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How to keep mosquitoes away

How to keep mosquitoes away

Mosquitoes are likely at the top of most people’s lists of annoyances. They’re small, but they provide a great amount of frustration. Their high-pitched buzzing can keep you up at night, while their bites will leave you itchy and irritated. If you’re noticing mosquitoes around your house or garden, you’ll need to learn how to keep mosquitoes away as quickly as possible. Keep reading for great tips on how to repel mosquitoes and keep yourself protected.

What are mosquitoes attracted to? 

If you want to know how you can keep mosquitoes away, you’ll first need to become familiar with what attracts them. From the areas they like to breed to the environments they thrive in, there’s more to getting rid of mozzies than just insect repellent (but that’s still a crucial step!)

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Even the smallest amount is enough to cause a noticeable infestation. Any pooling water in plant pots, leaking taps, bird baths or even puddles from rain attract those pesky insects.

As well as still water, mozzies also love humid spots away from heavy airflow. These can be found around long grasses and dense plants close to the ground. They’ll use plants as a place to rest when they’re not breeding or feeding. And when they’re feeding, you’ll notice it!

If there are mosquitoes around your home, you’ll be a target for their bites. To deal with this, you’ll need to know how to stop mosquito bites from itching, how to protect yourself from future bites and most importantly, how to keep mosquitoes away.

What keeps mosquitoes away?

Now that you know what attracts mosquitoes to your garden and house, you can take steps to keep them away. The advice on how to keep mozzies away includes minimising the areas they can breed and making your home a less enticing environment for them. You can also take steps to block them out of spaces or keep them at bay using insect repellents.

How to deter mosquitoes outdoors

The main ways to get rid of mosquitoes outside is to stop them breeding there in the first place. If they don’t have places to lay their eggs, the number of mozzies you’ll see will drastically decrease. Try these preventive tips to keep your garden clear of places for mosquitoes to breed:

  • Get rid of any standing water outside
  • Ensure pot plants can drain properly and that water isn’t trapped underneath them
  • Keep grass cut and tidy
  • Make sure gutters and drains are clean and clear
  • Seal water tanks

On top of preventative measures, you can try to repel mosquitoes from your outdoor areas. Burn citronella candles or make use of citrus and peppermint essential oils that may deter mosquitoes. Another easy tip on how to keep mosquitoes away is to keep a ceiling fan on, if you happen to have one in your patio. The increased airflow makes it hard for these small insects to control their flight, so they’ll avoid the area.

How can you keep mosquitoes away inside?

Having mosquitoes inside your home is incredibly annoying. Not only do you have to deal with them while enjoying nature, now they’re buzzing in your ears while you’re trying to relax! Luckily, there are some simple reasons why they’re turning up, as well as easy ways to both keep them away and stay protected from those nasty bites.

Once mosquitoes find a home in your garden, the chances of them making their way into your house are high. Because of their size, they can enter through the smallest gaps in window screens or doorways. They’ll quickly turn to finding food, which includes your blood! This means, to avoid mozzie bites, you’ll need to know how to keep mosquitoes away inside as well as out. Here are some top tips:

  • Ensure you have fly screens in place on windows and doors if you wish to keep them open
  • Keep a fan on in your room at night to keep the mozzies from landing on you 
  • Try a plug-in insect repellent for rooms where mosquitoes seem to congregate

How do you repel mosquitoes from your skin? 

As well as deterring mosquitoes from breeding in your garden or lingering in your home, you can take steps to repel mosquitoes from landing on your skin and biting you. These methods are useful day and night, indoors or outdoors. Here’s more advice on how to keep mosquitoes away and stop them from biting you:

  • Wear clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible
  • Opt for loose fabrics, as mozzies can still bite through tighter ones
  • Use an insect repellent on any areas of exposed skin
  • Make sure to evenly apply and rub in the repellent for proper protection 
  • Reapply insect repellent throughout the day, especially after getting wet

Summary

Keeping mosquitoes away is a year-round task. You’ll need to take preventative measures both inside and outside, at all different times of the day. The good news is that there are some simple measures that will keep those irritating insects away from you. With these tips, you won’t need to worry about itchy bites or the potential for mosquito-borne diseases.

Firstly, make sure your environment isn’t causing more mosquitoes to flock around your outdoor area or home. Get rid of potential breeding sites like standing water. Make sure you’re blocking them out with insect screens on windows and doors. Once that is done, you can focus on methods to repel any remaining mosquitoes from both your surrounding and yourself. Try insect repellents and burn citronella candles to tackle both at once.

The best way to keep mozzies at bay is to use a mixture of preventative, repellent and protective actions. These will work together in combination to reduce your risk of getting bitten or bothered by mosquitoes, all year round.

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