Four ways to combat mosquitoes in your home

Summer is one of the most loved seasons of the year. The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and it means the year is finally coming to an end.

The festive season also falls in summer in South Africa, which means everyone is in relaxation and party mode. 

But the warmer weather also brings with it some unwanted guests - and we don't mean the 101 visitors stopping by during the holidays.

Summer is mosquito season, and the pesky "vampires" will be sucking your blood all night if you don't take the necessary precautions.

Here are a few tips on how you can keep mosquitoes away.

Mosquito repellent plants

While decorating your home in preparation for the festive season, don't forget to add some mosquito repellent plants to your decor. Fragrant plants like lavender are known to repel mosquitoes. Other mosquito repellent plants are rosemary, peppermint, basil, lemon balm, and citronella. You could also buy fragrance candles with these scents, and light them at night.

Garlic

Garlic has been used to help repel mosquitoes for decades, but the verdict is still out on whether they really are able to keep those little home invaders at bay. It's worth a try though. You can boil a few cloves of crushed garlic in some water. Add the liquid into a spray bottle and spray your rooms. Some suggest eating foods that have lots of garlic will also help. The garlic oil is released from your pores which apparently keeps mosquitoes away. Rubbing a garlic glove on your skin could also help - allegedly.

Get rid of standing water

Remove any standing water in your back yard as female mosquitoes are known to lay their eggs nearby. If you keep buckets and vases outside, be sure to clean them often. 

Mosquito net

If you want to have a peaceful night's sleep then consider buying a mosquito curtainfor your bedroom or a net to cover your bed area. 

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