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How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes With Household Products
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes With Household Products. All you want to do is sit outside and enjoy a warm summer evening. Unfortunately, the second you step out, mosquitoes are nibbling away at you. Not only are mosquito bites irritating, but mosquitoes carry diseases such as West Nile virus. The best way to control the mosquito population around...
All you want to do is sit outside and enjoy a warm summer evening. Unfortunately, the second you step out, mosquitoes are nibbling away at you. Not only are mosquito bites irritating, but mosquitoes carry diseases such as West Nile virus. The best way to control the mosquito population around your home is to remove any areas of standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Your next line of defense is to use some ingenuity and a few household items.
Things You'll Need
Flat beer
Antiseptic mouthwash
Epsom salts
Spray bottle
Empty beer bottles
Hand trowel
Marigold, catnip and scented geranium plants
Citronella candles
Electric fan
Pure vanilla extract
Pour equal quantities of beer, mouthwash and Epsom salts into a spray bottle and shake until mixed thoroughly. Spray the solution around any areas where mosquitoes live or have been seen.
Use a hand trowel to dig a hole large and deep enough to place an empty beer bottle halfway in the ground. Pack dirt around the bottle to hold it in place. Place several bottles around your yard. Pour about two ounces of flat beer into each bottle to attract the mosquitoes.
Plant marigolds, catnip and scented geraniums around your yard and in containers on your patio or deck. Mosquitoes are repelled by the scent of the plants. When you are outside, crush a couple leaves from one of the plants to make the aroma more potent.
Sit near an electric fan while you are outside. An oscillating fan works best, but a regular box fan will do. Mosquitoes aren't strong enough to fly through the wind from the fan.
Burn citronella candles while you are outside. The scent and smoke repel mosquitoes.
Dab pure vanilla extract on your wrists and other pulse points before you go outside. The mosquitoes dislike the scent and will stay away from you.
Tips & Warnings
You can try to control the mosquitoes in your own yard, but if your neighbor has standing water, his mosquitoes will come visit.
If you have a pond, contact your local pest control agency or extension service to get Gambusia fish. These fish love to eat mosquito larvae and are usually offered for free.
In the spring, consider spraying your yard with beneficial nematodes. Nematodes eat several kinds of larvae such as mosquito and flea.
Do not leave your citronella candles burning unattended.
