How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in House?
Getting rid of mosquitoes is not an easy task, but it is a common problem if you’ve ever spilled sugary juice on the counter and not cleaned it up immediately, overwatered indoor or outdoor plants, or waited too long to take out the trash.
One simple household mistake and suddenly your house seems to be overrun with insects—tiny mosquitoes, to be exact. That’s why we’re bringing you nine ways to get rid of mosquitoes once and for all.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes?
Before killing mosquitoes, the first thing you should do is make sure they are, in fact, mosquitoes. There are many different types of small flying insects, and each requires a slightly different elimination tactic.
Actually, you might need to know how to get rid of fruit flies or drain flies. If you know what to look for, it’s easy to tell the difference.
Fungus gnats look black and have long legs, while fruit flies are usually brown and rounder in shape. Drain flies have a fuzzier appearance and larger wings, and, as their name suggests, they hang around sink drains.
Once you’ve correctly identified which bug is bothering you, you can start taking the necessary steps to get rid of insects, flies, and any other pests once and for all using vinegar solutions, store-bought remedies, and even rotten fruit. For long-term success, invest in one of the best insect exterminators on the market.
#1) Original indoor Insect Trap.
While it works best on larger insects (like mosquitoes), a bug zapper is always a good option. These days, there are many brands and designs that are safe for indoor use.
These quiet machines should be able to catch most mosquitoes and flies in your home, and the best part is you won’t have to lift a finger for the magic to happen.
#2) Flypaper.
There’s really no more reliable, or strangely satisfying, solution than flypaper, which simply traps flying insects on its sticky surface.
You can hang “tape flypaper” in areas of your home that get a lot of mosquito traffic or try window flypaper, which will cover an entire window with an adhesive sheet.
#3) Apple Cider Vinegar.
In a small bowl, mix half a cup of warm water with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar, and about six drops of liquid dish soap.
Mosquitoes will be attracted to the sugary mixture, but once they dip in to drink, the sticky dish soap will trap them.
Simply place the bowl with the solution in the areas where you’ve noticed the most mosquitoes and wait for the results.
#4) Chemical spray.
If things get really bad, you might need a more serious bug killer. Insecticide is one option, though we advise against using it if you have small children around (and, as always, you’ll want to make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions).
#5) Pour boiling water down the drain.
Kitchen sink drains are common places where mosquitoes lay eggs, especially in garbage disposals.
They love the warm, moist environment and any food and bacteria that accumulates there. Kill the eggs in the drain by pouring boiling water down the sink.
#6) Use diluted bleach for drain flies.
If you’ve noticed mosquitoes in your home converging around your sink drains, they may actually be drain flies (in which case, the other traps we’ve discussed here may not work well to eliminate them).
Drain flies are best treated with bleach. Protect yourself and your lungs properly, then dilute half a cup of bleach with about a gallon of water and pour it down the affected drain.
#7) Attract them with rotten fruit.
Yes, the very thing that caused the infestation in the first place might be your best bet when it comes to getting rid of it.
Add some pieces of overripe fruit to a large bowl, then cover it with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band.
Use a toothpick to poke a few holes in the top. Soon, insects and fruit flies will swarm the fruit, squeezing their way through the tiny holes, but they won’t know how to get out.
#8) Set up a candle trap.
Here’s a trick that seems almost too good (easy and old-fashioned) to be true: Place a tall candle in a candlestick, then place the candlestick in a small saucepan filled with water.
Turn off all the lights, then light the candle and wait for the mosquitoes to be drawn to the flame. They will either hit the flame or fall into the water below. However, as with any lit candle, you should remain in the room and tend to the flame carefully until it’s time to extinguish it.