Here’s how to prevent mosquitoes pestering your home during this rainy season

Photo Edited by Ronald Gadiane Dohillo

The rainy season has officially started. Now, it’s best to do indoor activities together with your family and friends. Prepare your home to remain safe and guarded against those annoying mosquitoes and other biting insects. It seems that mosquitoes don’t shy away and even multiply in number during the monsoon season. Typically, mosquitoes cold-blooded insects live indoors and outdoors. This means that your home can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and might spread diseases. Common illnesses such as dengue, chikungunya, and malaria can harm you and your family. Necessary steps can help you fight against those diseases.

Here are some tips to prevent mosquitoes from pestering your home and affecting your health:

Get rid of stagnant water

Mosquitoes like to lay their eggs in a large amount of stagnant water. Do not store water without proper cover. Make sure to seal it properly to avoid mosquito breeding. Clean gutters to avoid standing water. Remove standing water from flower paths, tarps, or any container around your yard.

Try insect spray

Use spray products that contain DEET (chemical name, N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), an active ingredient in many products. This is specifically designed for direct application to people’s skin. This also remains available in a variety of liquids, lotions, sprays, and others. To properly use products, first, read the instruction and precautions in the product label. Hence, DEET has properties to repel, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus ingredient also provides protection for up to six hours.

Clean your backyard

Mosquitoes hide under tall grass and bushes. Cut and trim grasses and make them clean for keeping mosquitoes away from your home. Toss out those empty cans, bottles, and plastics that can lead to breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Use Natural Repellent

If you are sensitive to chemical-based repellant, try to use plants that can help mosquitoes go away. Without the use of sprays, you can have medicinal plants such as citronella, lemon balm, marigolds, basil, and lavender.

Above all, these plants have citronella that has insect-repellent properties.

Citronella, a perennial clumping grass that has a strong aroma. Easy to grow and can reach up to five to six feet in height. Can be planted directly in yards, garden bed and even on pots.
Lemon Balm, a very easy plant to grow even for beginners. You can also dry the leaves and make some herbal tea.
Marigolds contain a Pyrethrum, an ingredient found in many insect repellents. Marigolds have a unique aroma in which bugs and insects stay away from your garden.
Basil, one easy plant to grow. Plant some basil and have additional protection. It can also be used in cooking!
Lavender, a purple flower with a soothing, and calming scent. Grow it indoors near the window with sunlight or outside your garden to keep bugs and inspect go away.