Mosquitoes are effective at making their way inside, actively seeking cracks, gaps and broken screens. When it comes to getting rid of mosquitoes inside your home, the best solution is prevention. Here are seven ways to keep mosquitoes out of your house:
1) Don’t leave doors and windows open.
Although this solution sounds easy, if you have people coming in and out of the house often, it can be easy to forget that a storm or sliding door is open. An open door or window is the easiest way to let mosquitoes in the house, so make sure everyone in your household, as well as guests and visitors, are diligent about closing doors behind them.
2) Repair or replace damaged and ill-fitting screens.
Ill-fitting screens or door and window screens with holes can let mosquitoes into the house. Be sure to repair screens as soon as you notice holes. Replacing or repairing ill-fitting screens so that there are no gaps will also help keep mosquitoes outside.
3) Use a fan.
Mosquitoes have a hard time flying into the wind. Setting up fans near exterior doors facing outward can help keep mosquitoes away from doorways, making them less likely to fly into the house as people enter and exit.
4) Mosquito-proof your yard.
Having fewer mosquitoes in your yard means that there are less trying to enter your house. Emptying standing water, planting mosquito-repelling plants, and setting up bat houses to attract bats can all help decrease the mosquito population in your yard.
5) Make a mosquito trap.
Humans attract mosquitoes because we emit carbon dioxide. Making a few simple mosquito traps for your yard may help keep mosquitoes away from your house. To make a trap, cut an empty 2 liter plastic bottle in half around the middle. Next, heat one cup of water and add ¼ cup of brown sugar until it dissolves. Let the solution cool. Pour the cooled solution into the bottom half of the bottle. Add the yeast to begin the carbon dioxide reaction. Remove the cap, flip the top of the bottle upside down, push it into the bottom half of the bottle to create a funnel. Then tape the two pieces together. To increase the effectiveness of the trap, secure a black sock, cloth, or piece of paper around the outside of the trap.
6) Avoid leaving lights on.
Mosquitoes use light to navigate, so leaving lights on near windows and doors encourages them to hang around near these openings. There has been no scientific evidence to show that yellow or blue lights are more attractive to mosquitoes. Traditional bug zapper lights tend to not only be ineffective against mosquitoes but kill harmless bugs and pollinators. By turning lights near doorways (like porch lights) off when not in use, mosquitoes will be less likely to fly into the house as people go through the doorway.
7) Have your yard treated for mosquitoes.
Having your yard treated is one of the best ways to reduce the mosquito population in your yard and the likelihood of mosquitoes getting in your house.
When you contact Mosquito Joe of Walpole-Waltham for mosquito control, a trained technician will treat your yard with an effective barrier spray that eliminates biters for 21 days. Give us a call today!
