Come monsoon, it’s time for mosquitoes to make their way into our houses bringing in several types of fevers be it malaria, dengue and diseases. Stagnant water and unhygienic living conditions are breeding areas for the mosquitoes and it is very important to keep our surroundings dry and clean.
While there are chemical based mosquito repellents available in the market, they may cause allergies in few. Children suffer from running nose, cough, and itchy eyes due to those repellents.
Fret not! Here are few natural mosquito repellents that keep them away from entering into your house.
Citronella
Citronella oil is considered as a number one choice to keep these insects at a bay. An essential oil, Citronella is now being widely used in herbal based mosquito repellent creams. Citronella oil is easily available in the market. One can apply the oil directly on to the skin before bed time. The market is also flooded with citronella dhoop sticks, in the form of infusers etc.
Another simple trick is to grow Citronella in a flower pot and keep it in your balcony, garden or any place in the house.
Camphor
Camphor is another reliable natural remedy to repel mosquitoes from entering your abode. Close all the doors, windows of your house and just light camphor. Let the camphor smell stay indoors for 30 minutes and it repels these insects from entering.
Another tip is to place a small bowl of water in a corner and drop few camphor tablets. It keeps mosquitoes away from you, throughout the night.
Neem
Neem oil is the most trusted mosquito repellent for ages. According to research neem oil when mixed with coconut oil and applied on skin offers great protection from mosquito bites for many hours. Bring home neem oil based incense sticks or just burn oil in the corner of your house for effective results.
Coffee Beans
You may love your coffee, but mosquitoes don’t. The quick, easy method is to sprinkle few coffee beans or grounded coffee near stagnant water pits. The pungent smell of coffee brings the mosquito eggs out of the stagnant water and as a result they get deprived of oxygen. This will end mosquito breeding.
Eucalyptus oil
The strong, pungent smell of eucalyptus works wonders in keeping mosquitoes away from you. Apply a thin layer of eucalyptus oil on your skin before sleeping to keep those tiny creatures away from you for the night.
Here are some simple ways to use apple cider vinegar and garlic to dispel mosquitoes from homes and stay disease-free in the rainy season.
Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar is a fermentation product that naturally emits a pungent odour owing to the activity of bacteria synthesizing acetic acid. This organic acid has a rancid smell similar to certain aged alcohol products, in addition to a distinctly sharp sour to bitter taste, which is detested by mosquitoes.
Dilute ½ cup apple cider vinegar in an equal amounts of water, add about 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil, then transfer the mixture to a spray bottle. Dab a mist of this solution on the skin to fend off mosquitoes and prevent insect bites.
Garlic
The bulbs of garlic contain an amino acid component – alliin that gets modified into allicin – an organosulfur compound when the cloves are cut, minced or crushed. The strong odour emanated from garlic extracts works as a rather foul-smelling agent that drives mosquitoes away, particularly the female bugs which are known to cause diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya etc.
Grind 5 – 7 garlic cloves into a fine paste, boil it in water and sprinkle ample amounts of this pungent-smelling solution in all open areas as well as nooks and corners in the house, to effectively repel mosquitoes.
While these home remedies serve the purpose, it is also important to wrap your bed with good quality mosquito traps. Invest in a good quality mosquito trap for wonderful sleep and good health.
