WE ALL love summer – but there’s nothing worse than wearing a cute dress only for your legs to be covered in mosquito bites.
Thankfully, a pest control expert has shared how to get rid of them for good and still smell good in the process.
While there are plenty of mosquito and insect repellent sprays on the market, many have a funky smell to them, something we’d rather not douse ourselves in.
Pat Joiner, a pest control expert from Pest Gnome, has shared that one of the best ways to repel mosquitoes.
And it involves masking the scents on humans they are attracted to using a natural homemade repellent made from essential oils.
She explained: “Female mosquitoes use your breath, skin odour, and body heat to zero in and land on you. And then the bug bites you.
According to the pro these essential oils were even used in ancient times to banish bugs.
The critters are also known to find some scents overwhelming so stay away as they think it’s danger.
One of the best scents that will keep mosquitoes is lavender as it contains linalool and linalyl acetate which hinders the insects’ ability to smell.
They also aren’t fans of lemons as the acid irritates them.
Another essential oil to help banish mosquitoes is vanilla as the super sweet smell is great for covering up our natural scent.
To make the spray yourself all you’ll need is lavender oil, lemon juice, vanilla extract and spray bottles.
You’ll need 10 drops of lavender oil, four tablespoons of lemon juice and three tablespoons of vanilla extract and mix together in the spray bottle.
Some recommend adding vodka to the mix, but you won’t need to as the vanilla extract will have alcohol in it anyway.
You can then spray the scent on your clothes, around windows and doors and on outside furniture to keep mosquitoes away.
You should always be careful using essential oils if you have children or pets in the home as it can be an irritant.
Keep pests out all summer
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mossies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
You can purchase a lemon for 30p and vanilla extract for £1.30 in Sainsbury’s and lavender oil for £1.99 from eBay.
For extra protection in your garden, gardening pros recommend planting four plants to deter them.
These include; mint, marigolds, lemongrass, and rosemary.
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