During warm nights, mosquitoes can cause trouble when you are attempting to sleep or enjoying the outdoors with loved ones. They are drawn to you when you’re asleep since they can detect the heat your body is producing. Additionally, your body releases chemicals while you sleep that mosquitoes find appealing. Their buzzing sound is just as annoying as their itchy, uncomfortable bites. So, here’s what you can do to keep mosquitoes away at night.
See also: Wood borer infestation signs and remedies at home
Protecting your indoors at night
Mosquitoes are primarily active at night, from dusk to dawn, with the exception of a few day-biters (such as the Aedes aegypti). By protecting your house, though, you can protect yourselves from these pesky creatures.
Keeping mosquitoes out
To keep them out, follow these steps:
- Install mosquito screens
To prevent mosquitoes from entering your home, install mosquito screens at your windows and doors.
- Closed doors
If your windows and doors aren’t covered by a screen, keep them closed. Mosquitoes can even enter via the garage door.
- Air conditioning
Utilise air conditioning if at all feasible to keep mosquitoes out of your house.
Eliminate standing water
Stalls with standing water serve as mosquito breeding grounds. In the water, the female mosquito deposits her eggs, which eventually hatch into larvae and mature into adult (biting) mosquitoes. The number of mosquitoes around your house will go down if you remove any standing water sources.
Do not forget to:
- Regularly clean and change water in bird baths.
- To prevent water buildup, clear out gutters.
- Throw away old tyres or store them in a covered area alongside other tools and toys (such as wheelbarrows and buckets).
- Keep trash cans and rain barrels securely closed.
- Drain the water from pools and outdoor furniture, when not in use.
How to keep mosquitoes away?
Keep mosquitoes out of your house
Seal gaps under doors using weather stripping products, caulk holes, and fix screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house. Close your doors as much as you can. The fight is made easier by keeping mosquitoes outside of the home.
Use camphor
Use camphor, one of the best natural insect repellents, to keep mosquitoes away. One tablet of camphor should be placed in a small basin of water and left in the room. The smell causes mosquitoes to flee the room. To maintain mosquito repellent, replace the camphor every two to three days.
Don’t let mosquitoes breed
All it takes for a mosquito to breed is a few drops of water. Try looking for any locations of standing water in your home if you have a persistent mosquito problem. Look for any spots with standing water in your plants, flower vases, bathrooms, and showers that could be home to the mosquito population that will be breeding next year. Daily full water changes should be made in areas that require water, like dog bowls and flower vases.
Keep porch lights off
Mosquitoes are drawn to lights on porches and doors, where they can easily enter the house when the door opens. Put the lights on low or off, or swap out the white ones for yellow ones, to avoid drawing them in.
Use citronella
A natural mosquito repellent that kills and drives mosquitoes away from your home is citronella oil. Seek out citronella candles or fill your vaporizer or oil diffuser with citronella essential oil.
Use candles in mosquito repellent scents
Burning candles scented with essential oils is an effective technique to keep mosquitoes out of your home because many essential oils repel insects. Using the essential oils in your scent blend, you can easily create your own candles or purchase them in stores. Experiment with various candle scents to deter mosquitoes from entering your home.
Plant mint
Mosquitoes dislike the pleasant, calming scent of peppermint leaves. Use peppermint essential oil in a vaporizer or diffuser to saturate the room with the aroma, or plant peppermint alongside your houseplants to take advantage of this. As a mosquito repellent, you can also dab peppermint oil on your body.
Use mosquito traps
Your problem with indoor mosquitoes can be promptly resolved with a very basic mosquito trap. The next generation of mosquitoes must be bred because water attracts them.
Skip the perfume
Insects are drawn to people wearing scents. Perhaps mosquitoes are attracted to your particular perfume. Take it off and see if that helps for a few days. If you feel you must use perfume, choose an essential oil blend that includes the oils of plants, like lavender, that repel mosquitoes.
Neem oil
An organic pesticide and repellent is neem oil. Use it diluted with coconut oil, olive oil, or another carrier oil, as it might irritate skin when used in its concentrated form. Because neem oil smells harsh and unpleasant to some people, you can include other essential oils in the mixture to provide a more pleasant fragrance.
Easy ways to prevent mosquito bites while sleeping
Wear bright-coloured clothing while sleeping
In general, mosquitoes dislike lighter colours and are drawn to darker ones. You can greatly reduce the attraction of insects by dressing in lighter colours.
Wear full clothing
In order to shield your arms and legs from mosquito bites while you sleep, consider wearing a large shirt and pyjamas.
Increase the speed of the fan
It has been noted that sleeping with the fan running at full power helps keep mosquito bites at bay.
Apply mosquito repellent
On the exposed skin, use a mosquito repellent that is approved by safety authorities. Avoid using it on skin that is wounded, cut, or irritated. Never apply it close to your mouth or eyes. Since young children frequently put their hands in their mouths, it is not advisable to apply insect repellent to their hands or to children younger than two months old.
Use a mosquito net
Sleeping with a mosquito net is a long-standing custom. Using a mosquito net is the best way to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Why is protection from mosquitoes important?
The after-effects of a mosquito bite can be extremely bothersome: red, swelling, and itchy bumps that can make you extremely uncomfortable. However, staying safe from mosquito bites goes beyond just preventing uncomfortable bites. It also involves protecting your health. Many dangerous diseases are spread by mosquitoes, including:
- Dengue fever
- Yellow fever
- Zika infection virus
- West Nile virus
- Malaria
- Acute Pneumonia
What to do when going out at night?
When going out, you still need protection from these insects. You may do the following to help avoid mosquito bites:
Use mosquito-repellants
Apply DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)-containing insect repellents that have received EPA approval.
Wear appropriate clothing
Donning large sleeves and baggy shirts, pair them with long trousers to keep yourself covered.
Avoid fragrances
Use lotions and fragrances without overpowering floral scents as they often attract mosquitoes.
FAQs
How to keep mosquitoes away at night?
Use mosquito repellent with DEET on exposed skin.
What clothing helps prevent mosquito bites at night?
Wear long sleeves and pants, preferably in light colours to avoid mosquitoes at night.
Are there natural remedies to repel mosquitoes at night?
Yes, try citronella candles, lavender oil, or eucalyptus.
Do mosquito nets work?
Absolutely, use a bed net treated with insecticide for added protection.
Should a person avoid being outside at dusk and dawn to avoid mosquitoes?
Yes, mosquitoes are more active during these times, so minimise outdoor activities then.
Are there any environmental measures to reduce mosquitoes at night?
Eliminate standing water around your home to remove breeding sites.
Can certain plants help repel mosquitoes at night?
Yes, plants like citronella, lavender and marigolds can act as natural repellents.
Does turning off lights help reduce mosquito attraction at night?
Yes, mosquitoes are attracted to light, so using dim or yellow lights can help minimise their presence.
What's an effective DIY mosquito repellent for night use?
Neem oil is an effective repellent; apply it to exposed skin for a natural repellent.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |
