What Can I Use As A Natural Mosquito Repellent?

The most raised concern during summers is how to avoid mosquitoes. As the weather becomes hotter, you will see the increase in the number of mosquitoes. How to keep yourself safe from mosquitoes is the biggest question? People who love summer cannot enjoy their coffee sitting in their yard or lawn during evenings. So what are good ways for repelling mosquitoes? Calling pest control is one of the ways, which is a temporary solution to the problem. Chemicals around your house can be harmful, so we decided to list down some natural remedies and ways for repelling mosquitos.

Why are mosquito bites are itchy? When our body temperature increases and we sweat that is when mosquitoes are more likely to bite you. When a mosquito bites, their saliva is injected into our blood, which stops our blood from clotting. To fight with the substance, our body produces a protein “histamine,” which causes inflammation and itching.

Natural remedies to prevent mosquitoes :

Natural Remedies

• Apple Cider – rubbing apple cider on your skin helps to prevent. If you eat apple cider by using it in your food or even apply it on your skin, its odor prevents mosquito’s biting.
• Lemon Eucalyptus Oil – this oil is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fight insects bites. You can substitute this oil with Picaridin, which is in a form of a spray that you can apply to your body.
• It is an old-school thought, but people do believe that garlic and onion work the best. Apply garlic or onion juice on your skin to ward off the insects.

Plants and Herbs

As we are talking about some natural remedies to repel mosquitoes, plants and herbs also play a role in preventing insects. Some of the plants and herbs are listed below.

• Bee Balm – it is normally used for cooking purposes but is a good mosquito repellent. Its fragrance keeps off the mosquitoes.
• Cadaga Tree – this tree has a very strong odor that keeps the mosquitoes away. You can plant this tree in the area where you feel pests are most active.
• Catnip – Planting catnip is an excellent alternative to ward off the mosquitoes as it contains DEET. One of the active ingredients is nepetalactone, which is ten times stronger than DEET.
• Lavender – one of the beautiful and fragrant plant you can have in your yard. Even though the fragrance is fresh, mosquitoes do not like it so they stay away from lavender plants.
• Marigold – it comes from a sunflower family. The beautiful yellow color plant helps in preventing mosquitoes.
• Basil Leaves – basil leaves have a range of health benefits. Plant these leaves in your garden or backyard and keep mosquitoes away from your family. There is a variety of basil leaves; lemon and cinnamon basil are effective in keeping the bugs away.
• Mint- the most refreshing herb for summers and effective to ward off insects. You can use mint in your drinks or apply mint essential oils to your skin to keep the pests away.
• Clove – it is used for cooking purposes as well as treating many diseases. You can use clove oil on your clothes to prevent pests from biting you for few hours. Clove has a strong odor, so it is better not to apply on your skin.
• Rosemary – Rosemary is a natural mosquito repellent. You can place several rosemary plants in your yard during the summers.

Getting rid of outdoor mosquitoes is a challenge. Many people now purchase and install a mosquito misting system in their lawn to minimize mosquitoes around their house. Another effective way to eliminate insects is to get rid of their breeding place. They normally breed in still water, flowerpots, empty jars, and buckets, so keep them empty or at least keep them hygiene. It is also said that some plants help in keeping the insects away like Marigolds, daisies, asters and herbs such as coriander, basil are considered best and effective to prevent insects. Many people believe that burning rosemary over coals is effective. There is no harm in trying; it is proven that smoke ward off insects.

Getting Rid of Inflammation

A mosquito bite can be itchy and irritating. We came up with some home remedies to protect you from bite irritation.

• Icing always help. Apply ice to the area where you feel inflammation, it will reduce swelling as well as irritation.
• If you wish to apply an ointment, then go for hydrocortisone. Avoid caladryl and calamine.
• Rub lemon juice or garlic juice.
• White vinegar is also considered effective to get a relief from insect bites. Never apply vinegar to the raw area.
• Mix baking soda and water, and apply the paste on the affected area.

Many other repellents can be used to avoid mosquitoes. Bug-Out is a mosquito killer spray that you can use to prevent insects. It is proved effective, as it contains rosemary, lemon, and other plants that are considered insect repellent. Try to use fragrant solutions to your body, as it helps to keep insects away. People also opt out for DEET repellent, if you plan to use this repellent, make sure that it is less than 25%. Many people assume that just like SPF helps in protecting sun, DEET works the same way – this concept is wrong. Overuse of it does not guarantee more protection.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women can safely use these products, as they do not contain any harmful chemicals. However, everything comes with precautions. Keep these tips in mind when using repellents.

• Apply it only to exposed skin. Do not use it under your clothes, as it will make your body temperature go higher.
• Never use repellents on wounds or cuts, neither after shaving nor after waxing.
• If you are using a spray, do not use it directly on the skin. Spray it on your hands first and then apply it on your face, avoid contact with eyes and mouth.
• Most important, keep out of reach of children.
• Wash your hands before eating.
• Before going to bed or after waking up in the morning, wash the treated area with soap and water.

Keeping mosquitoes away is challenging during summers as the number of mosquitoes increase in the hot weather. There are many ways to prevent mosquitoes; however, they do not have a long lasting effect. Try to wear full-sleeves shirts and full-length pants when going out, which can be hard due to hot weather. However, prevention is always better than cure.