by Alec McClennan, on June 4, 2019
Wouldn't it be nice if you could enjoy Summer without being eaten alive by Mosquitoes? Good news, you can! Read on for some tips to help avoid the itch that comes with Mosquito Bites.
How To Avoid Mosquito Bites, Naturally
There are a variety of tactics for keeping Mosquitoes from biting you, but many involve potentially harmful chemicals like DEET or Pyrethroids. Below you will find some natural methods to fight off these bothersome pests.
Step 1: Use Mosquito Repelling Soap
Studies in the Journal of American Mosquito Control Association show that using Neem Oil and Coconut Oil mixed together will repel mosquitoes for up to 8 hours. Good Nature offers a Neem Oil Soap, which in addition to containing Neem, is comprised of B Vitamins, Lemon Essential Oil, and Tea Tree Oil. Each of these ingredients has health benefits, as well as Mosquito repelling properties. You can read more about these ingredients, which have been shown to naturally and safely ward off Mosquitoes, in this article. (Note: This soap makes no official claims of repelling Mosquito, but we have found it to be helpful and effective).
Step 2: Consider a Natural Repellent
Instead of DEET, why not use something like Bite Blocker, which is made from Geranium Oil and has been shown to be effective against Mosquitoes.
Step 3: Eat Some Garlic
I've had Mosquito-repelling success by eating a clove of garlic prior to going out into a mosquito infested area. I do not have any scientific data to support this claim, however, I can say from experience that eating that clove of garlic seems to discourage these pests from "close talking" with me.
Step 4: Consider a Mosquito Yard Barrier Treatment
If you're in our service area, Good Nature can treat your yard and landscape with our special blend of natural plant extracts to keep pesky bugs from ruining your day. We never use synthetic chemical insecticides, such as pyrethroids or neonicotinoids, which can be harmful over time. Due to the fact that our treatments contain Garlic Oil, there is a distinct smell. The good news is that it dissipates quickly to the human nose, however Mosquitoes smell it for 2-4 weeks, and consequentially avoid your lawn and landscape. In our experience, there is a 75% drop in Mosquito populations after our treatments.
If you are outside our service area, you can purchase our Mosquito Barrier, which is a liquid garlic concentrate that you can mix with water and apply yourself with a pump sprayer. Here's one client's feedback on our garlic spray:
"Thank you so much for the Mosquito spray for my event. It worked wonderfully, not a single Mosquito bite! Kurt did an amazing job!!"
Step 5: Eliminate Standing Water
It takes Mosquitoes about 8 days to grow from an egg to an adult. Knowing this, our recommendation is to empty any areas of standing water, at least once per week, to reduce the likelihood of Mosquito populations increasing around your home.
Step 6: Beer & Bananas
Some authorities on the subject, believe that eating bananas or drinking beer prior to going outside can make you more susceptible to Mosquito bites. So, it's possible that enjoying a few beers outside might make you more attractive to Mosquitoes. You could try to get your hands on Garlic Breadth Beer, a Dogfish Head Beer brewed with garlic to see if the garlic repellent offsets the beer attractant. If you do this, please let us know how it goes!
Step 7: Protect Your Pets
If you're interested in protecting your pets from Mosquitoes, Fleas, and Ticks, one thing I've found helpful is Neem Pet Shampoo, made with certified organic Neem Oil, which will sooth your pets skin and reduce the itching associated with bites. Neem Oil is an excellent insect repellent, so there may be some repelling effect on Fleas and Ticks as well as Mosquitoes.
Find out more information about our Organic Pest Solutions
Watch some Organic Lawn Care Tips and Tricks Videos
