Growing up with grandparents from "back in the day" was an advantage to me. As a kid in the 60's and 70's, we children were sent outside to play, whether or not we wanted to. I did not mind, nor did the mosquitoes. Mosquitoes loved me. I was usually bathed in and caked in calamine lotion each night after my bath and stood in front of a fan to dry and try not scratch the bites that covered my little body.
Finally one year, I was given a tasty orange chewable tablet daily in the warmer months here in Louisiana. I loved it. Mosquitoes never bothered me again, those many warm seasons ago. My pharmacists of today have never heard of this sulfur chewable, nor did they ever admit knowing the positive effects of sulfur against mosquitoes. Unfortunately, this isn't really a tip. It's more of a request.
Pharmaceutical companies, please put this sulfur tablet back on the shelf. I'm sure it's quicker and safer than eating a match head or making my own tea. Even at age 50, I'm too eager to go outside to my garden. My grandmother knew what to do for me back then. There are some truths to "old wives tells".
This page contains the following solutions.
Put some water in a white dinner plate and add just a few drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dish detergent. Set the dish on your porch, patio, or other outdoor area.
If you are going camping or have a lot of skeeters where you live, you have to get one of these mosquito rackets! We used to get them inside our house where I used to live and this device ended up being the best thing to take care of them. When you press the button, electricity runs through the racket. All you do is swing at the skeeters and they get electrocuted and die. I know it's a bit harsh but, with mosquitos rap sheet on carrying infectious diseases, I don't feel so bad. ;)
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How do I keep the 10 million mosquitoes that live in Florida out of my horse barn?
By d'ArkHorse from Sarasota, FL
Hello,
I have been a Large Animal RVT for many years. Please go to your local feed store and ask them. Please remember to put on fly masks on your horses as you know they can end up with "fly Strike" Please keep their water clean as the mosquitos will breed in standing water.
Mosquitos, we have bought citronella plants, you should be able to find them at a local nursery.They look like sawgrass.When they get big enough you can separate the plants to have more to plant other places. Flies, I go the dollar store and buy those strips they work great.
I recently read in the newspaper that having a dryer sheet sticking out of your pocket will work. The scent keeps them away. Another tip I read is to mix 9 parts water to one part Listerine (preferably the yellow one-mouthwash) in a spray bottle and spray is around the yard.
Update:
Well, it's not good news. The beer has attracted flies of all kinds. Huge fat ones and smaller variety have now come to my yard.
I've stopped using this recipe and am really disappointed because I did have good luck at the beginning.
I used the fly drowner recipe and am getting rid of the flies:
pour apple cider vinegar in a styrofoam/plastic dish; the dish has to have a lip because you'll need to pour 1/4"-1/2" of apple cider vinegar in the plate.
Then take Lemon dish washing liquid (it HAS to be Lemon) and squiggle some on the vinegar in the dish, top to bottom. In the morning I had a ton of flies big and small, lots of small flying things. Why it works now and didn't before, I haven't a clue.
So I'm still looking for a recipe to get rid of mosquitos, so please keep sending them in!!
I tried Robitussin cough medicine; vanilla; avon skin so soft, regular bug repellent spray w/out deet; alcohol; peroxide (ok I was desperate); avon skin so soft and alcohol; sage; planting marigolds - no luck, they still bite.
Bounce dryer sheets (sometimes they work and sometimes they don't). Someone on this site said the Bounce sheets have to be the original scent, but
I can't find Bounce in my grocery store that says 'original' on the box. does anyone know what the 'original' spray is called?
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On this site there is a recipe under getting rid of mosquitoes that calls for -
1/3 part flat Coors beer*
1/3 part epsom salts
1/3 Listerine - the brown one
Mix all together in spray bottle and spray area.
It worked for me.
I didn't use Coors beer, I just used any kind of beer in the fridge.
As far as flies mine aren't in a barn, but I had to spray them as they flew by or sat down, but it also helped to spray the area and it did help keep flies away. I live in Houston, Texas, USA and we have mosquitoes, bugs, unidentifiable things even in the winter.
I tried avon skin so soft and most of the other recipes for mosquitoes, but they didn't work for me.
I tried vanilla extract and have to re evaluate the results because I was using other things at the time.
Check this site; there's a lot here.
Good luck too!
I'm sure other people have mentioned it but my favorite bug repellent is old fashioned amber Listerine. I've even tried the cheaper Walmart brand but it's not as effective as the potency of the genuine Listerine. I'm serious people I live on Long Island NY right on the south shore and the mosquitos are horrendous.
Still a few spritzes of Listerine on my bare skin areas and I can reach into my flower gardens and fruit gardens and the mosquitoes fly off in other directions. hopefully the next generation of insect doesn't mutate and build up a resistance or Immunity to the Listerine lol (lol yes, but seriously) so I definitely speak for Listerine when dealing with mosquitos. I'm going to pour some in my basement drain tomorrow morning because every year I have a crap load of skitas around my basement door just waiting on a good meal :)
I also give my cats a little spritz when they go outside so they don't bring any bugs in with them. Also, so those pesky mosquitoes don't harass them either. I tried the vanilla extract but it didn't quite work. I did however purchase citronella plants over the past few summers and they seemed to work when I place them around my front door, but because my basement door doesn't get any Sun I didn't bother.
Unfortunately the people behind me have giant pine trees lining the back fence which blocks all the Sun from reaching the back of my house. (leaving that area damp and always musty) oh well, that's the way it goes when your house has huge side property and little back yard.
Be blessed friends and thank you thrifty fun for all the great advice I've gotten over the years.
Gia in Oceanside NY
Hurricane Sandy? Bah Humbug? We are Long Island's South Shore! 8 feet of water in my house, thank God for a second floor. One neighbor lost her life that night in the flood. I miss her friendship. Stubborn people will not accept help, please insist they do, it may save a life one day. Peace and grace to you all <3
The coffee ground answer seems interesting. I'd ask at a convenience store, coffee store, restaurant-wherever to see if you give them a bucket for grounds would they save them for you. If some coffee grounds sprinkled in water or thin coffee sprayed gets them gone . . . Then awesome!
I am having the same problem. It is January and has been very cold and I have mosquitoes! We just finished building a brand new house. The temp, air exchange, and humidity is very well monitored and maintained. But I cannot figure out where these buggers are coming from. They are a little more lethargic than normal, but are still biting. I have killed over 50 in the last month. We moved in December. Any thoughts?
By Nicole L.
There has to be someplace where there is standing water that they are reproducing. Investigate the home for such things. It doesn't have to be a lot of water, but obviously if they have been continuously in the home since December, they are reproducing.
The stinkers will get down drains and lay in the "P" trap to lay their eggs. Worked at RV park in Sarasota. They rented park models. You would get attacked. Putting salt in drains helped, but had to be repeated.
Is your ac draining properly? Also the stinkers will get down drains and lay in the "P" trap. Worked at RV park in Sarasota. They rented park models. You would get attacked. Putting salt in drains helped, but had to be repeated.
Does any one have a home remedy for getting rid of mosquitoes? This year they aren't waiting for dusk, they are biting day and night!
By Gen
First thing, be sure there is no standing water around your yard/area. Even a sour cream container lid can hold enough water to breed mosquitoes. Old tires, empty containers, etc. Just look around and remove or always pour the water off these items when it rains or you water your yard.
Then, for the containers I use to 'catch' rainwater (always have some water in them), I put about 1 teaspoon of olive oil in the container. Then when it fills with water, the mosquitoes won't be able to breathe or breed (no oxygen). Also, when the water evaporates or is used, the oil has coated the inside of the container and is there for the next rain or whatever. I 're-oil' 2 or 3 times during the rainy season. (I think I got this idea off Thrifty Fun)! Good luck!
This week, clean your rain gutters and other water holding areas. Big difference. Won't help this week or next but encourage bats by building or buying bat houses. Marvelous animals. I live way out in the country, next to river and have almost no mosquitoes because of my bat population. Do not ever touch them. They won't touch you. Don't fear. The more you get to know of them the more you will appreciate them.
I have a terrible mosquito problem. I don't have any standing water, but I have a lot of potted plants that I have to water daily because of the drought. I have noticed mosquitoes flying around the wet soil. I think they are laying eggs on the wet soil. How do I get rid of them without hurting my plants or using harsh chemicals?
By Carol
If your plants are big and strong enough to resist air flow. Use a standing fan. Mosquitoes can't fly against the air flow of a fan. For your plants not strong enough to resist the air flow you can try to cover the soil of their pot with a layer of 0.5 to 1 inch of coffee ground and a second layer of 0.5 to 1 inch of fine sand.
I doubt that mosquitoes larvae can survive in the soil but if they do the sand would stop them completing their last stage of development. If you are using pots with water reserve this is where the mosquitoes would lay their eggs even if it just an under pot tray.
Checking on internet pictures of the three stages of the life of mosquitoes could help you recognize the larvae. You could also get information here : app.nea.gov.sg/
Good luck!
Catherine
This is a page about keeping your container garden from attracting mosquitos. Saucers, tubs, and kiddy pools are frequently used to keep container planters well watered. However, standing water often becomes a breeding ground for mosquitos. There are numerous products available that effectively eliminate mosquito larvae while being safe for plants.
Sprinkle aged coffee grounds into standing water to kill mosquito larvae. This is a page about how to use coffee to keep away mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes only breed in stagnant water. This page asks do mosquitoes breed in moving water?
Using a rain barrel is a great way to conserve water but it can also become a breeding ground for mosquitos. This is a page about killing mosquito larvae in a rain barrel.
A well watered lawn can be a haven for mosquito larvae and make your yard practically unbearable during the Summer. This is a page about recipe for a green lawn with no mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are very capable of finding small openings through which to get inside your home. Many homeowners do not wish to spray pesticides indoors and search for safer solutions for these pests. This is a page about getting rid of mosquitoes in my house.
This is a page about keeping mosquitoes out of a pond. Mosquitoes unfortunately will lay their eggs in backyard ponds.
