It can be difficult to keep mosquitoes away in summer when they’re literally everywhere. There are an estimated 27,000 species of mosquito in the world. About 174 of these live in the U.S. They’re tiny but extremely irritating. Many people have allergic reactions to their bites which can be extremely painful and itchy. They can also carry deadly viruses and diseases. So, you probably want to know how to avoid them.
This article gives you our top 5 tips for how to keep mosquitoes away in summer. There are a few simple ways you can minimize your chances of coming into contact with these pesky little bugs. They’re around more during summer, a bit like more harmless bugs including cicadas, so now is a great time to prepare your defenses!
1. Essential Oil Methods To Keep Mosquitoes Away In Summer
Mosquitoes hate citrus. Using citrus is, therefore, a very easy natural method to keep mosquitoes away in summer. There are a couple of different ways you can do this.
Citrus Essential Oils
Dabbing a bit of citrus oil on your skin can repel mosquitoes. We recommend lemon eucalyptus oil. It is very effective at keeping mosquitoes off of you. You will need to reapply the oil every 4 hours or so, but you don’t need much. It’s also quite inexpensive.
Burning Citronella Can Keep Mosquitoes Away In Summer
Citronella oil is another well-known mosquito repellent. You can burn citronella candles both inside and outside to keep the mosquitoes under control. You can also get citronella in essential oil form. Use this in the same way as lemon eucalyptus oil. This is another great way to keep mosquitoes away in summer!
2. Mosquito Repellent
Other forms of shop-bought mosquito repellent can be handy for keeping mosquitoes away in summer. This is especially useful if you’re traveling or visiting somewhere with a lot of mosquitoes. The most popular repellent is DEET.
3. Light-Colored Clothes
Alongside oils and spray repellents, you can use a few other tricks to keep mosquitoes away in summer. One of these is wearing light-colored clothing. Whilst not an actual repellent, light clothes can make it more difficult for mosquitoes to find you. Dark colors absorb heat which makes them easier for mosquitoes to detect. Opting for light-colored clothes is a good way to make it harder for mosquitoes to find you, and therefore bite you.
4. Coffee Grounds In Your Garden
Coffee grounds are a good bug repellent for all sorts of pests, not just mosquitoes. Mixing some used coffee grounds with soil both fertilizes the ground and can keep mosquitoes away. Mosquitoes especially dislike burnt coffee grounds, so this is another option for you. Coffee grounds are a good way to keep mosquitoes away in summer if you spend a lot of time in your yard.
5. Get Rid Of Standing Water To Keep Mosquitoes Away In Summer
Finally, you might need to make a few adjustments to your outdoor space to keep mosquitoes away in summer. Mosquitoes love standing water. Anything from a stagnant pond to a bucket of rainwater can attract these pests. If you get a lot of mosquitoes in the summer, make sure you avoid leaving water to stand. You might also want to remove your pond if you have one or get some mosquito-eating fish to keep the bugs at bay.
