Homemade and natural mosquito repellents can be used on the body, as is the case with clove or citronella repellent, or used in the environment, as with vinegar repellent or electronic repellent made with lemon peel, for example. example.
These homemade repellents can be used to prevent mosquito bites Temples of the Egyptians, which transmits dengue, Zika and Chikungunya, or mosquitoes that cause malaria, oropouche fever or yellow fever, in addition to the mosquito and the mosquito. However, it is important to bear in mind that the effectiveness of homemade repellents is relatively low, which means that they need to be reapplied more frequently than drugstore repellents.
Read too: Oropouche fever: what it is, symptoms, cause and treatment
Homemade repellents are also good options for use by people who do not wish or cannot use chemicals, whether in the form of body or environmental repellents.
Body repellents
Homemade body repellents can be used on all skin exposed to mosquitoes, such as arms, face and legs, however, care must be taken not to apply them too close to the eyes or mucous membranes such as the mouth or nose, as they can cause irritation. Furthermore, it is recommended to wash your hands after application to avoid accidental contact with your eyes, mouth and nose.
Another important recommendation is to spray homemade repellents on top of your clothes because the mosquito’s sting can pass through very thin fabrics, reaching the skin.
1. Clove repellent
The homemade clove repellent is rich in eugenol, an essential oil with insecticidal properties, which keeps mosquitoes away. Temples of the Egyptians which causes dengue, Zika and Chikungunya, as well as flies and ants.
This homemade repellent can be used by teenagers and adults, including pregnant women, and the maximum duration of this repellent on the skin is 3 hours.
Ingredients
- 500 mL of grain alcohol;
- 10 g of cloves;
- 100 mL of almond or mineral oil.
Preparation mode
Place the alcohol and cloves in a dark bottle with a lid, protected from light, for 4 days. Stir this mixture twice a day, morning and night. Strain and add the body oil, shaking slightly and place the repellent in a spray container.
This lotion can also be used on surfaces that often have ants, as it is a great way to keep them away. If ants tend to stay in sugar, what you can do is place a few cloves in the sugar bowl.
2. Eucalyptus Oil Repellent
Homemade eucalyptus oil repellent contains the substance mentglycol, which is a natural mosquito repellent, including mosquitoes. Temples of the Egyptiansand also ticks such as Borrelia burgdorferi that causes Lyme disease.
This repellent can be used by pregnant women and children over 3 years old, and its duration is up to 6 hours. See other natural repellents that can be used by pregnant women, babies and children.
Ingredients
- 15 drops of eucalyptus oil;
- 3 to 4 tablespoons of almond or mineral oil;
- ¼ cup of water.
Preparation mode
Mix all ingredients and place in a spray bottle. Spray this solution under the skin, reapplying every 6 hours. This repellent solution can also be sprayed in the environment.
3. Citronella Repellent
The homemade citronella repellent is made from the essential oil of this plant and has citronellal, citronellol and geraniol in its composition with insecticidal properties against dengue, malaria and yellow fever mosquitoes, as well as mosquitoes and mosquitoes.
The duration of this repellent is 2 hours and may cause eye irritation or skin allergies and should not be used by pregnant women, children and people with high blood pressure.
Ingredients
- 5 drops of citronella essential oil;
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or sunflower seed oil.
Preparation mode
Mix the ingredients and place in a spray container. Spray on the skin, spreading on areas exposed to mosquitoes such as arms and legs. Avoid applying it to your face and washing your hands after application to avoid accidental contact with your eyes, mouth and nose.
Citronella can also be used in the form of candles or diffusers in the environment to ward off mosquitoes.
4. Lavender Repellent
This repellent, made with lavender essential oil, can be used as a homemade repellent for babies, from 2 months of age, to prevent bites from dengue, Zika and Chikungunya mosquitoes, and mosquitoes.
Furthermore, the homemade lavender repellent soothes and hydrates the skin and the action time is approximately 3 hours.
This homemade repellent should not be used by pregnant women.
Ingredients
- 1 package 150 mL of moisturizing cream;
- 1 spoon of lavender essential oil.
Preparation mode
In a glass container, mix the moisturizer and oil very well and then store it in a clean, dry bottle. Apply to all areas of the body exposed to mosquitoes, daily.
5. Catnip Repellent
Catnip, also known as catnip or catnip, is a medicinal plant that contains nepetalactone, a component of its essential oil, with insecticidal action against mosquitoes. Temples of the Egyptians causes dengue, Zika and Chikungunya, and against the malaria mosquito. See other uses for catnip.
This homemade repellent is made with the essential oil of this plant and has a maximum action time of up to 7 hours.
Catnip repellent should not be used by pregnant women and children.
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon of catnip essential oil;
- 1 cup of almond oil.
Preparation mode
Mix the ingredients and place in a spray container. Spray under the skin and spread. Wash your hands afterwards.
Repellents for environments
Homemade repellents for environments can be used in the form of a spray, spraying in places where mosquitoes can enter, such as windows and doors, or used on electronic devices in the environment.
Some homemade and natural repellent options for environments are:
1. Vinegar repellent
Homemade repellent with vinegar is a good option to ward off dengue, Zika and Chikungunya mosquitoes, and should only be used indoors.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of vinegar;
- 1 cup of water.
Preparation mode
Mix the ingredients and place in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on windows and doors.
2. Fly repellent
An example of a homemade fly repellent is placing cloves stuck in half of a lemon or orange.
Cloves have properties that irritate insects and these properties become more evident when in contact with these citrus fruits.
Ingredients
- 10 g of cloves;
- 1 orange or 1 lemon.
Preparation mode
Stick the cloves into the outside of the fruit and leave them in the open air. To enhance the effect, you can also cut the orange or lemon in half and stick the cloves inside. Furthermore, you can squeeze the fruit a little, the juice becomes more evident and has greater action together with the cloves.
3. Electronic repeller
A great homemade electronic repellent against mosquitoes and other insects is to use lemon or orange peel on the electronic device, instead of refilling these industrial repellents.
This repellent may not be enough to keep mosquitoes away and, therefore, the person must also use a repellent on their skin.
Ingredients
- 1 rectangular slice of lemon or orange peel;
- 1 electronic repellent device.
Preparation mode
Place the rectangular slice of lemon or orange peel inside the place reserved for placing the refills for electronic repellents that are placed in the sockets and change the peel daily.
