We all know mosquito bites are potentially dangerous. Not only can the mosquito bites cause itchiness, irritation, and infection; they can lead to deadly mosquito-borne diseases. You can prevent mosquito bites through the use of repellents, but can you prevent mosquito bites without repellents?
Yes, you can. But before delving into the subject, it’s important to know more about mosquito repellents first. They are effective in getting the job done. But sometimes, their effectiveness blinds people from their disadvantages…
Fast facts about mosquito repellents
- Mosquito repellents are different from insecticides. Mosquito repellents are formulations with ingredients that “repel” mosquitoes. There are two general kinds — the ones you apply on your skin and the ones you apply on your surroundings. They are different from insecticides because they only “repel” mosquitoes. Insecticides, on the other hand, are formulations with ingredients that actually kill the mosquitoes. This is why mere mosquito repellents won’t actually get rid of mosquito infestations.
- There are commercial and natural mosquito repellents available. Commercial mosquito repellents usually have strong repelling ingredients like DEET, picaridin, and lemon eucalyptus oil. The first brands that come to mind are OFF!® and Repel®. There are also a lot of natural mosquito repellents that you can make on your own, like those made from essential oils. But making them can be tricky because you have to dilute them in carrier oils and perform skin irritation tests first. They also evaporate easily. They can only be effective for a significantly shorter period of time when compared to commercial brands.
- Mosquito repellents won’t solve your mosquito problem. Since mosquito repellents don’t actually kill mosquitoes, you are not really getting rid of them. Unfortunately, there are a lot of potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes around your home. And they may easily thrive if you don’t actively get rid of them. Mosquito repellents are great because they protect you from the dangers of mosquito bites. But don’t let them blind you from the real problem — the mosquitoes themselves.
Mosquito repellents that actually work
- Commercial mosquito repellents. It’s best to stick to commercial mosquito repellents because their formulations and ingredients are proven. The safest ones are the biggest brands like OFF!® and Repel®. There are also other brands out there that center their formulations around natural ingredients like lemon eucalyptus oil. They can also be effective because even the CDC acknowledges the effectiveness of lemon eucalyptus oil as a mosquito repellent ingredient.
- Natural mosquito repellents. Natural mosquito repellents are dominated by essential oils with natural mosquito repelling properties. They can have catnip oil, citronella oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and many others. No, you don’t directly apply the essential oils on your skin in their pure forms. They are simply too strong and may cause irritation. You need to dilute them in carrier oils like coconut oil and jojoba oil. They can be too much trouble to make, so you may want to just buy commercial mosquito repellents.
- Treated fabrics. Treated fabrics are clothes that have been “treated” with mosquito repellents. There are many brands that specialize in these kinds of clothes, like Insect Shield. And the most interesting thing about them is that their effectiveness can last even after many washings. If you think they are too gimmicky, you can buy the fabric sprays themselves and treat your own clothes. But be careful in spraying the products directly to your skin.
How to prevent mosquito bites without repellents
- Get rid of the mosquitoes themselves. The best way to prevent mosquito bites without repellents is to get rid of the mosquitoes who will potentially bite you in the first place. If there are no mosquitoes, there is no risk of mosquito bites. To get rid of mosquitoes, you have to get rid of the things that attract them to your home, particularly standing water. Standing water can be found in so many places around your home, like in birdbaths, garden ponds, swimming pools, and even vases.
- Get rid of mosquito attractors. Do you notice that some people are bitten by mosquitoes more than others? This is because some people have more mosquito attractors. For instance, those with the blood type O are more likely to attract mosquitoes. Pregnant women attract more mosquitoes as well because they release more carbon dioxide, a mosquito attractor. You can’t really change your blood type or your pregnancy status. You will have to get rid of the other mosquito attractors instead. Sweat is a major mosquito attractor you can get rid of by taking a bath before going to sleep. Dark clothing is also said to be a mosquito attractor. And you can get rid of it by wearing light-colored clothing instead.
- Mosquito-proof your bedroom. Remember that mosquito repellents come in many forms. You don’t always have to apply them directly on your skin or wear them. You can also apply them on your surroundings to repel mosquitoes in localized areas. Mosquito coils and clip-on devices are the first ones that come to mind. If you want a simpler approach, you can also just turn on the fan to mosquito-proof your bedroom. Since mosquitoes are weak fliers, the wind from the fan will easily blow them away. It may sound comical, but hey, it works.
Can you prevent mosquito bites without repellents?
Mosquito repellents are great. They have ingredients that help repel mosquitoes. And governments and scientific communities around the world acknowledge the effectiveness of these ingredients. There are many commercial brands and DIY formulations to choose from as well.
But there are other ways to prevent mosquito bites without using repellents. You can get rid of the mosquitoes themselves by cleaning away their potential breeding grounds. You can get rid of mosquito attractors like dark clothing and sweat. And you can mosquito-proof your bedroom with fans and mosquito coils.
Don’t let the reliability of mosquito repellents blind you from other options. Besides, mosquito repellents won’t even solve your mosquito problem anyway. The best way to prevent mosquito bites will always be to get rid of the mosquitoes themselves.