The good news is that there are natural, safe and effective ways to keep mosquitoes at bay so that you can enjoy your outdoor living space all summer long. Try any one of these five natural solutions or combine them for best protection.
Make Your own Bug-be-Gone Spray
- Add distilled water to an empty (and clean) spray bottle to the halfway mark.
- Fill the spray bottle until it is almost full with witch hazel.
- Add 60 drops of essential oils and shake well. Use rosemary, clove, or eucalyptus.
Make Your Garden Mosquito-Proof
- Plant citronella, rosemary, catnip, mint, marigolds, basil, lemongrass and garlic. Mosquitoes hate the smell of these plants, and they will stay away.
- Dump out any sitting water and avoid leaving things out that would collect water. Keep animal dishes and birdbaths clean and fresh.
- Mosquitoes love damp dark places, keep those places to a minimum by keeping up with your garden. Weed, trim bushes, and keep the lawn mowed. Not only will it look nice, but you reduce your mosquito population substantially.
- Put up plenty of bird houses, especially a purple martin house. Birds eat hundreds of mosquitoes each day and will also be a pleasant addition to your landscape.
Wear Proper Clothing
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing that fits loosely. Make sure places like your arms, legs and neck are covered to avoid bites on these areas.
If you are planning on spending a lot of time outdoors, setting up a fan is a useful way to push mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes are attracted to the moving blades, but then get sucked up by the air and killed by the blades. Position fans where you spend the most time such as on covered porches, gazebos, etc.
Use Citronella Candles
Citronella or any other strong smelling herbal candles are highly offensive to mosquitoes. The sight of the flame and scent from the candles is enough to send even the largest and most determined mosquitos packing.
Natural Ways to Ease the Pain of Mosquito bites
If you do happen to get bit, try any of these methods to ease the pain and reduce swelling.
Ice – Apply an ice pack to the area to help reduce swelling and pain.
Tea Tree Oil – Apply tea tree oil directly to the bite.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Spray or wipe apple cider vinegar on to the area to ease itch and pain.
Raw Honey - Dab a glob of honey on the bite and rub it into your skin.
Tea bag – Make a pot of tea then place the tea bag on your bite. This will reduce redness and itching.
Baking soda – Make a paste with baking soda and water. Rub the paste on your bite to draw out the itch.
Witch hazel – Rub witch hazel directly onto your bites.
Mint – Rub crushed mint leaves onto your skin to reduce itching and further protect you from mosquitoes.
Banana – Place a banana slice on your bite to ease the pain.
Aloe Vera – Rub aloe vera gel onto the bite to reduce redness and swelling.