Household Mosquito Hacks

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”

-Dalai Lama

Sometimes, it feels like no matter how hard you try, you’ll never get rid of that buzzing sound around your ear. With these hacks, you can make a difference in the fight against mosquitoes! We know a thing or two about mosquitoes, and we wanted to share our favorite mosquito hacks to use around the house and in your yard to help fight the bite this season!

Indoor Mosquito Hacks

• Coffee grounds: Pouring dry coffee grounds into pools of stagnant water pushes the mosquito eggs to the surface, causing them to dry out.
• DIY mosquito trap: All you’ll need is an empty two-liter bottle, some water, a package of dry, active yeast (available at all grocery stores in the baking aisle), and brown sugar. This chemical reaction creates carbon dioxide, which is what attracts mosquitoes. Get started with these instructions from WikiHow!
• Fabric softener sheets: Super simple, super effective. Researchers don’t really know what exactly it is mosquitoes hate about dryer sheets, but the proof is in the pudding. Put some in your pockets or stuff some in couches to keep the buzz at bay.
• Limes with cloves: Get the kids in on this one. Cut limes in half, then stick cloves in them for a pretty (and pretty effective) mosquito repellent and decoration!
• Garlic treatment: Garlic isn’t just for vampires anymore! Peel and crush a few cloves of garlic, then boil them in water for 20 minutes. Load the garlic water in a treatment bottle and treatment where mosquitoes are. (Spoiler alert: This will make everything smell like garlic!)

Outdoor Mosquito Hacks

• Blow bubbles: Definitely the most fun mosquito hack for your yard is a bubble machine! By combining soap and wind, this whimsical machine keeps the mosquitoes away.
• Use a fan: Mosquitoes are great at lots of things, but they’re not strong fliers, believe it or not. They can’t overpower airflow from a common household fan, so if you’re hanging out outside, break one out and relax! Oscillating fans work best, but box fans can offer plenty of relief, too.
• Put down the brewski: Researchers still aren’t positive why, but mosquitoes love beer. And they love biting people who are drinking beer. According to a French study, consuming 12 ounces of beer makes you more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes. So you can either put down the brewski all together and not enjoy one yourself, or put several mostly-empty cans far away from where you are to lure the mosquitoes away from your beverage. Cheers!
• Put up bat houses: Bats can eat up to 6,000 to 8,000 mosquitoes per day. One bat house can house 50 to 60 brown bats. That’s almost half a million mosquitoes gone from your yard! You can either build a DIY bat house or purchase one (typically running from $40–$70).
• Vinegar: Mosquitoes tend to dislike the intense scent and bitter taste of white vinegar. An easy DIY way to repel mosquitoes is to mix 2 parts water to one part vinegar and treatment around your yard. You can also use this mix as a treatment-on repellent for yourself and your pets, just avoid any sensitive areas such as eyes, mouth, etc.

Does Soapy Water Kill Mosquitoes?

You might be familiar with this one: fill a small bowl or saucer with dish soap and water. However, it’s not that effective at killing mosquitoes since a mosquito would have to land in it and be coated by the liquid to die. It’s great at attracting a lot of mosquitoes, but you’ll have to do the dirty work yourself. Although this is one of the tricks that most homeowners use, it’s, unfortunately, one DYI mosquito repellent hack that simply doesn’t work effectively. Save your time and energy and try other hacks that are more likely to keep those bloodsuckers away from you and your loved ones.

Plants Mosquitoes Hate

Consider these plants your beautiful secret weapon. A quick trip to the nursery might save you time and money, so let mother nature do some heavy lifting! Depending on your climate, these plants can keep the mosquitoes at bay either indoors, outdoors, or both.

• Camphor: This tree species originated in China, but is commonplace in the Southeastern United States.
• Lemon balm: This ancient plant has been used throughout the centuries for a variety of culinary and medical uses.
• Rosemary: This plant is especially useful as a mosquito repellent when burned, so consider it during your next barbeque!
• Catnip: Named for its extreme appeal with cats and birds, this plant is also a strong mosquito repellent.
• Holy basil: Native to India, this herb has been used as an insect repellent for centuries.
• Mosquito plant: This is actually a collection of several species, but perhaps the most popular being the citronella plant, a citrus-scented geranium. Check with your local nursery to see which species might be most effective in your area.
• Chives: Related to garlic, some of the same mosquito-repelling chemistry is going on within the chive plant.
• Marigolds: This flower has a distinct smell that repels mosquitoes and they deter insects that prey on tomato plants—an added bonus for gardeners.
• Common mint and lavender plants are also well-known for their general insect-repelling qualities.

Other mosquito-repelling plants include artemisia, tansy, cedar, eucalyptus, ageratum, onions, and garlic. You can place these plants outside or even in window boxes or around doors to discourage the mosquitoes from flying inside.

If you’re finding that your one-person fight against mosquitoes is a losing battle, never be afraid to call in reinforcements from Mosquito Squad. We’re here to help fight the bite. Call (877) 332-2239 for your free estimate today!