11 Tips to Enjoy the Rest of the Summer Without Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are among the few creatures that can ruin your summer. When the season starts, supermarket shelves are full of all sorts of sprays, spirals, and traps. But aside from specialized products, there are many alternative ways to protect yourself from the annoying insects.
We at CHEERY have found out about very efficient ways to make your life easier and not be bitten. And in the bonus section, we’re going to tell you how to soothe the itch if you did get attacked by mosquitoes.
Choose the right color of clothes.
Studies show that mosquitoes are really attracted to black objects. They also like bright colors, such as red, orange, and blue. If you want to be less interesting for them, wear white, green, or purple.
Wear loose clothes.
Mosquitoes can easily bite through spandex. Tight clothes won’t stop an insect, so it’s better to wear pants made from thick fabrics, rather than leggings. If it’s really hot outside, and you don’t want to feed mosquitoes, experts recommend wearing loose linen or silk clothes.
Instead of mosquito spray, use Victoria Secret Bombshell.
There are studies showing that flowery perfumes attract mosquitoes. But there are exceptions. Experts tested Victoria Secret Bombshell and found that they can protect you from mosquitoes for up to 2 hours. If you hate regular sprays, use this perfume.
Get rid of potential habitats for mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes love laying eggs in still water. If you are constantly bitten at home, go outside and check if you have some still water in a flower pot, a small baby pool, or a full bucket you forgot about.
Protect your pool and don’t let mosquitoes breed there.
Pools are a perfect place for mosquitoes to breed, but changing the water every time may be really challenging. A Reddit user shared an effective way to protect your pool from the insects. Just add a few drops of dishwasher soap, “It breaks the water tension and both the female mosquitos and the larvae drown. So you are basically making a mosquito trap that will break the cycle.”
Plant the plants that keep mosquitoes away.
Basil and lavender are great mosquito-repellents. Mosquitos have a very good sense of smell, and they track their prey down thanks to it. But plants with rich flavors can throw them off. Just plant them on your windowsills or in your garden, and you will be able to forget about mosquitos.
Another option is sundew. The owners of this plant claim that they have no mosquitos.
Reduce the number of mosquitos with coffee grounds.
If you put coffee grounds on your grass and flowerbeds, you can cut down the population of mosquitos. It turns out that coffee creates a terrible environment for the larvae. And a series of studies showed that even adult mosquitoes don’t want to lay eggs in the areas where there are coffee grounds.
Use lavender oil instead of fumigators.
If you won’t want to use chemical sprays, try some natural products. It’s proved that lavender essential oil scares away mosquitoes. Besides, it may not only prevent them from biting you but also soothe the skin thanks to its anesthetic, antiseptic, and antifungal properties.
You can also use lavender oil instead of fumigators. But remember that essential oils shouldn’t be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding without consulting a doctor.
Protect the open areas of your skin with oil from lemon eucalyptus.
Oil of lemon eucalyptus is a great option that can be used by children older than 3 and pregnant or feeding women. It’s approved by CDC as an effective mosquito repellent.
Don’t confuse it with “pure oil of lemon eucalyptus”. Unlike oil of lemon eucalyptus, pure oil of lemon eucalyptus hasn’t been officially tested or approved by experts.
Repel mosquitoes with cinnamon oil.
Cinnamon is not only a tasty spice, but also an effective mosquito repellent. In Taiwan, there was a study proving that cinnamon oil destroys mosquito eggs and it can be used against adult mosquitos.
You can make it at home: add 24 drops of oil into 4 ounces of water and put the solution into a spray bottle. Be careful, because a high concentration of oil can cause skin irritation.
If you are pregnant, don’t walk in places where there are many mosquitos.
Scientists proved that pregnant women are twice as attractive to mosquitoes. The thing is, they like people that produce a lot of CO2 and have a high body temperature. And future mothers have both. Women in late pregnancy are the best choices for mosquitoes because they produce 21% more CO2 than other people.
Bonus: How to soothe the itch if you got bitten.
There are a lot of ways to make a mosquito bite less irritating. One of them is applying alcohol to the bitten area. But don’t use too much because it can cause skin irritation.
Another way is applying honey. It has antiseptic and antibacterial properties, so it can decrease the inflammation and prevent a possible infection.
If you like oats, you can make a compress. Mix oats with water and put it on the bitten area. 15 minutes later, remove it and wash the area with water.
How do you fight with mosquitoes?