Guarding a peaceful sleep: mosquito repellent

With the arrival of warmer weather, you want to open the windows wide to let in fresh air, scented with grass and leaves, and head to the dacha or the lake for a night's stay, enjoying nature and the short summer in our region. But this pleasure is marred by the mosquitoes that have awakened along with nature. These insects keep us awake at night with their annoying squeaks and shamelessly suck our blood without asking our consent. A fumigator will help defeat these aggressors.

Fumigator is a chemical weapon of mass destruction against mosquitoes.

A fumigator is a device for killing insects. It consists of a heating element on which a tablet or wick soaked in insecticide is placed.

A fumigator will help get rid of mosquitoes.

The word fumigation itself means "to fumigate or smoke." When the device is heated, the poison evaporates and penetrates the mosquitoes' spiracles, first paralyzing and then killing them. There are two types of fumigators:

• pyrotechnics,
• electrical.

Pyrotechnic

The fumigator is a coil of porous, heated material impregnated with pesticide. When ignited at one end, the coil smolders, releasing toxic substances into the surrounding air.

Due to the potential for fire, pyrotechnic fumigators are not used in residential premises.

Pyrotechnic fumigators are intended for outdoor use only. However, their effectiveness is significantly reduced in windy conditions.

Tip! You'll be better protected outdoors if you place several lit coils around your seating area.

Electric

This small, home-use device is electrically powered. The fumigator is plugged into a power outlet, and a heating element vaporizes the insecticide. The active ingredient is contained in liquid or special tablets.

The advantage of fumigators over repellents and other means is that they do not repel insects, but kill them. However, these devices are only effective indoors, as their range is limited. The fumigator model should be selected based on the area being treated.

The electric fumigator plugs into a power outlet and can work all night.

In addition to home fumigators, there are portable devices that are battery-powered or can be powered via a USB port. This format is especially convenient in areas without electricity. They can also be worn as a bracelet, keychain, or pendant, and they operate using fumigant-impregnated plates.

A portable battery-powered fumigator is convenient to use where there is no electricity.

Fumigants are chemical poisons, or pesticides, that have a nerve-paralytic effect on insects, but are harmless to humans and warm-blooded animals. Fumigants are insecticides.

The vapors penetrate mosquitoes through their spiracles, paralyzing and then killing them. This is their main difference from repellents, which only repel insects. The composition of fumigants may vary among manufacturers, but the main active ingredient will typically belong to one of two groups.

• Pyrethrins. Natural substances extracted from plants with mosquito-repellent scents, such as a special type of chamomile, tansy, and others. They are chemical-free and safe for humans. They are included in the mixture for children's fumigators.
• Pyrethroids. Chemical analogs of pyrethrins. They have the same properties, but are artificially created.

Review of popular models

Of all the options, several manufacturers' models stand out. These are recognized by users as the most effective and safe.

Raptor

A versatile device that works with liquids or tablets. It features a rotating plug that allows it to be plugged into vertical or horizontal outlets. It also features a built-in indicator light.

The basis of the fumigant Raptor is the active substance

The liquid contains etok, a highly effective substance developed in Japan. It has a nerve-paralytic effect on insects but is safe for humans and animals.

You can choose unscented or green tea-flavored liquid, as well as a lower concentration for those with sensitivities or allergies. Nekusayka is available for children.

Raid

Works with both liquids and tablets. It features a rotating fork and a Power Control system that allows you to adjust the heating intensity.

The Raid fumigator is easy to use.

The fumigant's main active ingredient, prallethrin, is a synthetic analogue of Dalmatian chamomile extract, a modern, highly effective product. Available in 30- or 60-night vials, as well as 10-night tablets.

Moskitol

These devices can also be used with liquid or plates. Some models feature a rotating plug, a timer, and a fan that evenly distributes the fumigant vapor throughout the room.

In the Moskitol line you can find a fumigator to suit any needs

The Moskitol line of fumigants contains prallethrin and transfluthrin. These substances effectively kill insects and are safe for warm-blooded animals. A liquid with a reduced concentration of active ingredients is available for children. It is designed to meet the specific needs of children.

Battalion commander

The Combat line includes devices for liquid and plates. They are effective and easy to use, and the new models are equipped with an on/off switch. The kit includes 90 plates or a bottle of liquid sufficient for 45 nights.

The Combat fumigator is effective and easy to use.

The fumigant contains esbiothrin, an herbal active ingredient. It is safe for both adults and children. One patch lasts 15 hours. The device is effective even with open windows.

How not to make a mistake with your choice

There are many options from different brands, but how do you know what's right for you? To make the right choice, consider the following:

1. Room size. The manufacturer specifies on the packaging the area for which the device is designed to operate—from 20 to 50 square meters. In a smaller room, the vapor concentration will exceed the optimal value, and in a smaller room, the effectiveness will be reduced. In this case, you can purchase two devices and operate them simultaneously at opposite ends of the room.
2. Fire safety. Always check for fire safety certifications to ensure the fumigator does not cause a fire.
3. Health Safety. Despite manufacturers' assurances of the fumigant's complete safety for humans, they recommend using the device with an open window. If you're prone to allergic reactions, choose an unscented product to minimize the risk of harm. Check the device's instructions in Russian, which should list the active ingredient.
4. Child safety. If the device will be used in a child's room, choose a special cleaner (Nekusaika) with a lower concentration and natural ingredients. A fumigant suitable for adults may be harmful to a child.
5. Take note of the useful features. An indicator light shows when the device is on and reminds you when the fumigant needs replacing. A fan evenly distributes the vapors throughout the room. A swivel plug allows you to plug the device into either a vertical or horizontal outlet.
6. Plates or liquid. Liquid is considered more economical and effective. It evaporates faster and begins working within minutes, and its effect lasts longer than that of plates.

Video: A life hack for using a fumigator with plates

How to use a fumigator without causing harm

A fumigator is a simple electrical device and easy to use, but it's a good idea to remember a few rules. Carefully read the instructions and follow the manufacturer's recommendations:

1. Open the package and remove the fumigator and liquid or plates.
2. Insert the bottle into the device and secure or place the plate on the heating pad.
3. Insert the plug into the socket so that the bottle with the liquid is vertical. The plate should be on top. If necessary, turn the plug in the desired direction.
4. Open a window or vent to allow free access of air.
5. Make sure that the fumigator is not obscured by furniture.
6. Do not expose the device to water.
7. Place the fumigator in a place inaccessible to children.
8. If the device does not have an automatic shut-off feature, it must be unplugged from the power outlet after use.
9. Replace the plate or bottle only when the device is turned off. Plates are replaced daily; the bottle expiration date is indicated on the packaging. When replacing a used plate, there's no need to remove it first; the one inserted will eject it.
10. Discard used bottles and plates immediately to keep them out of reach of children.

Important! Do not leave the fumigator on overnight in the room where the child sleeps. Let it run for 2-3 hours before bedtime, then turn it off.

Benefits and harms of a fumigator:

• According to statistics, approximately 12% of people experience an allergic reaction to fumigant. If you experience itching, a sore throat, or a headache, it's best to choose another method of insect protection.
• Pregnant women are also not recommended to use this method of protection. It's better to consider traditional methods.
• Don't use a fumigator intended for adults in a child's sleeping room. Fumigants with a specially developed formula and a lower concentration of the active ingredient are available for child protection.
• Take care to protect cold-blooded pets. It is recommended to cover aquariums and terrariums while the fumigator is in use.

When leaving the device running overnight, be sure to open a window or transom. Without access to fresh air, the fumigator can be used for no more than 2 hours.

When using the fumigator, provide access to fresh air by opening a window.

The concentration of pesticides in the fumigant is so low that it won't cause serious harm to humans, but unpleasant consequences are possible. Choose safety over the benefits of the fumigant and the harm from mosquito bites.

Photo Gallery: Fumigator Use Limitations

DIY fumigator

Despite its relatively low price, buying a fumigator isn't always possible. If you prefer, you can make your own.

As mentioned earlier, the purpose of a fumigator is to heat a plate or liquid to evaporate the fumigant. Essentially, it's just a heating element. A simple heater can be made from a wire-wound radio resistor with a power rating of no more than 25 watts. The industrial plate is placed directly on the resistor. But such a device will not be safe, since there is a risk of the plate catching fire. An energy-saving lamp can serve as another heat source. It produces the same amount of heat as the fumigator's heating element, but it also requires heating elements.

Video: Fumigator made from a light bulb

The safest method is to use an aroma lamp. In this case, you'll need a liquid fumigant. Pour the insecticide into the lamp's bowl and light a candle. The downside of this method is that you can't regulate the heat and evaporation of the liquid.

In an aroma lamp, a candle will be the heat source for evaporating the fumigant.

Homeowners use eucalyptus essential oil instead of a fumigant. It doesn't kill mosquitoes, but it does repel them quite well.

Reviews

A friend asked me to share her unfortunate experience using a fumigator in the room where she kept her aquarium. We turned it on for a few hours in the evening before bed. The fish and snails "fell into a coma." The fish came back to life a few days later. What will happen to the snails is unclear.

I feel bad about these mosquito repellents too, but sometimes I have to use them, what can I do? I don't leave them on all night, though, just for half the night.

We've been using fumigators for years, both at home and at the dacha. I try to buy Nekusayka, or at least the well-known brands. We sleep with the balcony open, so the fumigator runs all night.

I tried a lot of different mosquito repellents, but they didn't produce the desired effect. Some friends recommended Mosquitek, and you know, I was surprised – it actually eliminated the mosquitoes. I started sleeping better, and I recommend it to everyone.

A mosquito repellent is one of the best mosquito repellents. A properly selected device will provide all-night protection without causing harm. Use it at home, in the country, in the car, or on a picnic, and you'll be free from annoying squeaks and insect bites.