When the heat arrives, the same scene plays out: that thin whine at three in the morning and, on waking, a couple of bites. Knowing how to get rid of mosquitoes in the house stops being a luxury and becomes a matter of sleep. The good news is that most home remedies for mosquitoes are cheap, straightforward and don't involve filling the bedroom with harsh products. In this guide we go over why they get in, how to cut off their route and what to do so you never hear that whine again.
Why are there mosquitoes in the house?
Before tackling the problem, it helps to understand why there are mosquitoes in the house. In summer, three factors come together: high temperatures, humidity and standing water where they lay their eggs. A saucer under a plant pot, a bucket on the balcony or the water in your pet's bowl can all be perfect breeding grounds. On top of that, they come inside drawn by the carbon dioxide we exhale, our body heat and certain smells. That's why they bite more at night and the moment we lie still.
The tiger mosquito, increasingly common across Europe, needs very little water to reproduce: a bottle cap is enough. Emptying any container with standing water in it is probably the single most effective measure of all.
Shut the front door: physical barriers
The first step in keeping mosquitoes out is stopping them crossing the window. Physical barriers work best and get in the way least:
- Insect screens on windows and balcony doors, especially in bedrooms. They're the definitive solution if you air the house at night.
- A fan pointed at the bed: mosquitoes fly poorly against a draught and struggle to get close.
- Check drains and grilles, where they come up from the pipework; fine mesh stops them.
- Avoid leaving lights on with the windows open at dusk, because they draw insects indoors.
If you're after screens, fans or practical ways to keep the bedroom cool, in our home products catalogue you'll find options designed with summer in mind.
Home remedies for mosquitoes
Besides barriers, there are time-honoured tricks that help keep them at bay. These are the most popular home remedies for mosquitoes:
- Vinegar in a container: a glass of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of washing-up liquid near the window works as a simple trap.
- Lemon studded with cloves: half a lemon stuck with cloves on the balcony table gives off a smell they generally dislike.
- Burnt coffee: burning dried coffee grounds produces smoke that helps drive them off outdoors.
- Basil and mint on the windowsill: as well as looking good, their scents act as a natural repellent.
None of them works miracles on its own, but combined with screens they cut down nocturnal visits considerably.
How to repel mosquitoes naturally
If you'd rather avoid insecticides, knowing how to repel mosquitoes naturally gives you room to manoeuvre without loading the air with chemicals. Essential oils are your allies: citronella is the best known, but lavender, eucalyptus and geranium work too. A few drops in a diffuser, in a candle or diluted in water to spray the curtains keep the room a lot less appealing to them.
Citronella candles on the terrace during dinner create a small protected zone, and aromatic plants on the sill reinforce the effect. For skin, a naturally based repellent applied before you step onto the balcony prevents most bites without resorting to strong products.
A routine for a summer without bites
The key isn't one single trick, but a small, consistent routine. Summed up in a few steps:
- Empty any container with standing water every week, indoors and out.
- Fit screens in the rooms where you sleep with the window open.
- Use a fan or a diffuser with essential oils at dusk.
- Keep aromatic plants like basil or mint near the windows.
- Check drains and damp corners, their favourite hiding spots.
With these habits, getting rid of mosquitoes in the house stops being a losing battle and becomes a routine that barely costs you any time. If you'd like to kit out your home to enjoy summer more comfortably, take a look at our home solutions and get ready to sleep right through, with no whining and no bites.