Whether it is inside your home or out on the porch, mosquitoes can be quite unbearable. Their bites and the itchy sensation afterward are always the most uncomfortable of feelings.
If you are looking for natural repellents that may get rid of mosquitoes, you’d want to check lemongrass oils.
Lemongrass oil to repel mosquitoes
Lemongrass oil, particularly from Cymbopogon citratus works as an effective and natural mosquito repellent because of its high content of citronella. Mosquitoes dislike the smell of lemongrass and may perish if they come in contact with lemongrass oil due to compounds like citral & geranyl acetate.
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Commercial mosquito repellent sprays are full of chemicals, that shouldn’t be used too often around humans because they contain a toxic chemical that can affect the nervous system.
In many studies, it has been proven that Lemongrass oil can be effectively used to deter mosquitoes in your homes and outside. Cymbopogon citratus is the type of lemongrass which is most effective in deterring mosquitos.
The smell of lemongrass oil is not the most appealing to mosquitoes which makes them stay away from areas smelling more than that. Other than that, lemongrass is known to eliminate mosquitoes when they come in contact with the insect.
Lemongrass contains citral and geranyl acetate, both compounds known to be effective repellents against any insects, bugs, or pests.
However, lemongrass oil may not be too effective when repelling large swamps of mosquitoes. Moreover, pets like cats and dogs can be harmed since lemongrass is toxic to them.
Mixing lemongrass oil with other essential oils in a spray bottle can be a good way to use lemongrass oil to deter mosquitoes. The total number of drops when using two oils should be about 50 to 70 and no less than that.
If you want to mix all three essential oils, you can add about 30 drops of lemongrass oil, 20 drops of citronellas, and about 10 drops of tea tree as well.
How to make and use lemongrass oil mosquito repellent?
If you are thinking of making and using lemongrass oil mosquito repellent, here are a few steps that you would need to follow:
Gather ingredients:
At first you would need to get the ingredients to make the right repellent.
Since using only lemongrass oil would not make the most effective repellents, you would want to add another essential oil of your choice. You would need spray bottles, preferably of smaller sizes so that it is easier to store.
Fill water in spray bottle:
If you are using a bottle of around 100 ml, you would first need to fill the spray water with water.
You would only fill it up to half the mark. In this case, you should be using about 50 ml of water. You should either use spring water or boiled or filtered water for the task.
Add alcohol:
Now to this, you would want to add an alcohol additive such as witch hazel. If you don’t have witch hazel, you can also use vodka.
Use about 25 ml of the alcohol additive or about half the amount to how much water you have used.
Add lemongrass essential oil:
Now you would want to use lemongrass essential oil and add about 30 drops of therapeutic-grade oil. To that add around 30 to 40 drops of another essential oil like citronella or tea tree.
Shake the mixture:
Now you would want to shake the bottle after adding all the ingredients. You would need to shake it before use.
You should use a dark bottle to store it, keeping it away from direct sunlight. You can spray it anywhere around the house, outside, or on your body, avoiding the eyes.
Discard after 4-6 weeks:
Discard the spray solution after 4 to 6 weeks if there is any left. You can use this solution as often as every hour.
Pros and cons of using lemongrass oil mosquito repellent:
Along with the many advantages, there are a few disadvantages that you would need to face if you are using lemongrass oil as a mosquito repellent. Here are some of the pros and cons to weigh it all out:
Pros:
No toxicity:
The very first feature of lemongrass oil that makes us want to use it to repel mosquitoes is the fact that it is natural.
It does not contain the toxic chemical named N, N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, or DEET, which is widely used in commercial repellents.
This ingredient is known to be detrimental to the human nervous system and prolonged exposure can cause harm in many ways.
Good for the body and skin:
If you are to rub some of the lemongrass oil on your skin, not only would it help to deter mosquitoes, it is quite pleasing for your skin as well as your body.
There is no risk of skin inflammations or allergies that can be triggered with other repellents.
Pleasant to human senses:
If you use a mosquito repellent that makes you want to run away miles from the spot because of the smell, you’d want something more pleasant to your nose, like lemongrass oil.
Cons:
Can be harmful to pets:
Lemongrass oil is considered to be toxic for pets like cats and dogs. Sometimes even inhaling the scent can make them sick.
Not as effective:
Let’s face it. You might have a good option in a lemongrass oil to deter mosquitoes, but it would not be as effective as those chemically charged commercial repellents made for the job.
Lemongrass oil repels a smaller number of mosquitos but if there are swamps of it, you would need to use specialized repellents for a better result.
11 other ways to repel mosquitoes away from your home and garden:
Lemongrass oil is, no doubt, a great option to keep away mosquitoes from your garden and home.
However, if you don’t have any near you, you cannot just sit there, bearing those tickly bites. Here are a few others ways that would repel mosquitoes just as, or more, effectively.
Good repellent sprays or devices:
Nothing works better than repellents that have been curated to get rid of mosquitos.
You can use an EPA registered product that would have the right ingredient. For most powerful repellents, look for ingredients like 2-undecanoate, DEET, Picaridin, OLE, or PMD. Remember to be careful if there is a pregnant woman or children in the house
Repellent plants:
If you are to grow your garden with plants that mosquitoes would not come near, you would have a long-term mosquito repelling effect.
Have plants like rosemary, lavender, or catnip in your garden. You can also plant marigold and basil plants for the same effects.
Ventilation and fans:
If you have noticed, you would feel mosquito bites in places where there is less wind and airflow. If you are sitting outside on a windy day, mosquitoes are less likely to bite.
You can have electric fans which would create the gush of airflow needed to keep away mosquitoes.
Citronella candles:
Although not the best option when there are too many mosquitoes in your home, you can use citronella candles to create the scent that mosquitoes are not fond of.
Citronella is extracted from lemongrass and has similar effects on mosquitoes.
No standing water:
As we all know, standing water inside or outside your house is the breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Be sure to empty standing water as soon as you notice it. You may want to check on pots and buckets in your yard.
Clean your pool area:
Keeping the pool and the area around it clean can also repel mosquitoes.
Make sure no debris or food are remaining lingering outside. You can also chemically treat the pool once in a while to make sure it’s clean enough to not breed mosquitoes.
Misting system:
Although expensive, if you can invest in a misting system that sprays water periodically in your garden or yard area, you would be safe from mosquito invades any time of the year.
Wardrobe cleaning:
Wardrobes can be quite a home for mosquitoes and cleaning them occasionally would mean that you are not making a home for mosquitoes in your bedroom.
Natural sprays:
You can also use essential oils and mix them with water in the right ratio to make natural sprays.
Predator house setups:
Bat houses, bird houses, or toad houses around your house can also be effective in repelling mosquitoes. Birds, bats, and toads all eat mosquitoes and lower the population and infestation in an area.
Mosquito nets:
Mosquito nets can help trap mosquitos when entering a certain area like your garden.
Final thoughts
Lemongrass oil can be used as a natural repellent to deter mosquitos from homes, yards a gardens. Mosquitoes dislike the smell of lemongrass and certain compounds in lemongrass can be fatally toxic to mosquitoes. You can use lemongrass oil mixed with water on your body and around your home.