The specter of mild summer nights has six legs, delicate wings and a fierce temper. Mosquitoes spoil our peaceful evenings outdoors and make themselves unpopular as nighttime disturbers. To protect yourself from the penetrating tormentors, there is a whole arsenal of effective home remedies available. Read here which strategies you can use to effectively prevent a mosquito plague. You can find out which natural remedies relieve painful itching here.
Which home remedies are effective against mosquitoes?
Effective home remedies against mosquitoes include essential oils (lavender, lemon, clove, citronella, tea tree), temperature reduction, fans and plants such as basil, rosemary or lavender. Mosquito traps and insect catchers with natural ingredients such as sugar water, yeast or apple cider vinegar also help.
Get rid of mosquitoes in the bedroom
No one wants to share a bedroom with mosquitoes. Who can't sing a sad song about the penetrance with which the nocturnal disturbers wreak havoc? In order to get rid of the winged nuisances in the sensitive environment of the bedroom and children's room, well thought-out strategies are required. The following home remedies and non-toxic methods will banish mosquitoes from your bedroom, never to be seen again:
- Reduce the temperature: cool down the bedroom by ventilating or using air conditioning
- Operate a fan: circulating indoor air scares away mosquitoes
- Essential scents: Fill your favorite scent into an aroma lamp 1 hour before going to bed, blow out the candle before going to bed
- Lemons and cloves: Cut the lemon open, stud the slices with cloves and lay them out in several places
- Herbs: Place pots with basil, sage or catnip on the windowsill
Avoid standing water of all kinds in the bedroom, as this attracts mosquitoes in droves. If green plants act as natural air filters, please do not overwater the plants and empty the saucer after each watering. Filled watering cans should not be in the bedroom, nor should there be a glass of water.
5 natürliche Mittel gegen Mücken
Tip
A mosquito net rounds off the protection against mosquitoes. Primarily in the bedroom and children's room, a close-meshed net that completely encloses the bed or crib effectively ward off mosquito attacks. To protect your baby from mosquito bites, you should take a two-pronged approach. Attach a sturdy insect screen that is impenetrable to mosquitoes to the window frame.
Make your own insect catcher – instructions with home remedies
The classic fly catcher was the inspiration for the conception of a poison-free catching device against biting mosquitoes and penetrating flies. The following DIY instructions use home remedies that irresistibly attract annoying insects and stick them relentlessly. This is how you can easily make an insect catcher yourself using natural ingredients:
Material
- 1 sheet of absorbent blotting paper, preferably in a decorative color
- Hole Punch
- String, preferably colored and matching the paper color
- Kitchen brush
- Pushtack
- old newspaper as a base
- Home remedies for spreading
- Sugar
So that numerous mosquitoes head for the insect catcher and stick to it, a good home remedy is important. Maple syrup, Nutella, honey or a mix of rosin (violin resin), honey and linseed oil are ideal.
Step-by-step instructions
- Cut the paper lengthwise into 6 cm wide strips
- punch a hole at the top
- Cut the cord to a length of 15 to 20 cm, thread it and knot it
- spread old newspaper on the table as a base
- Put on paper strips
- Coat repeatedly with the chosen home remedy
- Check adhesive strength with finger
- Sprinkle the mosquito catcher with sugar and hang it up
The right paper quality is important for best functionality. Only use absorbent paper. Smooth, surface-treated types of paper or plastic film are not suitable. The home remedy will quickly drip from such materials to the floor or onto your valuable furniture.
Honey is the death of mosquitoes (old German saying).
Make your own mosquito trap with home remedies
Are mosquito catchers dangling from the ceiling a thorn in your side? Then a standing mosquito trap is the solution. The following instructions explain how to build the trap yourself using effective home remedies:
Material
- small, transparent container (empty jam jar, preserving jar, former plastic chocolate box)
- Rubber band or adhesive tape
- Clear film
- Sewing needle or toothpick
- Scissors, spoon, kitchen knife, saucepan
- good home remedy: 200 ml water, 55 g sugar, 1 teaspoon yeast, 1 drop of dishwashing liquid
- Effective home remedy: 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, 200-300 ml water, 1 drop of dishwashing liquid
A good home remedy for filling is a mixture of sugar water and yeast. The water is heated in the cooking pot. While stirring constantly, add the sugar and yeast and let everything cool down. Without heating, you can make an alternative home remedy against mosquitoes using apple cider vinegar, sugar and water.
Step-by-step instructions
- Clean the container to remove any old smells
- Fill household remedies up to half the height
- Add 1 drop of dish soap to reduce surface tension
- Pull the plastic film tightly over the edges
- fix the film with a rubber band
- Prick several times with a needle or toothpick
The smell of the home remedy escapes through the perforated transparent film and attracts mosquitoes to their destruction. In their greed for the contents, the insects squeeze through the holes and are trapped. When they try to nibble on the tempting soup, the mosquitoes sink hopelessly. The mosquito trap should be dumped out and the contents replaced every one to two weeks.
Tip
By removing the detergent, the death trap becomes a life trap. Without dish soap, the surface tension is maintained and the mosquitoes swim around on the liquid home remedy. The insects can't find a way out. Take the trap outside every few days to release the prisoners at a sufficient distance from the house.
Mosquito repellent for rubbing in
Citronella is probably the most effective oil against mosquitoes
It's actually quite simple: If a mosquito can't smell, it won't bite you. Of course, insects have different standards than human noses. The tormentors find the body odor of sweaty people irresistible. They also fly on carbon dioxide, which we release through our skin and breathe out. Showering every day is a tried and tested way to avoid being noticeable to mosquitoes. Of course, that's not enough on hot summer days, because sooner or later we'll still be running around sweaty and offering mosquitoes a welcome target.
In this case, a natural home remedy for rubbing is the best solution to keep mosquitoes away from your neck until the next shower. Essential oils such as clove, lemon, tea tree, citronella or cinnamon are said to be effective against mosquitoes. Take three to four drops sparingly and mix the carrier oil with cooking oil. Using essential oils as an effective home remedy against mosquitoes carries the risk of allergic reactions. Therefore, test the safety on a small area of skin. Important: This mosquito repellent is not suitable for children to rub in.
Background
Only female mosquitoes bite
As aggressive vampires, only female mosquitoes are active during the breeding and mating season. In order to produce eggs for reproduction, females rely on a blood meal. In order for mosquitoes to access the important hemoglobin, they pierce the skin with special mouth parts and suck the blood. Fatal side effects include itching, swelling and eczema caused by scratched mosquito bites. In the worst case, the person affected becomes ill because various pathogenic agents can be found in the mosquito's saliva. Male mosquitoes do not bite and feed primarily on nectar and sweet plant sap.
Where are common breeding sites?
In the fight against mosquitoes, act according to the principle: A recognized danger is averted danger. For this purpose, potential breeding sites indoors and outdoors come into focus. Take effective preventative measures to thoroughly spoil these locations as breeding grounds for the six-legged rabble. The following table gives an overview of where mosquitoes are particularly common:
| House/Apartment | Garden/outdoor area |
|---|---|
| Bedroom | Pond |
| Children's room | Rain barrel |
| Kitchen | in puddles |
| Fruit bowl | in soil/potting soil |
| Trashcan | for horses |
| in potting soil | in dogs |
| in dogs | garbage bin |
Don't wait until you are surrounded indoors and outdoors by breeding grounds with myriads of mosquitoes preying on you and your family. By making endangered locations unattractive for females from March onwards, you will prevent the beginnings of a mosquito plague.
Prevent breeding grounds outside
Standing water must be avoided at all costs
Female mosquitoes use even tiny water holes to lay eggs. After every rain shower or watering, spread out any puddles that have formed on the ground with a rake or broom. Please tip out small containers, shallow bowls and pot saucers with accumulated water as soon as possible. A bird bath is cleaned weekly and refilled with fresh water.
It's best to cover rain barrels. Effective home remedies are a few drops of dish soap or cooking oil every now and then. Both substances reduce surface tension so that eggs, larvae and small mosquitoes sink hopelessly in the water of a rain barrel. This strategy is unsuitable for the garden pond because many beneficial insects could fall victim to it. If you install a water feature, the turbulent water level will deter mosquitoes from laying eggs. The best option is settled fish or frogs, because many aquatic creatures like to eat mosquito larvae.
Avoid breeding grounds indoors – tips & tricks
Preventive measures against mosquitoes in the house correspond to avoidance strategies against fruit flies. Prevent damp spots in the kitchen and bathroom. Empty the trash can daily and clean the container regularly with hot, soapy water. Wipe sticky work surfaces with vinegar. Do not leave damp sponges or dishcloths lying around. Empty and clean your dog's and cat's food bowls promptly after each meal. Sort out overripe fruit from the fruit bowl or store fruit in the refrigerator.
Pets have insects in their wake when they enter the house after being released. Coconut oil has proven to be an effective home remedy for dogs to ward off mosquitoes when they arrive. Apply a few drops where your dog cannot lick the coconut oil, for example on the neck. The scent cloud makes your beloved four-legged friend an insufferable area for mosquitoes, so that he doesn't bring any pests into the room.
Home remedies relieve painful itching
Cooling home remedies relieve itching and swelling
The silver bullet in mosquito protection has yet to be invented. No protective measure guarantees that one or two mosquitoes won't sneak through and bite. The tiny mosquito bite isn't a cause for concern per se, if it weren't for the excruciating itching that sets in immediately. Quick action is now required to reduce itching and swelling. Scratched mosquito bites become infected in no time and leave ugly scars. These tried and tested home remedies relieve itchy mosquito bites:
- Saliva: lick the sting site as an immediate measure
- Ice cubes: Apply ice or cold pack to constrict the blood vessels
- Onion: press cut onion onto the mosquito bite (disinfects and reduces itching)
- Ribwort Plantain: Shred the leaf and place it on top
- White cabbage: Tear off the leaf, grate it and dab on the juice (anti-inflammatory and anti-itch)
- Vinegar: Press a compress with vinegar water or apple cider vinegar onto the affected skin
Scientists have discovered that the proteins from mosquito bites break down at temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius. A warmed spoon meets the requirement, as does a cotton pad soaked in hot water. However, the risk of burns or scalding should not be ignored.
Preventing mosquitoes with plants – this is how it works
If selected plants decorate the windowsill, a fragrant bulwark is formed against incoming mosquitoes. They are primarily scented and herbal plants with essential ingredients that provide you with effective support in the fight against bold bloodsuckers. The following table presents recommended plants:
| Ornamental plants against mosquitoes | Herbs against mosquitoes |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Basil |
| Marigold | garlic |
| Lemon Geranium | Rosemary |
| Lemongrass | Sage |
| Carnations | Eucalyptus |
| Walnut | Lemon balm |
| Lemon | Peppermint |
Popular herbs such as sage or rosemary should be cut regularly. After air-drying, excess clippings are an ideal repellent against mosquitoes. Tie the dried shoots into small bouquets and place them in the bedroom, children's room or kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
When is mosquito season?
Mosquitoes roam our regions from March to November. If winter comes with mild weather, the pests make life difficult for us until the first frost. Especially at dusk and at night, the stinging insects buzz around looking for an unwilling blood donor. Effective protection against mosquitoes is now available almost all year round due to global warming.
Countless dead mosquitoes spoil the paint on my car. Is there a good home remedy for gentle cleaning?
Clean car paint stuck with mosquito corpses gently with soapy water. Place the car in a shady location. Briefly soak kitchen roll or newspaper in a mixture of lukewarm water and dishwashing liquid or liquid soap. Place the wet leaves on the contaminated areas of paint and allow them to act for a few minutes. You can then simply wipe off the roughest stains with a soft sponge. If any last specks remain, repeat the process.
Is there effective mosquito protection with home remedies for horses?
The following recipe uses only natural ingredients and has proven to be an excellent mosquito repellent for horses:
- 1 liter of black tea
- 1 liter organic apple cider vinegar
- 2 crushed garlic cloves
- 1 lemon
- 4 ml each of tea tree oil and clove oil
- 3 to 4 liters of water
- 1 spray bottle
Pour black tea and apple cider vinegar into a saucepan. Squeeze the lemon and add the juice. Cut the peel into small pieces and add them to the liquid with the crushed garlic cloves, followed by tea tree oil and clove oil. Bring the mixture to the boil briefly, stirring constantly, and let the broth steep for 24 hours. The next day, strain the liquid into a large container. The concentrate is diluted with 3 to 4 liters of water and filled into the spray bottle. The homemade mosquito spray for horses is ready.
Tip
When hordes of small mosquitoes contaminate the potting soil of houseplants, effective home remedies can help. If you stick a few matches upside down into the ground, the sulfur they contain will reliably kill black mosquitoes. Add 10-20 drops of tea tree oil or lavender oil to each liter of irrigation water. Sprinkle the potting soil thinly with cinnamon, coffee or baking soda. Keep the substrate surface dry and water the plant from below.
