How to quickly get rid of mosquitoes in an apartment at night - methods and means

The beauty and romance of warm summer evenings are spoiled by annoying insects. Their buzzing and bites cause inconvenience, so a reasonable question arises: how to get rid of mosquitoes? Folk remedies, ultrasonic repellers or chemicals will help you cope with pests at home. Control methods can be used individually or in combination to achieve maximum effect.

Mosquitoes are dangerous insects whose bites cause itching, redness and the development of an allergic reaction. To avoid problems, it is important to know how to get rid of pests

The article contains effective methods of insect control that will help protect against mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.

How long does a mosquito live in an apartment after a bite?

It's no secret that it is the female insects that bite. Mosquitoes are not animals that die soon after being bitten. The bite and life expectancy of the parasite are in no way related. A female mosquito lives 42–115 days, and a male mosquito lives 20–60 days.

As soon as the insect smells a person, it begins to hunt for him in order to bite him. The bite itself is a kind of exchange: the parasite pierces the skin and injects saliva, which prevents the blood from clotting, and the person “gives” the blood. The substance contained in saliva is what causes skin reactions, redness, and itching.

Traditional methods

You can fight mosquitoes at home using traditional methods. Proven recipes are ideal for families with small children and for people who do not want to use chemicals to kill parasites.

Mosquitoes are sensitive to odors. They cannot stand strong aromas, so the best traditional methods involve the use of fragrant herbs and oils.

Essential oils

Concentrated substances with a persistent odor quickly help clean the apartment from insects and protect against bites.

Essential oils that are useful against mosquitoes:

• lavender;
• rosemary;
• mint;
• geraniums;
• eucalyptus;
• tea tree;
• citronella.

Bloodsuckers smell the scent at a distance of 1 meter and hurry to get away. To protect your home from mosquitoes, drop 2-3 drops of any oil into an aroma lamp or onto a wax candle. When heated, the smell spreads throughout the apartment, repelling pests.

An aroma bracelet that you can easily make with your own hands helps against bites. Take a narrow strip of natural fabric, add a couple of drops of oil to it and tie it around your wrist.

Medical alcohol mixed with essential oil repels pests. Dilute 5 drops of citronella or geranium essential oil in 100 ml of alcohol. Pour into a spray bottle and spray personal items.

Medicinal plants

Mosquitoes are afraid of the presence of medicinal herbs in the house. Tie bunches of chamomile, basil, and geranium sprigs, place them around the apartment and place them in the ventilation hole. Replace old tufts with fresh grass once a week.

1. Fresh mint and basil repel insects. They grow well in decorative pots on the windowsill. Plant the seeds in early spring. In May, the first leaves will appear, emitting a pleasant, fresh smell that is hated by mosquitoes.
2. Geranium growing in the house is a reliable way to get rid of pests. It not only creates unacceptable conditions for insects, but also decorates the apartment with bright lush flowers.
3. Buy Dalmatian chamomile powder at the pharmacy. The plant contains natural insecticides. Spread the product on sheets of white paper and place it in the corners of the room. Apply new powder every 2 days.
4. Use garlic to fight mosquitoes. Peel 12 cloves, chop, add half a liter of water and bring to a boil. After 5 minutes, turn off, cool, pour into a spray bottle and treat things and furniture.

If you are tired of mosquito squeaks at night, heat valerian tincture in a water bath. Soak cotton wool in the liquid and place it near the bed. Use camphor oil in the same way.

HOW TO FIND AND CATCH A MOSQUITO

If the squeak of a lonely “bloodsucker” is heard at night, it is not at all necessary to use remedies against them. It is better to turn on a flashlight or lamp to find the mosquito. Wait for it to sit on a wall or other surface, and then kill it with a rolled-up newspaper or suck it up with a vacuum cleaner.

To do this, you need to sharply point the pipe at the victim and turn it on so that the insect does not have time to fly away. This method is especially good if the mosquito is sitting in a hard-to-reach place.

Another way is to catch on your body, for which you need to lie on your side, cover yourself completely with a blanket, leaving only half of your face accessible. Place your hand in a comfortable position so that you can quickly deliver the “deadly blow” when the mosquito swoops down on the skin (most often it lands on the cheek). The main thing is not to injure yourself!

Effective means

After the bloodsuckers' entry routes into the apartment are blocked, proceed to destroy the population. There is a wide selection of products on store shelves to help eliminate the problem.

Fumigators

A fumigator is a device that heats an insecticide placed inside. This may be a plate impregnated with a toxic substance, or a toxic liquid. The device is plugged into a socket and heats up. When exposed to heat, the insecticide evaporates and its particles spread throughout the apartment, killing mosquitoes.

The main active ingredients used to create the poison are prallethrin or diethyltoluamide, which are considered harmless to humans, dogs, cats, and birds. The poison has a destructive effect on insects, disrupting the functioning of the nervous system, causing disorientation in space, paralysis and death.

High-quality fumigators are produced by the following companies:

• Raid;
• Raptor;
• Mosquitop.

Read the instructions before use. Indoors, it is recommended to leave the device turned on for 2-3 hours. If there is an air flow, the device can operate all night.

Ultrasonic repeller

An environmentally friendly method is highly effective in the apartment. Its principle is based on the natural characteristics of the life of mosquitoes.

1. After fertilization, the female avoids males, as she no longer needs them.
2. The repeller produces a sound identical to the male's squeak, so the female flies away.
3. The device operates from the electrical network. The frequencies at which sounds are produced are not receptive to the human ear, so the operation of the device does not cause discomfort to people.

Ultrasound devices are in demand in children's rooms. The product of the Italian company Chicco receives good reviews. It is recommended to install it near the child's bed.

UV lamp

The device resembles a flashlight. LED lamps are installed inside, projecting ultraviolet radiation, which is only detected by flying bloodsuckers. An electric grid is stretched around the lamp.

The light attracts mosquitoes, they rush towards it, stumble upon the mesh and die from an easy electric shock. The Terminator and Skat lamp models are suitable for use in an apartment.

Habits of mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are two-winged insects distributed throughout the world. In temperate climates they are active from early May to October. The population prefers to settle in damp, dark places where there is access to water.

The optimal air temperature for pest activity is 15-18 C. When the thermometer shows 28-30 C, the number of insects decreases. During flight, they quickly lose moisture; the heat does not allow them to restore vital energy, so mosquitoes prefer to wait out the heat in a shelter.

Not all mosquitoes drink blood. Males feed on plant nectar, but females have mouthparts adapted to pierce the skin of animals and humans. The female individual makes up to 8 bites per night. She needs blood to replenish energy and obtain proteins to reproduce. Mosquitoes from the genus Kusaki are common in Russia and neighboring countries.

Traps

The principle of operation of traps is to attract insects and destroy them. The bait for attraction can be one or several in a complex. Gas, heat, and light act as baits. Mosquitoes are not afraid of light and fly towards the heat emitted by the lamp. In general, bloodsuckers do not care about light or darkness; they orient themselves using not only the organ of vision.

Gas traps imitate human breathing; insects sense gas at a distance of up to 50 meters and rush to the device.

Propane exterminators are used on site. H20 traps can be used indoors and outdoors. The disadvantage of gas devices is the regular purchase of gas cylinders.

Electric traps with a lamp can be used outdoors and indoors, but due to their high price they are not in high demand. Devices with a fan or models that emit carbon dioxide are effective.

Water traps are effective in the home and yard. They are equipped with a special container where dead insects are disposed of. Are mosquitoes afraid of water? No, they lay eggs in water. But adults drown in liquid. Periodically you need to add and change water.

Light traps are inexpensive, but are ineffective if it is an ultraviolet lamp. Mosquitoes fly towards heat, not light. It’s good if, along with light, the device produces heat.

How to get rid of mosquitoes in an apartment at night quickly without a fumigator

1 If your fumigator is broken or you forgot to take it on a trip, do not rush to get upset. The main thing is that the plates remain. In fact, you don't need a special device to activate them. They start working at normal heating.

You can place the record on a heated light bulb, on the edge of a glass with candles, or simply set fire to a corner and immediately extinguish it. A slow smolder will create a similar effect.

2 Now let's move on to natural and safer remedies. Topping the list are essential oils. For us, their smell is pleasant, but it confuses and even repels mosquitoes. Apply a drop to each limb and neck. Or dilute with water in a ratio of 1 to 10 and use it as a store-bought mosquito spray.

The most effective oils are eucalyptus, juniper and clove. You can mix eucalyptus oil with lemon juice. Dry clove buds will also come in handy. You can infuse them with alcohol and spray them. In nature, lemon halves with spices stuck into them will protect you.

3 Going on a hike? Then in the forest you will find absolutely free mosquito repellent. The tinder fungus grows almost everywhere. Collect a small amount of mushrooms, place them around the perimeter and leave to smolder. Just watch out for fire safety, you’re in the forest after all.

4 When you make a fire, periodically throw pine cones, juniper branches and pine needles into it. Their smoke perfectly scares away buzzing “comrades”.

Useful tips

To avoid unnecessary attention from mosquitoes, you should not use perfume. Their aroma attracts insects in the same way as the smell of sweat.

You should avoid wearing dark colors and carefully plan your time spent outdoors. Don't forget about the times when mosquitoes attack.

If, despite all precautions, you are exposed to insect bites, the damaged areas must be lubricated with hydrogen peroxide, vinegar solution, alcohol or a special anti-itch ointment. Applying ice and cold water soaks are also effective.

Today there are a huge number of both folk and modern mosquito repellents. Which one to choose is up to you!

How to get rid of mosquitoes in an apartment yourself without harm

Before the onset of warming, almost all apartment owners think about what repels mosquitoes? How to protect yourself and your child from annoying insects? You can drive away pests using available “grandmother’s” remedies. How to effectively get rid of mosquitoes in an apartment? Here is a small list of available ingredients:

1. Essential oil of the citronella plant. This product must be natural, otherwise such a “poison” will be powerless. Literally a couple of drops of oil becomes an unbearable test for every mosquito. The insects will quickly leave the room and are unlikely to return.
2. Soybean oil (or tea tree oil, eucalyptus) also protects children and adults well from mosquito attacks. Bloodsuckers lose orientation in space and can be easily caught and destroyed. To enhance the effect, you can add catnip or lavender (two to one).
3. Insects also really dislike the smell of garlic. You need to cut a couple of slices of the plant and leave it overnight. The juice will do its job, scaring off the “predator”.
4. What really works against mosquitoes? Tincture of valerian herb and tobacco. These harmful insects simply cannot stand the aroma of these products.
5. An equally effective remedy is the elderberry plant. It is especially good if it is under the windows, and the living space is on the ground floor of the building.
6. How to fight mosquitoes in an apartment correctly? Caucasian (Persian) chamomile helps a lot. It contains pyrethrum, a substance that can repel parasites.

Why do mosquitoes appear at home?

Mosquitoes in an apartment are a very common phenomenon, and hardly anyone can boast of a summer spent without them. Before looking for effective methods to combat these insects, you should find out the reasons for their appearance in apartments.

1. Humidity. Mosquitoes favor dampness, so if there is water in the basement of a house, insects will be happy to adapt this basement to their habitat. It is from this that they will fly to different apartments. So, first of all, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the basement.
2. Warm. As is known, only female mosquitoes suck human blood. They need it to lay eggs. The female insect feels a breath of warm air from the apartment and flies to the heat source.

1. Muffled light. Sunlight blinds mosquitoes, and therefore they rarely attack during daylight hours. Most often they can be seen at dusk or at night.

1. The mosquito has more than 70 receptors that allow it to detect a wide variety of scents. The most attractive to them is the smell of sweat and alcohol, or more precisely, the smell of ethanol from a drunk person. These are the odors, the intensity of which a person can influence. There are also a number of aromas that only mosquitoes can understand. For example, mosquitoes are attracted to people with blood types 1 and 2, children and pregnant women.

Fighting mosquitoes with folk remedies

How to get rid of mosquitoes at home using improvised means? The best remedy for flying insects is mosquito nets; they should be installed on all windows in the apartment. At the dacha, you can hang thick tulle on the entrance doors or make a mosquito net from scrap materials.

Vinegar

Vinegar will help you escape from blood-sucking creatures in nature. Before a walk, you need to thoroughly rub the exposed skin with the prepared vinegar solution. How to make mosquito repellent spray at home? For preparation you will need 40 ml. shampoo, 70 ml. vinegar and 30 ml. vegetable oil. Mix all components until smooth and pour into a bottle.

Note! When using this method, be careful that the spray requires vinegar, not vinegar essence. The latter has a strong concentration and can cause a chemical burn

Lemon and cloves

How to get rid of mosquitoes at night? A cut lemon with a clove stuck in it will rid the house of uninvited guests. For one room you only need two or three slices of lemon. You can also repel insects using a liquid product based on cloves. You will need 100 grams of boiling water, 20 cloves and the zest of one lemon, mix all the ingredients and leave for 30 minutes. Spray the strained solution onto upholstered furniture.

Vanillin

Vanillin is one of the best folk remedies against mosquitoes and midges. To prepare a folk repellent you will need 150 grams of hot water, 1 tablespoon of soda and 15 drops of vanilla essence, mix all ingredients.

Additional Information! The solution can be sprayed on clothing, furniture, or around you outdoors. This universal method not only repels insects, but is also a kind of trap; the vanilla smell attracts mosquitoes, and when they get into a container with a solution, they die.

Grass

In the old days, mosquitoes were controlled using pyrethrins. Dried leaves and flowers of Persian or Caucasian chamomile, wheatgrass, valerian, mint, and elderberry affect the nerve cells of insects. Not a single mosquito will dare to fly into the room in which these herbs are laid out.

Carbolic acid

A few drops of carbolic acid applied to the pillow, blanket and wall next to the bed will allow you to sleep peacefully, without fear of the invasion of flying bloodsuckers.

Essential oils

Essential oils not only relieve itching and redness, but also repel annoying mosquitoes. Oils of clove, basil, wormwood, anise and eucalyptus can be applied to open areas of the body, or drop a few drops into an aroma lamp, fireplace or open fire in nature.

Fish fat

The smell of fish oil is unpleasant not only to people, but also to insects. No mosquito will want to bite a person who smells of this product. When going to the forest or to the lake, you should apply fish oil to exposed skin.

If you are bitten: how to treat mosquito bites

As a rule, mosquito bites go away on their own; some lucky ones don’t even notice them. However, if the bite site is very red, itchy or swollen, there is a large selection of special products that can be bought at the pharmacy. Or folk recipes will come to the rescue again.

1. Soda solution.
   Dissolve ½ teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water, moisten a cotton pad with the solution and apply to the bite site.
2. Ammonia.
   Dilute alcohol with water in a 1:1 ratio and make a cotton lotion.
3. Aspirin.
   Crush a regular (not instant) aspirin tablet, add a little water and apply the resulting paste to the bite site.
4. Fresh potatoes.
   Grate the peeled potato on a fine grater and apply to the bite site. When the potato pulp darkens, change the lotion.
5. Ice.
   To relieve discomfort and swelling, apply ice or something cold from the freezer to the skin.
6. Parsley.
   In order for the effect of such a lotion to be effective, the parsley leaves need to be chopped and lightly mashed to obtain juice.
7. Plantain.
   It is no coincidence that in childhood we treated all the wounds received in the yard with it. Plantain is also great for mosquito bites.

How to get rid of mosquitoes in an apartment quickly at night - folk remedies

Some essential oils also repel mosquitoes. Insects do not like the aroma of tea tree, geranium, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, and mint. Clove oil is the most effective aromatic remedy in the fight against mosquitoes! You can also use mixtures of aromatic oils. The best way to do this is with an aroma lamp.

Use of essential oils

When using essential oils, it is important to follow the rules of safe use and take precautions into account.

1. Undiluted essential oils should not be applied to the skin, as this causes a chemical burn.
2. Do not allow the product to get into your eyes.
3. It should not be used by nursing mothers, infants, patients with epilepsy and pregnant women, as well as by individual intolerance.
4. Do not exceed the dose of oil specified in the instructions.

A blend of lemon and eucalyptus essential oils is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. The drug is effective due to its high cineole content. In addition to repelling mosquitoes, it has an antibacterial effect.

Boric acid or alcohol is used as a component of a mosquito repellent. Plants insist on it. The repellent itself is placed on the windowsill or at the front door.

AROMATHERAPY

Smells can be used to control mosquitoes. Consider growing plants at home that repel bloodsuckers. For example, lanthanum gives a good effect. However, it should be borne in mind that this representative of the domestic flora is dangerous for animals, and can also cause allergies in humans. Mosquitoes do not like the scent of geranium, so you can safely grow it on windowsills. Then only the hungriest individuals will fly into the window. Owners of private houses can plant lilac, bird cherry or elderberry under the window. You can place a pot with marigolds on the balcony. These plants will give a pleasant aroma to your household and at the same time help the flying bloodsuckers survive.

The smell of basil, lemongrass, mint, rosemary, as well as catnip and any citrus fruits is unpleasant for mosquitoes. But they have a very weak effect, so they can scare away mosquitoes only if you plan to grow them in large quantities or fumigate rooms with them. In all other situations, their essential oils will have a much greater effect. Extracts of eucalyptus, cedar, anise, as well as tea tree and basil work well. The easiest way is to drop a little into the aroma lamp, but you can also apply it to the skin.

In conclusion, we note that the problems associated with the sharply increasing insect population in the summer have been familiar to people since time immemorial. Our distant ancestors fought bloodsuckers in the house in their own way, mainly with the help of improvised means: fragrant herbs, decoctions and bunches of dried plants. With the development of modern technologies, the possibilities have expanded, so the fight against mosquitoes in human homes is much easier. However, many to this day prefer folk recipes, getting rid of bloodsuckers the old fashioned way.

Which method you prefer is up to you. But in any case, the measures taken will not have any effect if you do not comply with prevention.

• Make sure that there is no high humidity or stagnant liquid in the underground. Mosquitoes love water and actively breed near its source, so you need to get rid of excess moisture.
• Install mosquito nets on windows and doors. Be sure to secure them firmly to prevent children and pets from falling out.
• Recent studies have found that mosquitoes like the smell of sweat. Therefore, maintaining personal hygiene rules in the summer will be especially important.

There are many other effective techniques that allow you to quickly catch a bloodsucker in a room, although most of them still come down to the traditional swatting with your hand, newspaper and even slippers. We told you about the most unusual options. And remember: finding and driving away an annoying mosquito at night is not at all difficult, you just need to use your imagination.

FUMIGATORS

A fumigator (from Latin fumigo - “I smoke”, “I fumigate”) is a very reliable tool that allows you to get rid of insects in record time. The most popular ones include Raptor, Raid, Mosquitoll, Fumitox and Picnic Family.

Together with the device, the kit includes several plates or a container with insecticidal liquid. When the device is turned on, they release special substances into the air that kill gnats, flies and mosquitoes within half an hour. Most often, fumigators are based on pyrethroid insecticides - esbiotrin and prallethrin (a synthetic analogue of Dalmatian chamomile extract). Experts recommend giving preference to the latter option - it is safer.

The duration of the plate is from 8 to 15 hours. A fumigator with a liquid insecticide has a longer action - up to 45 nights. Approximate area – 12 sq. m.

For all its effectiveness, a fumigator can be dangerous! Unfortunately, not everyone uses it in accordance with the instructions. Many people leave the device turned on all night almost at the head of their head - this should not be done!

How to use such tools correctly? The device is plugged into the outlet for about 20 minutes, leaving the window open. There should be no people, their pets, or children in the room at this time! Also remember that fumigators are completely contraindicated for respiratory diseases. At the end of the period, the device is unplugged from the outlet, the room is well ventilated and the window is closed.

Advice! Do not use records left over from last year - they are unlikely to help you. If the fumigator liquid has run out and there is no way to buy a new one, replace it with eucalyptus extract.

SPIRALS

Of course, one can argue about the advisability of using spirals in an apartment, because they are more suitable for a summer house or gazebo. mosquito coils work on the same principle as fumigators. They contain an insecticide that is released into the air while the device is smoldering. To prevent fire, place the spiral on a metal surface and set fire to only one edge.

Mosquito coil - operating principle, description and tips for use, read more in this article.

Fumigants and repellents

Repellents and fumigants are chemical agents. Fumigants are divided into electrical and pyrotechnic.

Electric fumigators are devices that run on electricity. Repellent components are liquid or plates that, when heated, release chemicals that mosquitoes do not like. Manufacturers promise that after an hour there will not be a single insect left in the room with the fumigator turned on.

Advantages of the fumigator:

• No contact with skin;
• Ease of use;
• Availability;
• Low price;
• There are no obvious negative effects on health.

Flaws:

• Short service life;
• Irritating strong odor;
• Cannot be used in a home with children or pregnant women;
• Headache and allergies may occur.

If mosquitoes are not afraid of the fumigator, you may have bought a fake or it is broken. In small doses, fumigants repel insects, but in large doses they kill.

Pyrotechnics are plates that need to be set on fire. Spirals are used in the yard, on the site, during recreation. If they are used in the home, they may cause headaches.

Most mosquito repellents contain diethyl phthalate, which is effective against insects but is toxic. When using them, you must follow the rules and safety measures.

• The repellent must be applied according to the rules recommended by the manufacturer.
• Lotions and creams are intended for application to the skin and last for an hour and a half.
• A safe repellent is a pencil. Cases of an allergic reaction are rare, but the smell is unpleasant.
• Bracelets soaked in natural oils are one of the safest ways to repel mosquitoes.
• Scented candles will repel insects; mosquitoes do not like their smell; they can be used at home or outdoors.

Anti-mosquito aerosols

The composition contains substances that are toxic to mosquitoes. Advantages of using aerosols:

• Ease of use;
• uniform distribution of the drug;
• treatment of hard-to-reach places;
• the active composition spreads over a radius of 3.5 meters;
• Aerosol formulations last for several hours.

Extreme caution should be used when using aerosols. Spraying should not be carried out near food products. It is strictly forbidden to use aerosols to protect children from mosquitoes.