Four Homemade Repellents to Keep Mosquitoes Away
When its hot or humid out, there are more mosquitoes, bees, and pretty much any kind of flying insect out.
It doesnt just happen in the woods.
It happens anywhere theres a lot of vegetation.
Mosquitoes have been a bother nearly everywhere for a long time, whether its their annoying buzzing sound or their bites.
And when it comes to their bites, its more than just a burning, itching feeling.
Many mosquitoes can transmit diseases, including malaria and dengue fever, which can actually be life-threatening if not treated properly.
Thus, its very important to uses a good repellent when you leave the house.
The problem with store-bought versions is that they tend to be sticky, stain your clothing, contain harmful chemicals or have an unpleasant odor.
To avoid all this, its best to make your own insect repellent at home to keep mosquitoes away, and we here at Step to Health will show you how.
Tips to keep mosquitoes away.
Besides wearing a repellent on your body to keep mosquitoes away, you can also take some external measures to keep your home free of mosquitoes and other flying insects.
Vinegar is great at scaring away mosquitoes, as it has an odor that repels them.
Put a cup of vinegar in your window or door and youll keep them out.
Eat foods high in vitamin B.
These pesky little bugs dont like this.
The sulfur in garlic is excellent at getting rid of not only mosquitoes but also flies, ticks, and mites.
All you have to do is mix water with garlic, let it sit, and then spray it around the house using a spray bottle.
Keeping your skin moisturized is very important. Body lotion or cream is great at sending mosquitoes running.
It makes your skin somewhat slippery, and so mosquitoes have a harder time landing on you and biting you.
Eat a lot of vitamin C.
This will make you sweat more, and since mosquitoes hate the smell of sweat, youll be naturally keeping them away.
Fresh basil is another excellent option.
You could plant basil in a pot and place it in your room.
Its a very aromatic plant, and mosquitoes dislike strong aromas, so this is an easy way to keep them away.
Homemade mosquito repellents.
The above tips are good for inside your house, but its also important to have a repellent you can wear for when you are out of the house, on the beach, or at the pool.
These homemade repellents, besides being budget-friendly and very effective, arent time-consuming to make and dont leave your skin feeling sticky.
Below are four of the best homemade repellents.
Eucalyptus. Ingredients.
40 drops of eucalyptus essential oil 1 cup of water (250 ml).
Instructions.
Mix the essential oil with water (preferably warm water) in a spray bottle.
Let it sit and then apply to the areas where you want to repel mosquitoes, or directly to your skin.
Its best to apply it in the afternoon or at night for it to be most effective.
Almond oil.
This repellent is excellent for the littlest kids since it is gentle on their skin and smells great.
Ingredients.
1/2 cup of almond oil (100 g) 15 drops of basil essential oil 15 drops of geranium essential oil.
Instructions.
Mix the three ingredients together in a spray bottle and apply to your skin every 2 to 3 hours.
Basil. Ingredients.
2 tablespoons of dried basil (20 g) 2 cups of water (500 ml).
Instructions.
Make a tea by adding the two tablespoons of basil to the two cups of boiling water.
Mix well and let sit for about 4 hours.
After this time, it is ready to be sprayed around your room or where ever you wish to repel mosquitoes.
Lavender. Ingredients.
2 tablespoons of dried lavender (20 g) 2 cups of water (500 ml).
Instructions.
Repeat the same process as with the basil.
Make a tea with the lavender and let sit for 4 hours, and then spray.
If you dont want to do all of that, you can opt for lavender essential oil and add it to any moisturizing lotion, about 5 to 6 tablespoons of 100 g.
Mix well and apply to your skin.