Folk remedies for mosquitoes: a review of proven recipes

Mosquitoes are perhaps the most annoying insects. They can seriously ruin a summer vacation at the dacha or in the woods. The bites can irritate for a long time. An entire industry of specialized chemicals is dedicated to combating these bloodsuckers. Every year, manufacturers fill store shelves with all sorts of mosquito repellents: sprays, creams, fumigators, and coils. Buying them for each season can be a significant burden on the wallet. And the results aren't always as expected, as mosquitoes quickly adapt to the active ingredients. If necessary, you can always use folk remedies based on the simplest ingredients. This is a cheap and safe way to deal with the mosquito scourge.

Homemade mosquito repellents

Through trial and error, over the long history of fighting mosquito attacks, many mosquito repellent recipes have emerged. Most of them are based on ingredients found in any home. Mosquito repellents based on essential oils, herbs, spices, and various types of vinegar can be prepared at home.

These substances affect insects thanks to their intense aromas. The bloodsuckers prefer to fly away as soon as they smell them.

How to use essential oils for mosquito repellents

Essential oils are a one-size-fits-all product. The rich scents of many can be a lifesaver in the fight against mosquitoes. Using concentrates won't harm your household; in fact, they'll actually be beneficial. The result is a unique aromatherapy experience with an additional mosquito-repellent effect.

The main property of essential oil in the fight against mosquitoes is its rich aroma.

Mosquitoes cannot tolerate many pleasant odors. Here are a few:

• anise;
• basil;
• carnation;
• geranium;
• lavender;
• mint;
• eucalyptus.

So, feel free to choose an essential oil that suits your taste and experiment. Use an aromatherapy diffuser if you have one. If you don't have one, you can do the following: drop a few drops of the concentrate onto a heat source (a regular lamp or directly onto a campfire if using outdoors). If you need to protect your body from insect bites, enrich your regular cream by adding a few drops of essential oil from one of the plants.

Note: Tea tree oil is excellent for treating existing mosquito bites: it quickly relieves itching and irritation and also has an antibacterial effect.

The main thing when using essential oils indoors is not to overdo it. The scents are very concentrated and can cause allergic reactions or even headaches. A mild aromatherapy effect can be achieved by soaking gauze in oil or periodically lubricating the window frame (if it's wooden) with the concentrate.

Vanillin in homemade mosquito repellents

It might seem like a sweet, fragrant substance wouldn't repel mosquitoes. The fact is, most people associate the scent of vanilla with baked goods or ice cream. But these products are made with vanilla sugar, and the true flavor of vanilla is quite bitter. It repels mosquitoes from a distance - the smell makes the insects anxious. And if the "bloodsucker" does land on the skin, then, having tasted the vanillin, it will quickly fly away, without having time to puncture it with its proboscis and release toxins.

Vanillin does not cause allergic reactions.

A packet of vanillin costs pennies, but products made with it are just as effective as expensive store-bought repellents, which can also cause allergic reactions.

Video: How to make a vanilla-based mosquito repellent

Vanillin can be used to make a mosquito repellent spray or baby cream. Both last the same amount of time: about two hours, after which you should reapply.

Important to know! Don't confuse vanillin with vanilla sugar, otherwise the effect will be the opposite. The sweetness will attract not only mosquitoes but also midges.

Vanilla spray is hypoallergenic.

It's incredibly easy to make. You'll only need one packet of vanillin and water. Mix the ingredients at a ratio of 2 grams per liter of water. Pour the resulting mosquito repellent solution into a spray bottle and use as directed. The spray is safe to use on exposed skin, even on small children.

Vanilla cream "Children's"

To create this vanilla-based mosquito repellent for children, simply mix regular cream with vanilla extract at a ratio of 1 gram of powder to 10-15 grams of base cream. It's easier to use the resulting liquid mixture with a dispenser rather than the traditional tin tube.

Lemon and cloves in homemade mosquito repellents

The mosquito-repellent properties of dried cloves have long been used by fishermen and hunters. They are said to be effective when no other remedy has worked.

In living spaces, people sometimes simply place a container with a clove decoction to repel mosquitoes and midges.

Clove Cologne

To protect against mosquitoes in the wilderness, a special "clove cologne" is used. The recipe is quite simple. First, boil a bag of cloves (5 grams) and a glass of water at high temperature. Then mix the resulting infusion with cologne in a 1:3 ratio. The cheapest option is suitable. The alcohol base will enhance the clove scent and prolong the effect. The resulting potent lotion is applied topically to exposed areas of the body. The effect lasts for more than two hours. It is not recommended to use mosquito repellent on children under two years of age.

Lemon plus cloves – double effect

An original mosquito repellent method involves creating a unique composition of lemons larded with cloves. The method is based on insect-hated and insect-repelling scents.

A combination of cloves and lemon is a clever way to create an effective mosquito repellent.

The juice of a juicy lemon and its oily peel will infuse the cloves, creating a wonderful aromatherapy blend that mosquitoes will surely find repellent. To make this "lemon grenade," cut the fruit in half and insert cloves into the pulp. It looks beautiful, smells pleasant, and is harmful to mosquitoes. However, the effectiveness of the remedy is limited. Indoors, a couple of these still lifes will help combat mosquito attacks, but it's important to keep the lemon fresh. However, outdoors, the citrus and clove scent will quickly dissipate, and its concentration won't be enough to repel insects.

Video: Lemon and cloves against mosquitoes

Vinegar-based mosquito repellent recipes

Since mosquitoes are repelled by the smell of vinegar, it's common to find recommendations to rub yourself with a vinegar solution to protect yourself from mosquito bites. It's common knowledge that applying vinegar produces a pungent odor, which quickly dissipates. Therefore, the effect of this method is very short-lived.

The pungent smell of vinegar repels mosquitoes.

To make the vinegar scent last longer, you should prepare a multi-component, effective and affordable mosquito repellent. For this purpose, you can use almost any known folk repellent method. Here's a recipe for one:

• a glass jar is filled with dried lavender and mint;
• throw in a few peeled garlic cloves;
• the mixture is poured with table apple cider vinegar (five percent) and infused for about three weeks, shaking daily;
• After the required time, the infusion is filtered, diluted with water and used as a lotion.

Another home remedy is a mosquito repellent emulsion. To make it, mix equal parts vinegar, vegetable oil, and regular hair shampoo.

Other homemade mosquito repellents

In addition to the above mentioned means of protection against annoying mosquitoes, we will add a few more:

• A decoction of couch grass roots is one of the oldest methods of protection against mosquitoes.
• Tobacco smoke, branches and bunches of tomato tops, valerian, elderberry, and basil are suitable for repelling these insects.
• Chamomile has a destructive effect on the nervous system of bloodsuckers. Bunches and bouquets of these flowers can repel mosquitoes from a room for a long time.
• You can quickly rid a large home of insects using camphor, or more precisely, its smoke. Simply sprinkle a small amount on a hot frying pan, and the insects will die. The smoke is harmless to humans.
• An infusion of wormwood can be used as a protective body lotion. A handful of dried roots is steeped in a liter of boiling water and left for an hour until the infusion is ready.
• In nature, the smoke from juniper branches helps well.

Photo Gallery: Effective Folk Remedies for Mosquitoes

Considerations for choosing mosquito repellents for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers

Young children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers require special protection against mosquitoes. Homemade folk remedies are the most suitable option for this group of people. But even when using seemingly harmless ingredients that nature has gifted us with, caution should be exercised. It is possible that an allergic reaction to some substances will occur.

The choice of mosquito repellents for children should be approached with the utmost care.

Some essential oils can be used with caution. However, it's best to treat clothing and strollers rather than body parts. The safest remedy in this regard can be considered a preparation based on vanillin.

Important to remember! Never apply essential oils directly to your skin, but only as an addition to a cream or body butter.

A natural repellent based on olive, clove or tea tree oil is well suited for protecting children.

Reviews

I apply tea tree oil to my daughter's bites, and they advised me to use vanilla to protect against bites. Mosquitoes are afraid of strong odors, and I love vanilla, it's very pleasant))) I added two packets of vanilla powder to children's mosquito spray, which doesn't work, but with vanilla it smells much better and nicer!!!

They recommend this ratio: 20 g of vanillin powder to 1 liter of warm water (~40°C). Stir and spray onto exposed areas of the body using a spray bottle. But it only lasts 30 minutes! I've tried it myself, and it works. I didn't time it, though.

Using folk remedies against mosquito attacks can be very effective. Recipes for homemade preparations using natural ingredients are extremely simple. These remedies are ideal for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, as they do not contain harmful chemicals.