Mosquitos are dangerous. They can transmit deadly diseases, and infestations can grow rapidly.

Having them inside your home puts you and your family at risk.

Stop living in fear today. In this post, I am going over the seven best ways you can use to get rid of mosquitoes inside your home.

1. Seal Your Home

Mosquito infestations start outdoors. If you have mosquitos indoors, then there is an entry point that is allowing them to enter.

The first thing you need to do is to seal any entry points around your home.

Your first step to reducing the mosquitoes’ population is to make sure that they can’t get inside.

You can do a few things to seal up your home to make sure mosquitos can’t enter your home.

Fix and Replace Screens

The first thing you can do is to replace or fix the screens in your home. Often small holes or tears in window screens and door screens will allow mosquitoes to enter your home.

The standard mesh screen will keep mosquitos out as long as there are no holes or gaps in the screen.

It’s also essential that you have correctly fitted screens in the first place. Screens that are bent and create gaps will allow mosquitoes to enter the house.

It’s important that you also fix or replace screens. These are often overlooked but are a primary entry point for mosquitoes.

Porch lights and lights inside your house will attract mosquitos to your doors. Without adequately fitted screens, you will give mosquitos a warm welcome inside your home.

Weather Strip Your Home

It’s also vital that you properly weatherstrip your entire home. Pay special attention to doors and windows. The gaps around your door or window sills can allow mosquitoes to enter your home.

The most effective way of weatherstripping your home is to apply door sweeps at the bottom of your door.

The second thing you can do is apply to weatherstrip foam strips around your door and window sills. This will prevent mosquitos from entering your home through the gaps around the windows and doors.

I also recommend that you apply covers to basement and attic vents. Since these vents are in uncommon locations, they often get overlooked.

Mosquitoes can enter these vents and grow their population. These vents are particularly dangerous because the attic and basement tend to produce an environment that is conducive to mosquito growth.

Over time, these vents can get damaged or be completely missing.

Be sure you also apply coverings and screens to attic or basement vents.

Seal Holes and Cracks

You also want to make sure you cover any holes or cracks around your home. The easiest way to fill holes and cracks is using caulk. Caulk offers easy application and quick drying.

Cracks and holes can act as an entry point for mosquitoes.

Focus on areas around your windows and doors. Sometimes cracks and holes tend to form around window rails and casings.

These areas tend to attract mosquitos because of the light that they emit at night.

Door frames and casings also tend to develop cracks and holes over time. Be sure you inspect the inside and outside of the area around your doors.

Just like windows, doors typically emit light that attracts mosquitos. Any potential entry points will leave your home vulnerable to mosquitoes.

2. Eliminate Sources of Water

If your home is sealed, but your mosquito infestation remains or continues to grow, then it’s likely that the mosquitos are breeding in your home. 

Mosquitos require water to lay their eggs. To prevent breeding, you need to make sure there are no stagnant water sources around your home. 

To survive, mosquitos larva need water with no movement. Mosquitos don’t need lots of water to lay their eggs. The larva can survive with only one teaspoon of water. 

Small amounts of water can get overlooked. Below are some common places you can look for sources of water. 

To keep mosquitoes away, make sure you remove or treat standing water in:

• Fish Tanks 
• AC Drip Trays 
• Drains 
• Potted Plants with water saucers 
• Under sinks 
• Inside kitchens or restrooms
• Inside basements 
• Pet bowls – dogs, cats, or birds 

3. Use Mosquito Repelling Plants

While the scent of some plants is appealing and soothing to humans, certain scents will drive mosquitos out of your house. 

Mosquito repelling plants are a great way to drive mosquito plants out of your home. Certain plants can kill nearby larva with their scent. 

Plants are most effective when you place them near the area that you need mosquito relief. 

For example, if you have mosquitoes inside your kitchen, you should not place the plant in your living room. The range of repellence is not very wide for most plants. 

A good way to determine the plant’s repellency range is to stand in front of the plant and walk away until you don’t smell the plant any longer. Once you don’t smell the plant, this is the extent of the plant’s coverage. 

Some common plants that are known to repel mosquitoes include:

• Lavender 
• Basil 
• Catnip 
• Citronella 
• Lemon Grass
• Peppermint 
• Rosemary

4. Use Essential Oils

Another way you can take advantage of the natural repellency of plants is by using essential oils.

Essential oils are concentrated forms of plants. The benefit of using essential oils is that you don’t have to care for them. 

They are also cheaper and easier to apply globally around areas where you are having mosquito issues. 

The issue of using essential oils is that you need to apply with caution. This is especially true if you have pets or children in the home. 

Although essential oils are natural, they are highly concentrated and can cause skin irritation. 

Another major downside is that it requires frequent reapplication. Essential oils are a liquid that evaporates quickly. This means that to maintain its effectiveness, you need to re-apply it often. 

You can use essential oils against mosquitos in a variety of ways: 

• Diffusers 
• Diluted in Spray 
• Light Application to the Skin

Diffusers

If you are having mosquito issues in a particular room in the house, using a diffuser is a great way to have essential oils in the air continuously.

Apply two to three drops into the diffuser combined with water.

If the smell is not strong enough consider adding more essential oil to your diffuser.

If mosquitos are still present you should also consider adding more essential oil to your diffuser.

Essential Oil Spray

You can also use essential oils as a spray and spray directly on mosquitos or areas around your home where mosquitos frequent.

To create an essential oil mixture combine 12 ounces of water with around 30 – 60 drops of essential oil.

Ideal locations to spray include around door and window frames.

You can also spray essential oils around the exterior of your home.

Ideally, you want to target the main entry points or locations where mosquitos frequent.

For application outdoors you can use a pressure sprayer for effective application.

When applying indoors you can spray the solution on a rag and wipe down the desired areas that need repellency.

5. Use Mosquito Traps

Mosquito traps are commonly used outdoors, but they are also effective indoors. 

It’s best to avoid using your outdoor traps indoors, especially those that are gas-powered. 

Most people think of the traditional glue fly or mosquito traps that hang from the ceiling. 

I don’t recommend these traps. These traps are outdated and ineffective. 

Today there are special traps made for indoors. These traps are discrete and effective. The most effective traps use several different types of lure to attract mosquitoes and trap them. 

These traps are also great because they work on moths, flies, and other flying insects. 

Pro-Tip

Avoid using mosquito zappers indoors. While they are effective, they are not sanitary to use indoors. Mosquito zappers cause mosquito remains to be disbursed in to the air and nearby items. 

Indoor traps should be a combination of lures with vacuum suction or sticky pads. This keeps your house sanitary while getting rid of mosquitoes.

6. Use Chemical Insecticide

In some cases using chemical insecticides might be the only option for removing the mosquitoes inside your house.

Using chemical insecticides are ideal for eliminating large infestations of mosquitoes quickly. These are highly effective and will kill mosquitoes on contact.

I advise against using sprays regularly. These will add chemicals into the air that are not healthy to be used indoors.

As an alternative, there are natural based mosquito killers that are effective against mosquitos.

Most of the natural-based chemicals use a combination of essential oils combined with activators. While these are a healthier and more natural solution, they should still not be used regularly.

7. Eliminate Mosquitos Outdoors

The final way to get rid of mosquitoes indoors is to get rid of mosquitoes outdoors.

Eliminating mosquitoes outdoors will help keep mosquitoes outside of your home.

Doing this requires several steps and can’t be completed with one action. 

Eliminate Stagnant Water

Mosquitoes require stagnant water to reproduce. If you have a mosquito infestation, this is a sign that there is stagnant water near your home.

It’s important to note that mosquitoes require stagnant water. Water with a constant flow will not support mosquito larva.

First, you want to identify the locations of stagnant water. Then you can determine how to eliminate it or learn how to divert the water.

Common locations of stagnant water include:

• Pools and jacuzzi
• Bird Baths
• Pools of water
• Leaky Pipes
• Water fountains
• Running water

Inspecting your room thoroughly is important for identifying any areas of stagnant water.

Kill Mosquito Larva

If there are areas of stagnant water that you can’t remove or clear larva inside the water, you need to treat the water using insecticides. 

The best insecticides include: 

• IGR’s
• BTI
• Spinosad 

These insecticides will kill any live larva and will also kill any new eggs that mosquitoes lay. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How to remove mosquitoes in house plants?

If your house plants have mosquitoes, the first thing you want to do is check for excess moisture or stagnant water.

The next is to use a natural mosquito killer such as essential oil spray or insecticidal soap on your plant. You can spray these on your plants daily to eliminate mosquitoes.

You can also purchase natural chemical sprays that are safe for indoor application.

I also recommend purchasing plans that repel mosquitoes. This will create a barrier around your home to eliminate any mosquitoes in your house plants.

Why do I suddenly have mosquitoes?

If you suddenly have lots of mosquitoes, likely, a group of larva has just developed into adults.

This means that there is standing water inside or outside your home that was sustaining the larva.

There are likely other larvae that are developing and will become adults soon.

It’s essential to identify stagnant water areas and eliminate the water or treat it for the larva.

Why are mosquitoes inside my house?

There are two reasons that mosquitoes are inside your home.

The first is that there are entry points that mosquitoes are using to enter from the outdoors.

The second reason is that mosquitoes are breeding inside your house.

This means that there is stagnant water supporting lava, and they are hatching and growing into adults inside your home.

How To Stop Mosquitoes From Biting You?

One of the most common ways to prevent mosquitoes from biting you is by applying chemical repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or PMD.

DEET

DEET was initially created in 1946 to keep US Army troops safe from mosquito-borne illnesses.

Since it’s inception, it’s been one of the most reliable mosquito repellants in the world.

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends DEET as one of the best repellents against mosquitoes.

That said, DEET does have its drawbacks.

Although rare, some people may experience skin irritation with DEET, especially in high concentrations.

Some also find the smell and feel of DEET to be unpleasant. For some users, DEET may feel too greasy on the skin.

Also, while DEET is safe to use on skin, it is known to damage some plastics and certain synthetic materials, such as rayon, spandex, and vinyl.

If you are planning to wear DEET, keep it away from your sunglasses and any clothes made of rayon, spandex, and vinyl.

In case it gets on these materials, make sure to wash them immediately to avoid damage.

Picaridin

Picaridin is another popular mosquito repellent used on human skin or clothing.

It can come in the form of liquids, sprays, aerosols, or wipes.

Picaridin was first made in the 1980s, but it was only available in the United States in 2005.

Although it doesn’t have a long-standing record of DEET, Picaridin has been proven to be just as effective at repelling mosquitoes.

It also has several distinct advantages over DEET.

For one, picaridin doesn’t have the greasy that consumers complain about with DEET.

It is also odorless and doesn’t damage plastics or other synthetic materials.

PMD

PMD is a natural oil extracted from the eucalyptus plant.

It’s a great natural alternative to DEET and Picaridin as a mosquito repellant.

Researchers found that repellents containing lemon eucalyptus oil are just as effective and long-lasting as products containing DEET.

Wear Light Colored Clothing

Mosquitoes are attracted to black, deep blue, and red. To keep yourself from being a target, stick to light colors.

Wear Loose, Long Sleeve Shirts, And Long Pants

Mosquitoes target exposed skin. To keep them away, cover as much of your skin as possible. You’ll also want to wear thicker fabrics when you can. Looser clothing is also better than one that fits tightly on your body.

Are Male Mosquitoes Harmful?

Yes and no. Male mosquitoes are not harmful in that they do not bite humans and animals. They live happily eating nectars and do not carry any diseases.

That said, male mosquitoes are harmful in that they play an important role in maintaining and growing mosquito populations.

Are Female Mosquitoes Harmful?

Yes. When female mosquitoes blood, they leave their saliva behind. This saliva can transmit pathogens such as malaria, Yellow fever, encephalitis, Zica, Dengue, West Nile virus, and Chikungunya.

As a result, female mosquitoes are the deadliest animal in the world. Their bites take more than 1 million human lives every year, most of which are due to malaria.