How to make mosquito repellent at home

What attracts mosquitoes

A mosquito is a nature-created insect with an excellent sense of smell. Even at a great distance, they are able to catch the scent of the victim and head towards it. Interestingly, only female mosquitoes bite. Males, lacking mouthparts for biting, are vegetarians and feed on nectar.

To find out the smells that repel mosquitoes, you must first understand those that are their favorite and readily attract:

• high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is released by all living things when they breathe. This is why it is quite easy for bloodsuckers to find their victims;
• heat is another indicator for insects, by which female mosquitoes are excellent at navigating;
• the smell of sweat. This is especially true during the hot summer period.

Attention! Scientists have proven that mosquitoes are able to distinguish colors. They are attracted to red, blue and black colors in clothing, while yellow is considered their least favorite.

The main task of a person is to find substances that will smell stronger than its natural smell. If this succeeds, then the little vampires cannot find their victim. When there is a strong smell in the air, insects lose orientation in space and begin to move chaotically.

The strongest odors that repel mosquitoes

Smells that repel mosquitoes
Smells that repel mosquitoes are both natural and chemical. All of them provide reliable protection. Their diversity allows the use of aromatherapy in the fight against insects at home or on the street. Mosquitoes are very afraid of plants with a strong odor. Often their aroma is very pleasant for people, but unbearable for insects. This allows you to get the additional advantage of using natural methods of protection. Plants to repel mosquitoes can be planted in your garden plot, bouquets and herbariums can be laid out in your house or apartment.

• Elder. It is one of those plants whose juice and smell are not liked by bloodsuckers. When choosing a picnic site, you can settle closer to this perennial bush. To provide protection at home, you will need to chop the elderberry leaves and place them on plates. Place the dishes on the windowsills. Insects will not be able to enter the house until the strength of the odor decreases. The material should be changed as it dries.
• Bird cherry. This smell is associated with the onset of spring. The pleasant and delicate aroma of the plant will perfectly repel mosquitoes. You can plant trees in the area near the house or break lush bouquets of branches.
• Conifers. Inhaling the aromas of pine needles is very useful for a person, so this method of protection against mosquitoes has a double effect. Insects cannot tolerate the smell of spruce, pine, juniper and fir. Both the needles themselves and cones are used. In Siberia, they learned how to make homemade repellers from fir cones.
• Citronella and geranium. These two plants should be separated into a separate group. Since it is their extracts or essential oils that are used to prepare synthetic mosquito repellents. In small concentrations, plants are used to prevent mosquitoes from biting a child. It is enough to apply a few drops of essential oil to the hood of the stroller to protect your baby while walking.
• Citruses. The smell of lemons, limes, grapefruit or oranges also repels mosquitoes. You can even make your own special repellers, which can be easily made from lemon and cloves. For protection, it will be enough to place saucers with such devices around the perimeter of the table or in the room.
• Carbolic acid. This product is known as an effective antiseptic and can have a bactericidal effect. This ingredient is also used in the fight against bloodsuckers. Simply sprinkle the headboard and walls or wipe the surfaces with a soft cloth soaked in the solution.
• Fish fat. Not only children, but also blood-sucking insects do not like it. If you coat exposed areas of the body with this ingredient, insects will not be able to bite. In this way they provide protection from mosquito bites and many other flying insects.
• Smoke. The easiest way to keep bloodsuckers away from people during a picnic is to make a fire. Smoke will completely deprive insects of the ability to navigate in space. For effect, you can throw dry grass into the fire. It will provide a large amount of smoke. It is also worth remembering the fact that mosquitoes cannot tolerate the smell of pine trees, and add spruce branches or cones to the fire.
• Soy sauce. For humans, it has virtually no odor, but is able to provide protection from bites throughout the night. To do this, you just need to place a small bowl of liquid on the bedside table.

Fragrances for mosquito control

On a note!

Also, blood-sucking insects are afraid of the smells of valerian, mint, lemon balm, cinnamon, birch tar, thyme and garlic. For protection, you can lay them out in the room, prepare infusions, or simply apply the prepared decoctions to your body and clothes.

What smells do bloodsuckers hate?

There are many proven products, oils and preparations, the aromas of which can repel vile insects at home.

Herbs and plants that repel mosquitoes

In nature there are enough plants that repel blood-sucking insects with their smell. By planting them on your plot or balcony, you can enjoy a warm summer evening without fear of being bitten by parasites.

Sagebrush

Several years ago, wormwood was found only in apothecary beds, but now it is also used for decorative purposes, planted in flower beds. This plant, which repels mosquitoes well from a large area, also serves as a decoration for the area with its silvery leaves. The smell of grass intensifies in the evening, when insects are especially active.

Yarrow

The plant has settled on the plots of many gardeners, as it not only repels mosquitoes with its smell, but also helps fight other pests. It makes an excellent fertilizer, and spraying it with an infusion will get rid of aphids, spider mites, and bedbugs.

Spiraea

This perennial plant not only repels mosquitoes, but also repels flies, horseflies, and horseflies. The strong aroma of flowers will reliably protect the area from blood-sucking insects. An infusion of meadowsweet leaves helps fight other garden pests.

Basil

The plant is grown to be added to soups, sauces and seasonings. But mosquitoes do not like its smell, and try with all their might to fly away if you rub the leaf in your hands. By planting it near paths, you can drive away the midges by simply stepping on the plant.

Ageratum

Ageratum should not be applied to the skin as a mosquito repellent plant. Its juice can cause an allergic reaction. The flower is unpretentious to soil and sunlight. Mosquitoes' dislike for the plant is explained by its ability to secrete coumarin, which is a powerful repellent.

Lavender angustifolia

Lilac, white or pink lavender flowers will not only save you from mosquitoes, but will also decorate your balcony or area. The aroma of the flower does not like moths and flies, and when planted next to roses, it will save the plants from harmful insects.

Peppermint

The menthol smell of peppermint, which mosquitoes cannot tolerate, also repels spiders. Therefore, it is often planted under windows and near doors. The plant should be grown either in flowerpots or in flowerbeds with edging, otherwise it will take over the entire area. To get rid of mosquitoes in an apartment, according to popular advice, you can plant it in a pot or place bunches of grass in water around your home.

Essential oils

How to get rid of mosquitoes in the house?

The aroma of essential oils helps not only cope with stress, but also scare away annoying bloodsuckers. Esters of tea tree, thyme, eucalyptus, lavender and geranium will come to the rescue.

If no allergy or other undesirable reaction occurs when the oil comes into contact with the skin, then make a mixture of essential oil with regular cream, Vaseline or baby oil in the proportion of 20 drops per 30 grams of product.

The resulting paste is applied to exposed areas of the body. If there is a risk of developing allergies, you can add a few drops of ether to the medallion and wear it around your neck. For your dacha or apartment, you can purchase special aroma lamps for evaporating esters. They are usually located near an open window. A cheaper way is to soak a handkerchief or napkin in oil and place it next to the resting place.

Folk recipes

Recommendations for the use of plants whose odors repel bloodsuckers.

Clove cocktail

Pour 5 clove buds into a glass of water and bring to a boil. Then reduce the gas and cook for another 15 minutes under the lid. After this, strain the mixture through cheesecloth, pour it into a container with a spray bottle and treat existing clothing. Before sending to nature, mix the decoction with any alcohol-containing cologne, and periodically spray and renew the aroma.

Mosquitoes do not bother people for a long time after using this recipe.

Cloves are also used instead of mosquito coils and fumigators. The aroma from the resulting product is not liked by many insects, but for humans it will bring a lot of pleasant emotions (reminiscent of New Year's Eve to many). The lemon is cut in half and dried clove buds are introduced into it. You can replace lemon with orange. The fruit is usually placed on the veranda table or near the bed.

Decoction of wheatgrass, wormwood and valerian

A handful of crushed roots of any of the 3 plants is poured with 1.5 liters of water. Then bring to a boil and simmer over low heat under the lid for about 5 minutes. After this, pour everything into a thermos, leave for 60 minutes, cool and filter.

The resulting decoction is used to wipe open areas of the body. You can also spray it on clothing items. You should use valerian decoction carefully if you have cats at home. The aroma of valerian is not liked by bloodsuckers, but pets love it.

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Balm “Star”

This remedy is available in many homes, and it is recommended to use it not only according to the instructions. By applying the balm behind your ears or on your wrists, you can protect yourself from mosquito bites for a long time.

To get rid of bloodsuckers indoors, just boil 2 glasses of water in a saucepan and add a few grams of the product. After boiling water for 5-7 minutes, there will be no trace of mosquitoes in the house. Applying the balm is not recommended for people prone to allergies and children under 5 years of age.

Growing plants such as lavender, cloves, mint, geranium, marigolds and daisies in front of windows or in the garden will help cope with annoying mosquitoes and midges. It is also recommended to decorate the interior, veranda or terrace with bouquets of these flowers and herbs. Many insects are afraid of the aroma of bird cherry, elderberry, tomatoes, basil or garlic in the garden, and mosquitoes are no exception.

When relaxing in nature, it is best to throw spruce and pine branches into the fire. Mosquitoes cannot tolerate the smell of smoke on its own, but in combination with pine needles the effect will be amazing

Folk remedies for mosquitoes

As long as a person lives on earth, there are parasites that want his blood.
With the onset of warm days, mosquitoes appear, constant companions of holidays outside the city. Unpleasant consequences in the form of itching, swelling, and redness of the skin can ruin not only the weekend, but also several days after it. Villages have long learned to fight these bloodsuckers even before the invention of chemical repellents.
Folk remedies for mosquitoes and midges are still popular today, as they are completely natural, safe for children and people with allergic reactions, and the ingredients are always on hand.

Fumigators and spirals

These products help get rid of mosquitoes in record time. The most famous are Fumitox, Reid, Raptor. Usually, the kit contains the device itself, into which you can insert plates or a container with a substance poisonous to insects. After turning on the device, mosquitoes, midges and flies die after 30 minutes.

Remember! Do not leave the device turned on all night. It is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations described in the instructions. Otherwise, deterioration in health may occur.

Spirals are best used on verandas or gazebos. They work on the same principle as fumigators. During the smoldering of the spiral, the insecticide is released into the air. In order to prevent fire, it is installed on a metal stand and ignited only at one end.