How to Reduce Mosquitos Around Your Home

Are you dealing with a buzzing horde of mosquitos in and around your home? You’re not alone! Every summer, millions of people find themselves battling with these pesky bugs that can spread disease and make it difficult to spend time outside. Luckily, with the right strategies and a bit of effort, it’s possible to keep the mosquitos at bay. Here’s a look at how to reduce mosquitos around your home.

What Attracts Mosquitos?

Mosquitos can be a huge annoyance in any home. We all know that getting rid of these pesky critters can be quite difficult, so let’s take a look at what is attracting them in the first place.

Standing Water

This is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to attracting mosquitos in your home. Even something as small as a puddle of water in your yard can be enough to draw them in. Make sure to empty any outdoor containers and dispose of any standing water regularly to cut down on the number of mosquitos you see in and around your home.

Dark, Moist Areas

Mosquitos love dark and moist areas, so it’s important to ensure that these areas in your home are well-ventilated and dry. This includes basements or crawl spaces – if these areas are left moist and damp, mosquitos are likely to move right in!

Humidity

Mosquitos thrive in humid environments, so it’s important to ensure that the humidity levels in your home stay low. Investing in a dehumidifier can help maintain low humidity levels and keep mosquitos away.

Outdoor Exposure

If you have any windows, doors, or screen doors in your home that are open to the outdoors, then this can be a great way for mosquitos to sneak in. Make sure to keep these doors and windows properly sealed and screened off when not in use to reduce the chances of mosquitos snooping around your home!

Lighting

Believe it or not, certain lighting can actually attract mosquitos as well. Bright white lights tend to be especially effective at luring them in. To avoid this problem, switch out any bright white lighting near the exterior of your home with either yellow lights or LED bulbs – both of which are less attractive to mosquitos.

Tall Grasses and Vegetation

Mosquitoes also love tall grasses and vegetation, as they protect them from the sun and other elements. To ensure your backyard isn't inviting these bugs in, keep vegetation trimmed and mowed down regularly. Additionally, you can add insect-repellent plants like marigolds or chrysanthemums to help ward off mosquitos without using harsh insecticides.

How Can I Keep Mosquitos Out of My Home?

Choose an Appropriate Screen: Having adequate screens on your windows and doors is the best way to keep mosquitos out of your home. Be sure to choose a screen that is strong enough to withstand small impact and is able to keep mosquitoes out.

Keep Doors Closed: Another great way to keep mosquitos out of your home is by keeping all doors closed. If possible install self-closing door hinges that will help you remember to keep them closed during times when you may be distracted.

Seal Gaps Around Windows and Doors: Mosquitos can still enter your home if there are gaps around windows and doors, so it's important to check for these openings and seal them with caulk or weather stripping.

Reduce Standing Water Around Your Home: Mosquitos are attracted to standing water, so it's important to reduce or eliminate any standing water around your home such as birdbaths and pet dishes. You should also look for clogged gutters or downspouts that may be collecting water near your foundation.

Install a Fan: Installing a fan outside a window screen can help keep mosquitos out by creating a strong air flow that will make it difficult for them to enter the area.

Add Plants: Certain plants have insect repelling abilities, and mosquitos are no exception! A few good plants to consider planting near your home are marigolds, lemon balm, basil, lavender, rosemary, catnip, and peppermint.

Use Natural Repellents: Natural pest repellents like citronella candles, incense smoke, and lemongrass oil can help keep mosquitoes away from your home without using synthetic chemicals like DEET.

Are Insecticides Effective Against Mosquitos?

Insecticides are commonly used as a way to get rid of mosquitos, particularly in larger outdoor areas like parks or backyards. However, these chemicals may be toxic both to your health and the environment, so it’s best to use them sparingly. For safer options, you can try using natural insect repellents like citronella candles or sprays that are designed specifically for mosquitos.

What Else Can I Do?

Mosquito Traps

If mosquito numbers continue to be high despite trying some of the methods above, you may want to consider using mosquito traps as well. These traps use propane- or carbon dioxide-powered fans to attract mosquitos away from other areas of your home and capture them within a contained unit that can then be emptied out safely away from your house.

Wear Protective Clothing

When spending time outdoors in areas where there are a lot of mosquitos, it's also important to wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants to minimize exposure to bites. Additionally, you can further protect yourself by applying mosquito repellent on exposed skin before going outside.

Install Bug Zappers

Another way to reduce mosquitos around your home is to install bug zappers in places where mosquitoes are likely to hang out. Bug zappers work by luring in mosquitoes with light and then electrocuting them when they enter the zapper’s range. This is an effective way to instantly kill off any buzzing critters in your vicinity and reduce the overall population of mosquitos in your area.

Conclusion

With the right strategies, it’s possible to reduce the number of mosquitos around your home and make it easier to safely spend time outdoors during the summer months. By eliminating standing water sources, trimming down vegetation, installing screens on windows and doors, using natural insect repellents, wearing protective clothing, and using mosquito traps if necessary, you can create a bug-free zone that you can enjoy all season long!