There are a lot of potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes outside of your home, but do you know what’s worse than outdoor mosquitoes – indoor mosquitoes! Indoor mosquitoes are far worse, because the inside of your home should be a safe haven and mosquito-free. Here are some of the most effective ways to get rid of mosquitoes indoors.
1. Prevent mosquitoes from thriving outside
Mosquitoes don’t just magically appear inside your home. They come from outside. The problem is your garden, lawn, and yard have a lot of potential breeding grounds for these bloodsuckers. To avoid having mosquito problems inside your home, you have to prevent these pests from thriving outside. If mosquitoes can’t thrive outside your home, you are less likely to find mosquitoes indoors.
- Avoid having stagnant water. Do you have birdbaths, fountains, or swimming pools outside your home? Make sure to change their water regularly. They can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Also change the water of all containers outside your home, such as flower pots, rain barrels, vases, and even water bowls for your pets.
- Maintain your garden, lawn, and yard. Do you notice that mosquitoes like hanging out in debris and grassy areas? That’s not a coincidence. Mosquitoes can’t take the wind because they are weak flyers. They shield themselves by hanging out in these spots. Keep your garden, lawn, and yard clean and cut.
2. Close all entry points
You can have the most mosquito-proof house in the world, but you can still have mosquitoes indoors if you keep your home open to invaders. If there are passageways in your home where mosquitoes can fit, you can bet that these pests will take advantage. Close all of these passageways to avoid having mosquito problems.
- Keep your doors and windows closed. Humans are not the only ones who use doors and windows. These passageways are good entry points to a variety of pests including mosquitoes. Keep your doors closed, even if you are just opening them to take out the trash. Keep your windows closed, and if there is little to no ventilation, consider using a fan or air conditioner. That’s easier said than done, especially in the hot months where mosquitoes thrive more. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Close cracks, gaps, and holes. Even if your doors and windows are closed, mosquitoes may still be able to go in through small gaps, especially in the edges. Close these edges with weather strips and window screens. Look for cracks and holes in other parts of your home too, particularly in your piping, walls, and wiring.
3. Clean the possible breeding grounds inside your home
A few passing mosquitoes can already be a problem. Your problem will be much worse if the mosquitoes are actually breeding inside your home. You can swat a few of them from time to time, but this won’t solve your problem if they have already settled inside your home. They will just replenish their numbers.
- Be wary of dark and humid areas. Mosquitoes like to breed and rest in dark and humid areas, especially if these areas are undisturbed. There are a lot of areas in your home that may fit this criterion, such as under the furniture or the sink, inside the cabinet, and the general area of the garage and laundry room.
- Keep your surroundings cool. Mosquitoes thrive on warmth. This is also the reason why there are more mosquitoes during the spring and summer. These seasons are basically mosquito breeding seasons, especially in places with very cold winters. Keep your home cool by using fans and air conditioners. They will minimize the risk of a mosquito infestation.
4. Make yourself unattractive to mosquitoes
You are not putting the odds in your favor if you are attractive to mosquitoes. There are certain factors that make you attractive to the eyes of these dangerous insects. You should minimize or completely eradicate these factors to make yourself safer from mosquitoes and their deadly bites.
- Keep yourself cool and dry. Mosquitoes are attracted to heat and moisture. You naturally have heat and moisture, so you can’t completely eradicate these factors. But you can keep yourself cool by avoiding strenuous physical activities and drinking lots of water. You can keep yourself free of sweat by taking a bath regularly. You may want to take a bath before you sleep to minimize the risk of mosquitoes at night.
- Cover up. Cover your arms, legs, and feet as much as possible. The less skin you are exposing, the fewer chances you are giving for these mosquitoes to take a bite of you and suck your blood. Give particular attention to your feet. These parts of your body produce more sweat and odor and may attract mosquitoes more than the others. You can also consider using repellents, especially those that contain DEET.
5. Get rid of the mosquitoes
There are two general ways to get rid of mosquitoes indoors. You can use sprays or traps. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. But whichever you choose, you can easily get rid of your mosquito problem if you follow the instructions. If you are more of a naturalist, there are natural mosquito repellents out there too, such as essential oils. But their effectiveness is questionable.
- Use mosquito sprays. Mosquito sprays are a surefire way to get rid of mosquitoes. But make sure you are following the directions in the labels. If you don’t follow them, the sprays may prove to be dangerous and ineffective. Remember that these are insecticides with potentially harmful ingredients, and they may require specific conditions for them to be efficient. But generally, mosquito sprays work by spraying the area and closing all passageways to contain the ingredients and trap the mosquitoes.
- Use mosquito traps. There is a huge variety of mosquito traps available in the market. For example, there are those that attract mosquitoes with UV light and vacuum them up. There are those who zap mosquitoes they come in contact with. You can even make a DIY mosquito trap with a plastic bottle and other easily accessible materials.