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5 Hacks To Keep Mosquitoes Away – For Good
Keep yourself free of mosquito bites this summer with these 5 awesome hacks!
Catherine Marucci
06.21.18

Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying – they can also be dangerous. They can potentially carry and spread diseases such as Dengue, Malaria, and Zika.

Exposing you or your family to them could result in annoying itchy bumps – or a severe health risk. That’s why we have compiled some of the simplest but incredibly effective hacks so that mosquitoes will stay away from you for good.

#1 Control or eliminate standing water sources

If your home has standing water sources such as open pots, watering cans or pools, it is best to eliminate or limit the amount of water in them. This is because mosquitoes lay their eggs on the stagnant or slow-moving water.

You would be surprised how effective this is in the war against mosquitoes, but the science holds up. If you take away their breeding grounds you severely limit their numbers.

buckets
m-kennedy via Flickr
Source:
m-kennedy via Flickr

Also take note that there are a lot of unexpected places around the home where water can accumulate and stagnate. Make sure you check potted plants, old tires, gutters, cans, and the sink, as well as every nook and cranny around the house after rainfall.

Finally, if you are storing any water, make sure to cover the containers.

#2 Use the magic of lemon eucalyptus oil

There are already quite a few products commercially available for repelling mosquitoes. Unfortunately, over the counter products such as Deet and Off have been proven to have several harmful side effects to the human body. For those in search of more natural methods, try lemon eucalyptus oil.

Lemon eucalyptus oil has been proven by studies such as this one to be as or more potent as a mosquito repellent than other commercial products. In fact, several governments as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the use of lemon eucalyptus oil.

eucalyptus
mousepotatozone via Flickr
Source:
mousepotatozone via Flickr

There are already natural repellents on the market that use lemon eucalyptus oil as part of their formula. Finding one should be simple enough. You can also try making your own!

#3 Stay away from scented beauty products

If you use a lot of beauty and health care products such as skin and body lotions, hair products, and perfumes, it is best to switch to unscented versions as much as you can. Scents and fragrances that are floral and sweet tend to attract mosquitoes, so using as little as you can of these scents will help in keeping the irritating insects away.

unscented soap
greenhillsoapco via Flickr
Source:
greenhillsoapco via Flickr

Other products that use chemicals such as lactic acid and alpha hydroxy acids should also be avoided, as the chemicals are proven to be potent mosquito attractants.

#4 Wear long light-colored clothing

Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors so if your dress in light-colored clothing you should lower the risk of being bitten by a significant amount. Avoid wearing colors like black, navy blue, and red, especially at night, because several species of mosquitoes such as the Aedes aegypti which carry the Zika and Dengue viruses are attracted to red and black specifically.

mosquito
lordv via Flickr
Source:
lordv via Flickr

On a simpler note, dressing in long clothing that covers your skin obviously also helps in cutting down the chances of mosquitoes attacking. If the weather permits, dress long and light!

#5 Protect yourself when you work up a sweat

Body odor and sweat are highly attractive to mosquitoes. Even the chemicals that our bodies produce internally, such as lactic acid and CO2, will lure mosquitoes to you. The next time you work out, take steps to mask or cover up your natural odor, or just hit the shower!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

jogging
Ian Emerson via Flickr
Source:
Ian Emerson via Flickr

Be aware that when you exert yourself or exercise, you are naturally drawing in mosquitoes, so make sure to use some of the other sure-fire tips above to keep the mini-pests away!

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