Do-it-yourself solutions for a mosquito-free home

The rainy season is here, and with it come pesky mosquitoes that bring all kinds of diseases.

 

The Department of Health warns that the number of house mosquitoes is steadily increasing. Protect your home from these disease carriers and save money by trying these do-it-yourself anti-mosquito measures from “Good News.”

 

Mosquito repellents

 

Store-bought anti-insect sprays and lotions may cost up to P500. Opt for a more natural way of driving mosquitoes away by rubbing slices of citrus fruits like oranges or ponkans to your skin. 

 

"Ang lamok kasi ay attracted sa tatlong basic na components ng tao. Una, carbon dioxide, octinol at lactic acid," entomologist Paul San Diego explained. "'Pag nag-apply tayo ng orange, matatakpan 'yung amoy natin."

 

Garlic is also an effective mosquito repellent. Get a whole bulb of garlic, peel the cloves, put it in a spray bottle and add isopropyl alcohol. San Diego said garlic produces the compound allicin, which wards off mosquitoes. The alcohol, meanwhile, helps disperse this compound. The garlic and alcohol solution can be sprayed around the house or applied directly to the skin. Just make sure that you're not allergic to it before doing so. 

 

Apple cider vinegar is another accessible home ingredient that you can use as a mosquito repellent. Simply mix it with alcohol and spray it on the areas where mosquitoes usually stay. Like garlic, the smell of apple cider vinegar helps repel mosquitoes.

 

Mosquito bites and itch remedies

 

Not all mosquitoes are malaria or dengue carriers, but that doesn't make the bite of a non-carrier less annoying. Relieve itching caused by mosquito bites by using fruits like papaya and pineapple. Just take a slice of papaya or pineapple and rub it directly on the affected area. San Diego said that the papain found in papaya helps remove the mosquito saliva that causes itchiness. On the other hand, the bromelain present in pineapple reduces the allergic reaction of the skin to mosquito bites. Rubbing banana skin or a warm spoon on the bite could also lessen itching.

 

A warm bowl of oatmeal is also an effective home remedy against mosquito bites. Rub it on your skin and wait for five minutes before rinsing. "Ang ginagawa niya 'pag nakagat tayo ng lamok, kinakalma niya 'yung skin at iniiwas niya sa pangangati," San Diego said.

 

Homemade mosquito trap

 

Prevent mosquitoes from multiplying by setting up a homemade trap. Here's what you have to do:

 

1. Get an empty softdtrink bottle. Remove the bottleneck using a cutter.

2. Wrap the bottle with a black cloth or trash bag.

3. Fill the bottle with water.

4. Add sugar and yeast.

5. Position the trap in a mosquito-infested area.

 

"'Yung yeast at asukal, nagcre-create ng carbon dioxide na nagiging attractive sa lamok," explained San Diego. "Dito mangingitlog 'yung nanay na lamok. 'Pag nangitlog na siya, maaari na natin itong itapon."

 

San Diego recommended that the mosquito trap is used for three to seven days before disposing it.

— Lara Gonzales/CM, GMA News