The number of dengue cases reported in Singapore has been on the rise and it is also expected that the number of cases will surge in the coming months.
Here are some tips to keep your home and family safe and prevent any potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Get rid of mosquitoes
Clear all stagnant water
The best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to prevent them from even growing in the first place. Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant, non-chlorinated water. Some common areas to check include your flower pots, pails, vases, kitchen drying racks, bamboo pole holders, roof gutters, and drains.
It only takes about 4 days for a mosquito egg to develop into an adult mosquito so you should get rid of any stagnant water in these areas every 1-2 days.
Grow some mosquito-repelling plants
Did you know that certain plants can help to repel mosquitoes because of their smell? Try growing herbs such as lemongrass, basil, and mint. Place them near the windows or the door to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. Besides helping to repel and get rid of mosquitoes in your home, you can also use them when cooking.
Use candles, incense, and essential oils
If you enjoy using lavender candles or essential oils at home, you’re already getting rid of mosquitoes without realising it. Other scents such as citronella, lemon, lavender, rosemary or basil also work to repel mosquitoes while also adding a refreshing scent to your home.
Opt for light-coloured paint and clothing
Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours such as black, navy, or maroon because their eyes are more sensitive to these colours. To repel them, consider opting for light-coloured walls like white or yellow. This can apply to your clothing as well.
Going to hike? Wear light-coloured clothing instead of dark-coloured ones and see if you get bitten less.
Use the fan
Mosquitoes aren’t very good “fliers” so using the fan will make it difficult for them to fly against the breeze. The fan also helps to circulate the air and disperse the carbon dioxide emitted by humans.
Carbon dioxide, body heat, and odours make us more easily identifiable by mosquitoes. Once you keep the fan on and the air can circulate, you will no longer become the target.
Get rid of mosquitoes in your home
Most of these tips are easy to incorporate into your daily routine so it doesn’t take much to get rid of those mosquitoes. The first tip is still the most important to prevent the mosquitoes from even laying eggs and having the chance to grow into adults.
This article first appeared on Helpling. Helpling is a digital home concierge service with a vision to provide quality living for everyone through their tech-enabled platform and dedicated home advisors. They take care of the time-consuming and dreadful household tasks for you so that you can spend time on other things that matter.
