remember, if they do not get in your home they are not your problem.
-
Keep doors and windows closed in the evening while the sun is setting, usually between 5:30 to 8 PM.
-
Open your windows as soon as the sun rises, any mosquitoes present will leave your room.
Get rid of the ones do manage to get in using
CAMPHOR: If mosquitoes get into your room, the easiest way to shoo them away is by using Camphor. Take a bowl full of water and add to it around 100 grams of crushed camphor tablets. Place this bowl on one corner of your room. In case of big rooms prepare 2 bowls of camphor water mixture and put them diagonally across the room. This home-made mosquito repellent will work for 2 to 3 days depending on the quality of camphor used. Change this mixture every 2 to 3 days but do not throw it away as it can be used for cleaning the floor and can also be mixed with water that is used for mopping.
LEMONGRASS OIL: Lemongrass oil is a natural insect repellent. You could add it to candles and also mix some in your body lotion or cold cream and apply it to your skin. Mosquitoes hate the smell of lemongrass and stay at least 100 feet from it. Read more about how to use lemongrass oil.
LAVENDER OIL: Did you know that lavender oil is a good natural insect repellent? You could use it in your candles, dilute it and apply on your body or plant some lavender herb in your garden or balcony. You could also mix some lavender oil with other oils like citronella oil or eucalyptus oil and apply it to your skin. In addition to acting as an insect repellant, Lavender oil nourishes the skin and has a pleasant, sleep-inducing aroma. Read more about how to make lavender insect repellent.
NEEM: Neem is a great insect repellent and can be used in two forms.
Dried leaves: Neem trees are pretty common. Bring home a bunch of Neem leaves and leave them to dry in the sun for a few days. Once dry, burn them and make sure the smoke reaches every nook and corner of the room this is because mosquitoes hide in the most unreachable corners. This should instantly kill all mosquitoes.
Neem oil: Easily available in the market it can be burnt in candles, in lamps and also can be used as a mosquito repellent body lotion or spray.
COCONUT husk: Burn some coconut husk and allow the smoke to spread around the room. This will instantly kill the mosquitoes. This method is pretty popular among Bengalis; my sister-in-law, a Bengali, told me about it.
Eating GARLIC: An unusual way of repelling mosquitoes is to eat a lot of garlic. Yes, you heard it right; when you eat garlic, your skin pores release garlic oil which repels mosquitoes.
Prevent mosquito from breeding in and around your house
-
Do not allow water to accumulate in any part of your home be it inside or outside, in bathrooms or balconies. Stagnant water is where mosquitoes breed.
-
Inform your local municipal corporation in case stagnant water or sewage accumulates in any area.
-
Add some kerosene oil to water in your cooler. The kerosene will form a layer of oil on the water which will kill mosquito larva. It’s also a good idea to empty the cooler, dry it and change the water every 5-7 days.
-
Use insecticides in your garden.
-
In case you keep water for birds, make sure you change it every two days.
-
Frequently change your pet’s water too
-
After washing utensils, keep them upside down to dry
