Stop the Bite: Effective Ways to Repel Mosquitoes in the Summer

Mosquitoes are some of the most annoying and damning pests of the summer. It’s a wonder why they exist but you’ll want to find a way to keep them away.

Whether you love to host backyard barbecues or simply want to enjoy your yard in the summer without being bitten by these pests, you’ll want to do something to prevent mosquitoes from getting to your area. This means finding ways to either remove them to simply keep them away. Thankfully, there are some great ways to do this.

Use yellow lighting to repel these critters

Mosquitoes are attracted to white lights, and many people have porch lights that shine bright at night. It’s important to change these white lights to yellow bulbs when you want to keep these bugs away. Yellow lights repel these bugs, as do dim lights. Unless you need the light on, you should keep it off to ensure these bugs stay away. By simply replacing the white bulb with a yellow one, you’ll keep these bugs from entering your home when you let your dog in and out of the house.

Put citronella candles around your deck or patio

Citronella oil is a natural mosquito repellent and can be a great way to keep these bugs away. If you’re planning a backyard party, you’ll want to put a few citronella candles around the seating area before the party begins. This oil will kill mosquitoes and keep them away from your area every time you burn candles during the summer. If you have a problem with these pests inside your house, you can use citronella essential oil in your oil diffuser to get rid of the bugs.

Use mosquito repellent plants on the patio

One of the best ways to liven up your yard and keep mosquitoes at bay is to plant items that naturally repel these pests. Some of these are annuals, while others are perennials, and all will help keep these bugs away. Here are some of the plants you should consider:

  • Marigolds or Calendula
  • Citronella plants
  • Beebalm or Horsemint
  • Ageratum or Flossflowers
  • Catnip
  • Garlic
  • Holy Basil
  • Lavender
  • Lemongrass
  • Rosemary

Use a fan during your outdoor activities

The summer can get hot, and if you don’t have much wind or outside airflow, a fan could be a great way to keep everyone cool. This device can also help keep mosquitoes away during the summer. It’s difficult for these bugs to fly when the air is moving, and they might have to go elsewhere and bother other people while you’re enjoying the cooling feeling of a fan on your patio or deck. This one item can make it easy for you to enjoy your outdoor space more often during the summer.

Apply Neem Oil to your skin before going outside

Although Deet is well known as a great repellent for these blood-sucking pests, it’s typically found in bug sprays that smell awful. You can make a better solution and one that’s diluted to avoid skin irritation. Make a Neem oil spray and put it on your skin before going outside. The formula for this oil is:

  • Warm coconut oil (20 ml)
  • Neem oil (20 drops)
  • Lavender or other fragrant oil (5-10 drops)

Using this mixture gives you a pleasant oil that will work great when you need a good way to keep mosquitoes away.

Create mosquito traps to handle an indoor problem

If you have a problem with mosquitoes in your home, one way to get rid of them safely is by using mosquito traps. You make this with one pint of water and 5-6 drops of dishwashing soap. If you place a small bowl of this mixture in each room, it attracts these bugs, and the soap traps them and drowns them.

Fall in love with garlic

One of the best ways to keep mosquitoes away during the summer is to use lots of garlic. This is a natural mosquito killer and repellent with a strong odor. If you eat lots of garlic and use it in your cooking, these bugs might not bother you at all. Of course, things can change if you put on perfume or other sweet smell that attracts these bugs to your area. When you’re grilling outside, put a little garlic on the grill and keep these bugs away.

Use these seven tips to help keep mosquitoes away from your home all summer long. It’s time to take back the yard from the blood suckers that attack every summer.