Eliminate mosquitoes inside your home through a multi-pronged approach targeting both prevention and eradication.
Prevention: Keeping Mosquitoes Out
- Install and Maintain Screens: Ensure all windows, doors, vents, and chimneys have intact and properly fitted screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering. This is recommended by multiple sources, including Better Health Channel.
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for cracks or gaps around windows, doors, and pipes, and seal them to block mosquito entry. A Reddit post suggests searching for these openings. (https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/rzjriu/sos_i_keep_finding_mosquitos_in_my_house_im_not/)
- Use a Screen Door: If you lack one, installing a screened door on exterior doors significantly reduces the chance of mosquitoes entering your home. This is suggested by Home Depot.
Eradication: Killing Existing Mosquitoes
- Targeted Spraying: Use insect surface sprays inside and outside your house to kill existing mosquitoes. This method is recommended by multiple sources.
- Manual Removal: For small infestations, a simple spray bottle set to mist can wet the mosquito's wings, allowing for easy capture and removal. (https://www.reddit.com/r/homeowners/comments/145gxtq/how_do_u_control_mosquitoes_inside_the_house/)
- Repellents: Use effective mosquito repellents containing picaridin or DEET on exposed skin. While not directly eliminating existing mosquitoes in the house, repellents will decrease the chance of further infestations. The CDC recommends this measure and Orkin notes that when used with other mosquito control methods, repellents are highly effective (https://www.orkin.com/pests/mosquitoes/mosquitoes-in-the-house).
Eliminating Breeding Grounds
- Remove Stagnant Water: Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Eliminate any sources of stagnant water inside and around your house, such as flower pots, pet bowls, and clogged drains. [This is emphasized by Rentokil and the CDC](https://www.rentokil.com/id/en/services/pest-control-services/mosquitoes/7-ways-to-keep-mosquito-away, https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/mosquito-control/mosquito-control-at-home.html).
By implementing these preventive and eradication strategies, you can effectively manage and control mosquito populations in your home.
