How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes Inside the House

Mosquitoes can be incredibly annoying during the summer months. This is especially true when they find their way into your house. While dealing with mosquitoes outdoors is a hassle, dealing with them in your home can be a straight up nightmare. 

While it’s less common in the United States than in other parts of the world, mosquito bites can still transfer illnesses like the West Nile virus and Zika. This is why limiting your exposure to mosquitoes is important, thus lowering your risk of getting bit. 

Don’t freak out if mosquitoes have found their way into your home. There are a lot of things you can do to either repel or expel these unwanted guests. Read along to find out how to deal with mosquitoes inside your home. 

How do Mosquitoes Get Inside in the First Place?

There are plenty of ways in which mosquitoes can get into your house, the most obvious and common being through doors and unscreened windows. Leaving doors and windows open without a screen is an easy way to let mosquitoes into your home right under your nose. Many mosquitoes might seek refuge inside your house from wind or less-than-ideal weather conditions. 

Mosquitoes are small insects, so it can be difficult to track down the source of the issue. Check around your house for things like partially opened or torn window screens. Of course, the summer months are the most common time that you encounter mosquitoes. This means that it is best to check your screens around springtime so that you have time to fix these issues once summer comes around. 

 

Why is Prevention Important in Maintaining a Mosquito-Free Home?

Preventing mosquitoes from making your home their breeding ground is crucial. These pests thrive in environments that provide them the essentials: a warm climate, water sources, and ample nourishment from humans, pets, and plants. Addressing a mosquito infestation at its onset can effectively hinder their ability to breed and multiply. This initial step of prevention is essential.

Once you have controlled an existing infestation, maintaining preventive measures ensures mosquitoes do not return. Regular upkeep to eliminate breeding conditions safeguards your home from future invasions, keeping your living space comfortable and mosquito-free.

How can you check your yard for potential mosquito breeding sites?

Conducting a thorough inspection is important to effectively check your yard for potential mosquito breeding sites. Focus on the following:

Step-by-Step Guide to Inspect Your Yard:

1. Examine Water-Holding Containers:
   • Start by looking for any containers that can hold water, such as flower pots, buckets, watering cans, and birdbaths. Scrub them regularly to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
2. Inspect Recreational Items:
   • Items like kiddie pools, sandboxes, and even tarps used to cover grills or bicycles can accumulate water. Keep these items dry and stored so that water does not collect.
3. Check Drainage Systems:
   • Drainage areas can often be overlooked yet can accumulate stagnant water. Check your gutters, downspouts, and any catch basins around your property for clogs and ensure they are draining properly without pooling water.
4. Look at Garden Accessories:
   • Decorative ponds can be beautiful but also a perfect habitat for mosquitoes if not maintained. Consider installing a pump to keep water moving or stock the pond with fish that consume mosquito larvae.

By systematically reviewing each area and addressing any issues immediately, you can significantly reduce the risk of mosquito breeding in your yard.

Getting Rid of Mosquitoes inside the House

If you want your home to be free of mosquitoes, the first step is to ensure that you’re not accidentally letting hordes of them inside. Ideally, all your doors and windows would have screens to help keep these bugs out, but this is not everyone’s situation. If you have screenless windows, consider installing screens or simply limiting the time windows are open in your house. When the sun goes down, your doors and windows should be shut tightly.

In addition to these steps, it’s crucial to address the specific areas where mosquitoes tend to gather, such as entry points. An effective method for dealing with mosquitoes near these areas is to use an aerosol non-repellent. Non-repellent materials are undetectable to pests, which means that mosquitoes unknowingly pass through the treated areas, getting exposed to the agent that will eventually significantly reduce their population.

Continuing with broader preventive measures, replace old window screens, use air conditioners and dehumidifiers, keep your door closed as much as possible, and dump out standing water frequently. Refresh pet bowls, flush drains often, and put out scents that naturally repel mosquitoes. Remember, focusing on backyard mosquito prevention early in the springtime can also significantly reduce the chances of mosquitoes entering your home.

Combining targeted treatments at entry points with comprehensive mosquito control strategies throughout your home and its surroundings can significantly decrease the likelihood of these pests becoming a nuisance in your living space.

Additionally, to further enhance your mosquito control efforts, you may consider utilizing specialized products designed to target mosquitoes before they enter your home. Different products can attract and trap mosquitoes outdoors, preventing them from becoming a nuisance indoors. By combining these products with proper home maintenance practices like ensuring screens are in place and windows are closed, you can create a more comprehensive defense against mosquitoes inside and outside your living space.

Keep Mosquitoes from Breeding Inside Your Home

To keep mosquitoes from breeding inside and around your home, tidy up any space where you store old items, remove any pooled water, and clean drains regularly.

Houseplants are another potential source of water that can attract mosquitoes, depending on the plants you have inside and how much you water them. Potted plants on window sills or outdoor patios can be a significant concern. Check the saucers under these plants for tiny wiggling worms, approximately .125”-.25” in size, which are mosquito larvae.

By removing these water sources, you effectively eliminate a primary breeding ground for mosquitoes. Additionally, it is essential to address issues such as leaky pipes, sinks, plumbing joints, and any irrigation problems within your home. Even lawn sprinklers can inadvertently create standing water that may become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. By proactively addressing these various water sources, you can effectively minimize the risk of mosquitoes being drawn to your living space.

Indoor Mosquito Repellent

Of course, there are plenty of different types of products you can use in your home that will help ward off mosquitoes as well. We urge you to be careful with these products, though, because some of the chemicals in many of these repellents can be dangerous to children and the environment. Instead of using those products however, we recommend using more natural remedies to the situation.

The first thing you can try is a mosquito trap. You put the traps wherever your mosquito issue is worst and wait. Many stores sell mosquito traps or you can order one online. You can even make your own DIY mosquito trap if the problem is so immediate that you can’t get to the store. 

We also recommend trying tea tree oil. This is one of the most effective natural remedies for pesky mosquitoes. You can use the tea tree oil to ward off mosquitoes by rubbing it on your own skin. 

Additionally, you can use plants to repel mosquitoes. Plenty of plants naturally repel mosquitoes for one reason or another, including catnip, feverfew, and even basil. You can plant or keep these close to doors and window sills in your house.

Home Remedies for Mosquitoes

There are plenty of other home remedies for getting rid of mosquitoes floating around on the internet, but here are some tried and true methods that have worked best for many people over the years. Again, home remedies often don’t even include purchasing anything from the store.

One example is that you can make your own garlic spray to keep mosquitoes away. Crush a few cloves of garlic and boil it in water on the stove for a while. Then, pour it into a spray bottle and spray to your heart’s content. 

You can also keep a dish of soapy water out, which acts as a trap for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to water, and as soon as they hit it, the bubbles trap them. 

What to do When There Are Mosquitoes inside Your House

If you’ve tried a number of these methods and, for some reason, the mosquitoes still won’t let up, it’s probably time to call in a professional. This is why companies like us at Skeeter Beater exist. We are experts in mosquito control, plus we practice the safest and most reliable methods to keep mosquitoes from entering your living space. 

Our products are environmentally and family friendly. And our equipment is state of the art. If you live in the Chicagoland area and want to learn more about how we can keep your summer mosquito-free, don’t hesitate to contact us. Additionally, if you have further questions about home remedies and keeping mosquitoes away from your home, we’d love to hear from you. 

If you or someone you know desperately needs protection from mosquitoes during the summer time, go ahead and request a quote on our website. Our employees are happy to help you make your home a more comfortable place to be.