How to Keep Mosquitoes Away for the Perfect Summer
Bites begone.
Wouldn’t your backyard barbeque be so much better if you could prevent pesky mosquito bites? Eliminating mosquitoes can seem like a never-ending battle, but there are some steps you can take to scare off your uninvited guests! Read on for some tips on how to keep mosquitoes away.
Decorate with Citronella Torches & Candles
Surround your outdoor patio with tiki torches with a secret weapon – citronella! Citronella is an essential oil distilled from grass that naturally wards off mosquitoes. The scent is supposed to mask other smells that attract mosquitoes. Add an extra layer of protection with citronella or other insect-repellent candles in the center of your table. As an added bonus, your patio will look bright and festive for the summer. Avoid use of citronella during pregnancy and avoid contact with skin.
Using an outdoor fan has been found to be even more effective than citronella at warding off mosquitoes. First, the fan makes it more difficult for a mosquito to fly through your space, and second, the fan disperses the carbon dioxide you breathe out. Mosquitos use carbon dioxide to find humans to feed on, so without this signal, it is much more difficult for them to pick you out. Try an outdoor ceiling fan attached to the roof of your porch to create a mosquito-free zone. The fan will help you stay cool throughout the summer, too!
If you’ve had problems with mosquitoes indoors, you can try out an essential oil spray to deter mosquitoes from hanging around. Citronella, lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, and tea-tree oils are said to have insect repelling properties. Give your room a quick spritz for a refreshing scent that will send mosquitoes running. You could also try out an essential oil reed diffuser to scent a small space and ward off mosquitoes. Avoid using essential oil room sprays if you have pets or young children, as they can be particularly sensitive to essential oils.
Line the sides of your patio with pretty planters filled with scented herbs. You’ll be able to harvest the herbs for lovely homemade meals, and the plants will discourage mosquitoes while you eat outside. Citronella, lemon balm, catnip, basil, lavender, peppermint, garlic, and rosemary are all unattractive to mosquitoes. Geraniums and marigolds are two lovely flowers that will also repel insects.
Tip!
Pretty raised gardens could help section off a dining area on a large patio and keep the herbs at patio level to maximize mosquito deterrence.
What’s more fun than a summer night roasting marshmallows around a bonfire? The smoke from a bonfire serves to repel mosquitoes, making this fun summer experience that much better. You can toss mosquito-repelling herbs into the fire to scent the smoke and deter mosquitoes further or burn scented wood like piñon. You can also try an outdoor fireplace, which can be used for cooking or as a fun focal point.
For a particularly effective solution, try a screened gazebo. These gazebos have screened curtains that can be let down when it gets particularly buggy outside. The bugs will not be able to pass through the screen, leaving you safe inside.
Standing or stagnant water is where most mosquitoes lay their eggs, which means more mosquitoes swarming your backyard. Getting rid of standing water is crucial for eliminating the chances of a mosquito plaque that can start in undrained flower pots, unchlorinated pools, or toys and other objects that have collected water. Replace them with outdoor water fountains that are constantly draining or moving water to repel mosquitoes
Your outdoor lighting may be the culprit for attracting pesky mosquitoes. Switching your bright white bulbs to yellow bulbs can keep mosquitoes from bothering you as you enjoy an evening outside. Mosquitos cannot see the warmer wavelengths of darker yellow lights, so they won’t be drawn to and inclined to share your space.
Bug zapper lanterns are really effective for keeping mosquitoes and other unwanted bugs away from your outdoor entertainment area. These lanterns emit an attractive UV light that mosquitoes and bugs are attracted to, which draws them to the lantern and zaps them. You can place these lanterns on the ground like in the picture above or hang them from the ceiling of a porch with a hanger.
No one wants to enjoy a meal outdoors with mosquitoes flying around, so it’s important to stay proactive in cleaning up food spills to prevent bugs from lingering around long after you’re done eating. If you’re grilling or cooking outside, keep your food bug-free by covering them with a food tent until you’re ready to eat. Whenever you’re done eating, be sure to toss your trash in a trashcan to remove the possibility of mosquitoes trying to get into the waste and latching onto you instead.
