Many people turn to store bought insect repellents to keep mosquitoes away, but these insect repellents often contain a toxic pesticide that is dangerous to human health. This pesticide is known as DEET.
Heavy exposure to DEET has been linked to memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath in humans and is particularly toxic to children.
Needless to say, this is a pesticide we do NOT want to be using – especially when there are so many more effective ways to keep mosquitoes away using natural remedies and ingredients.
This article will reveal 13 of the best ways to repel mosquitoes so you can enjoy a mosquito free summer!
Homemade Citronella Candles
Citronella
essential oil is one of the most effective natural mosquito repellents
in the world and one of the best ways to take advantage of this
wonderful oil is in citronella candles. These candles are easy to make,
all natural and will release an aroma that keeps mosquitoes away. Place a
few candles around your patio or garden and create a mosquito proof
barrier!Find out how to make these citronella candles here at GardenTherapy.ca
A Few Drops Of Lavender
Lavender is loved by humans all over the world, but mosquitoes hate it! To keep mosquitoes out of your home, add a drop of lavender to ribbon and place around open windows. The mosquitoes will certainly think twice about entering!Simple Lavender Body Oil
Add 30 drops of lavender essential oil to two tablespoons of vegetable oil – such as olive oil – and rub onto exposed skin. Not only will you smell beautiful, but it will stop mosquitoes from landing on you!“Bug Off” Mosquito Repellent Spray
Stevie
from GardenTherapy.ca has devised a fantastic “Bug Off” spray recipe
that includes mosquito repelling essential oils such as citronella,
lemongrass and eucalyptus. Spray this on your skin before heading
outside.Get the full tutorial for this “Bug Off” spray from here.
Bug Repellent Sunscreen
This sunscreen is multi-purpose – it protects from harmful UV sun rays like any good sunscreen, but it also repels bugs, including mosquitoes.On top of that it’s all natural and contains none of the toxic chemicals found in many over-priced store-bought sunscreens.
Find out how to make this bug repellent sunscreen here.
Throw Rosemary On The Barbecue
Mosquitoes often strike while we are barbecuing, but this simple trick will turn your barbecue into a natural mosquito repellent, while also adding delicious flavour to your food!Throw a few stalks of rosemary on the hot coals to give off a mosquito repelling aroma.
Plant Mosquito Repellent Plants
There are a number of plants that have mosquito repellent properties – for example feverfew, citronella, catnip and lavender are four of the most effective. Plant these in flower beds or containers placed around your garden and keep mosquitoes away.Here is a great article revealing 11 of the best mosquito repelling plants.
Eat More Garlic
Note: While this may repel mosquitoes, it may also repel fellow humans!After eating lots of garlic, garlic oil is gently released from your pores. This garlic oil acts almost like a barrier between your skin and the mosquitoes.
Apply Neem Oil
Neem oil is a vegetable extracted from the Neem tree native to the Indian sub-continent – it is sometimes referred to as “the tree of life”.Neem oil is a natural insecticide used on plants to keep harmful insects away, and it works the same way on humans. Apply neem oil to the skin and keep mosquitoes away.
Neem oil is available to buy from this page on Amazon.
Mosquito Repellent Drink
I’ve read a number of anecdotes which suggest that drinking apple cider vinegar is an effective mosquito repellent. Add one or two tablespoons of ACV to 16oz of water and consume. Sweeten with one tablespoon of honey to counteract the bitterness if you wish.Attract Bats
Bats can reportedly eat 1,000 mosquitoes per night. Attracting bats to your garden can help to significantly reduce the number of mosquitoes and reduce your chances of being bitten.Here is a great article sharing some ideas to attract bats to your garden.
Eliminate Standing Water
Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water. Getting rid of standing water will cut down the number of mosquitoes in the immediate vicinity. Standing water can include bird baths, puddles and pet water bowls. Make sure gutters are draining well and empty any garden items that collect water.Make A Mosquito Trap
A homemade mosquito trap is another way to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the area. This trap uses CO2 to attract mosquitoes into a soda bottle from which they can’t escape.Find out how to make this mosquito trap and how it works here.
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There we have thirteen natural ways to keep mosquitoes away from your home, your garden, and from you this summer – and most importantly, we’ve done it without the use of any harmful chemicals!Source: naturallivingideas.com