How to get rid of mosquitoes: Tips to keep the pests away, control them in your house
For all that summer brings – camping, barbecues, swimming and vacations – there are some aspects of the warmer months that can be a real pest. Mosquitoes are an unfortunate part of summertime, especially when they’re crashing your backyard bonfire and leaving you with itchy, painful bite spots.
Mosquitoes outside are one thing, but having the pests invade your home can feel uncomfortable and unsanitary. Having a mosquito buzzing around your head while watching TV or trying to sleep can kill anyone's vibe and disrupt slumber.
Here’s how to prevent and get rid of mosquitoes this summer.
How to get rid of mosquitoes
Inside, mosquitoes flock toward dark, humid places like under the sink, in showers, closets, laundry rooms or under furniture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Once they’re inside, they may start to lay eggs in your home.
You probably want to know the quickest way to get rid of mosquitos and avoid them from setting up shop in your house. The first step you can take to minimize mosquitoes in or around your home is to check for and eliminate any standing water. One of the most common examples are trays under potted plants to catch excess water, says Elmer Gray, a public health extension specialist at the University of Georgia.
“If you have house plants on your deck and you have mosquitoes on your deck, you might be growing them right there,” Gray says.
Check your house and yard for areas that might be gathering water. This could appear in old tires collecting rainwater, dog dishes left outside, tree holes, rain barrels, gutters or garbage cans.
Another preventative measure you can take is screens on your doors and windows, which Gray calls “our first line of defense” against insects. Mosquitoes thrive in warm conditions, so while you may be tempted to let a summer breeze through your window, make sure you’ve got a working screen filtering it.
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How to kill mosquitoes
In times when proactive measures aren’t enough to get rid of mosquitoes or mosquito larvae in and around your home, it’s important to get in touch with your local mosquito control district or public health department. Local mosquito control programs can help check out infected areas and recommend solutions, Gray says.
Mosquitoes are often treated with Environmental Protection Agency-approved larvicide and adulticide, which are insecticides used to kill mosquitoes in various stages.
But when it comes to mosquitoes flying around outside, Gray recommends people be realistic about them being a part of life.
“Mosquitoes are part of the environment – there’s always going to be a few,” Gray says. “Mosquito control was never trying to get rid of all the mosquitoes, we’re just trying to make it tolerable so you can enjoy your deck and have a good Fourth of July or Memorial Day barbecue.”
How to repel mosquitoes
While mosquitoes in the summer may be inevitable, many effective ways exist to avoid getting mosquito bites.
Repellants that contain DEET are the “gold standard” of EPA-approved products, Gray says, and are considered safe for adults and children to use. DEET makes it harder for biting bugs like ticks and mosquitoes to smell us.
Plant-based products, like oil of lemon eucalyptus, are also effective repellants against mosquitoes but don’t last as long as DEET, according to Gray.
“Get good coverage; if you miss a spot, if you don’t do one side of your face, the mosquitoes are going to come to that side of your face,” Gray says. He recommends parents spray repellant on their hands and rub it on their children rather than directly spraying them. The same goes for your face – spray on your hands, then rub in.
Mosquitoes decide on us as a host after initially sensing the carbon dioxide we breathe out. The more active you are – running, jumping, expressing wildly – the more carbon dioxide you express, the more mosquitoes will be attracted to you. Those who are more calm and laid back are less likely to get bit, Gray says.
Another way to repel mosquitoes is with the clothing you wear. According to Gray, light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothes and long sleeves are the way to go, especially if you’re camping or spending time in the woods.
“Most all of the biting flies are less attracted to light colors,” Gray says. “With dark colors, you have a bigger heat signature and there’s more contrast in the environment so they can see better.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to get rid of mosquitoes: Ways to kick the pests out for good