Every year, feet, ankles, arms, hands, and faces end up covered in mosquito bites, sometimes causing serious reactions — and a whole range of store-bought products don't always deliver. Here are natural, easy-to-make remedies to get rid of them.
How Mosquitoes Get to Us
Mosquitoes aren't just a nuisance — they're also a public health concern, as carriers of disease (malaria, dengue, chikungunya). There are many store-bought anti-mosquito solutions — repellents or insecticides — but they aren't always as wholesome as natural methods, which are just as effective. Active at night, it's the blood-feeding females that bite, gorging on blood to develop their eggs, causing itching and sometimes disease transmission.
Remedies to Put an End to Mosquitoes
| Remedy | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Yellow-tinted bulbs | Place lamps with yellow-tinted bulbs on windowsills, balconies, tables, and nightstands. |
| Basil | One or more potted basil plants. |
| Tea and garlic | A bowl of brewed tea with a clove of garlic squeezed into it. |
| Orange | An orange studded with cloves. |
| Geranium | Bouquets or pots of geranium. |
| Mint | Bunches of mint. |
| Ammonia | A little poured into a small dish each evening (out of children's reach). |
| Fan | Pointed at the bed, it's said to effectively keep mosquitoes away. |
| Lavender essence | Sprayed on light bulbs before switching them on. |
| Monoi oil | A traditional Polynesian repellent, containing Tamanu oil with antiseptic properties said to ease itching. |
Essential Oils
Essential oils aren't insecticides, but their scent is said to repel mosquitoes: use in a spray bottle, a diffuser, or on a cotton ball near the bed. Citronella is the best known, but lemongrass, lemon eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, and ylang-ylang are said to share this property. Caution: some essential oils, such as geranium, are not recommended for pregnant women or children under 6.
Homemade Mixtures (For Adults Only, Unless Otherwise Noted)
- Mixture 1: 2 drops jojoba oil, 1 drop Ceylon citronella essential oil, 1 drop geranium essential oil.
- Mixture 2: 100 ml vegetable oil, 10 ml citronella essential oil, 6 ml rosewood, 10 ml geranium, 4 ml clove.
- Mixture 3 (age 6 and up): in a 50 ml spray bottle, combine 6 tsp sweet almond oil with 1/2 tsp each of Ceylon citronella, rose geranium, and lemon eucalyptus essential oils. Spray on arms and legs every hour, avoiding the face and eyes.
How to Avoid Mosquito Bites
| Habit | Why |
|---|---|
| Lemon juice | Massage preventively onto exposed areas of skin. |
| Mosquito net | On windows and over the bed, especially in hot countries. |
| Covering clothing | 40% of bites happen through clothing: favor loose, tightly woven fabrics in the evening, and avoid form-fitting clothes. |
| Avoid fragrance | Mosquitoes are said to be drawn to perfumes, soaps, and scented creams. |
| Unscented talc | The smell of sweat is said to attract mosquitoes. |
| Avoid light | Mosquitoes are said to be drawn to light: avoid staying near a light source or a fire. |
Citronella, geranium, lavender, or simply a fan aimed at the bed: mosquitoes have more than one natural foe to fear.
