Mosquitoes are a nuisance outdoors and indoors. When you’re outdoors, you can use bug spray to keep them at bay.
When mosquitoes invade your home, it can make you and all other household members miserable and itchy.
That’s why it’s essential to know how to get rid of mosquitoes in the house. There are a few simple options you can try to get rid of mosquitoes in and outside of your home.
But sometimes, calling a pest control company is the best way to get rid of the problem for good. In this guide, we will outline the most effective ways to keep mosquitoes out of your house and how to get rid of mosquitoes in the house.
Keeping Mosquitoes Out of the House
The first offensive measure you should take is making sure your home is properly sealed. That starts with ensuring your screens and doors are impenetrable to flying pests like mosquitoes.
But you’re not done quite yet. You next steps is to inspect your property for potential mosquito breeding areas. This is the only way to truly get rid of mosquitoes in the house.
Install Window and Door Screens
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We all love a little fresh air in the house, but open doors and windows without screens are prime entry zones for mosquitoes and other pests. Every window in your home should have a screen installed in case you decide to open it up.
If you have a sliding glass door, you should have a sliding or retractable screen installed to give you the option to leave the door open on nice days.
Retractable screens are popular because they don’t impede your view when not in use and offer one-touch automatic opening. Existing screens on your doors and windows might be an entry point for mosquitoes if there are small holes in them.
Carefully inspect your screens to look for any damage, and if you find a hole or worn spot in your screens, replace or repair them for the best pest protection. Screen repair kits are inexpensive and simple to use.
Solid screens on your doors and windows will provide a level of protection against pests entering the home.
But they don’t necessarily solve the problem. Each time a screen door is opened for entry or exit, there is a chance bugs might fly in.
Fill Gaps Around Doors
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If you can see light entering your home around a door, that’s a potential entry point for mosquitoes. Take a walk around your home and look for small gaps that may be present.
Take note of where each one is located. If you can see a large gap under an exterior door, you have a few options to seal it.
- Install a new threshold under the door. Thresholds are a metal component under your door that help it create a good seal against moisture and pests when shut. If your existing threshold is in good condition but still doesn’t meet the door, consider the next option: A door sweep.
- Install a door sweep with your threshold to increase your level of protection against pests. While door sweeps keep crawling bugs out better than those that fly, it’s one more barrier of protection you can install inexpensively. You can find door sweeps made of vinyl, neoprene, or nylon brushes. Nylon brush door sweeps are typically the best choice as they do a better job keeping pests out.
- Install weatherstripping to your door frame. This prevents insects from coming into your home through gaps at the top and bottom of your door. It also helps lower your heating and cooling costs. Just purchase a weatherstripping (or door-sealing) kit and clear caulk to the top and bottom of your door.
Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Grounds
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Mosquitoes breed in standing water, making the problem of mosquitoes in your home even worse. If you want the best chance of getting rid of mosquitoes in the house, you’ll need to do a property check.
The goal is to find out where they may be breeding and living outside your home. Look for any pooled or standing water outside your home. Some popular breeding grounds include:
- Birdbaths
- Puddles
- Flower pots
- Pet dishes
- Water features
- And more
It takes a mosquito about ten days to complete its life cycle, so be sure to regularly clean and dump water in any area where it tends to collect to interrupt the cycle and keep your yard mosquito-free.
If you can’t remove and change the water, keep the water moving by adding a battery-powered water wiggler or small water fountain to keep water flowing and prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
Other areas that tend to collect standing water are gutters and drains. Maintaining your gutters and drains makes them more effective and eliminates a favorite breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Keeping mosquitoes out of your yard helps prevent them from ever entering your home. After all, if they aren’t in the yard, they can’t get inside the house.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in the House
If mosquitoes have already infiltrated your home, taking measures to get rid of them outside is helpful but not an immediate fix.
You want methods that will actively kill mosquitoes and prevent them from coming back inside. To get rid of mosquitoes in the house, you should take the following steps.
Use an Insect Fogger or Spray
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Insect foggers and sprays can be useful in killing mosquitoes, but they come with a lot of disadvantages. Many foggers and sprays available to consumers leave behind a dangerous residue.
Foggers often require a period where all occupants must leave home, which can be inconvenient. Most concerning of all is the flammability of home-use insect foggers, which can easily ignite and explode if left near an open flame.
House fires have been known to start when a stove or gas furnace pilot light was not extinguished before the “bug bomb” was set off. Most foggers and sprays kill mosquitoes on contact, which is a plus.
But be sure to read all warning labels and understand the risks involved. Insecticides and pesticides are best left to a professional to ensure proper use and ventilation after use.
Plug-in Ultrasonic Pest Repellers
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If you’re looking for an all-natural option to get rid of mosquitoes in the house, an ultrasonic pest repeller could be a good option. These devices emit a short wavelength, high radio frequency invisible to humans and pets.
But they repel pests like mosquitoes, mice, and cockroaches. Ultrasonic pest repellers plug into outlets and continuously emit a radio frequency to discourage insects and pests from entering your home.
The jury is still out on whether these devices are truly effective, but at the cost of about $30 for 6 (which last for several years), it’s a cost-effective option that couldn’t hurt to try.
Burn Camphor Oil
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Camphor oil is distilled from the wood of the camphor tree. It can help repel mosquitoes and encourage them to leave the area. The scent of camphor is easily recognizable. You might associate it with mothballs or vapor rub.
Burning camphor oil can drive mosquitoes to go, but be aware: The scent is strong, and many find it unpleasant. It doesn’t kill mosquitoes, but it is effective in repelling them.
Set Mosquito Traps
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Mosquitoes are attracted to sugar, heat, carbon dioxide, and light. Using any of these methods can attract mosquitoes, and with the proper traps in place, prevent them from escaping.
You can purchase traps at most grocery and hardware stores, online, or make your own with ingredients as simple as brown sugar, yeast, and a plastic bottle cut in half.
Get Rid of the Mosquitoes in Your House for Good
The methods above can be useful in reducing the population of mosquitoes in and around your home. Still, if you’re looking for a true solution to your mosquito problem, there’s only one real answer: Call a pest control company.
A pest control company may employ a variety of methods to ensure mosquitoes in all life stages are killed in and around your house and prevent them from coming back.
First, they will inspect your home to see the problem and where it is likely originating from. Next, they will apply the chosen treatment to the area outdoors where mosquitoes are breeding and living.
The treatment should remain fully effective for a few weeks. To keep your home mosquito-free, they will come back each month for a maintenance spray that ensures mosquitoes never have time to breed and increase in population.
When to Call a Pro
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If you hire a local pest control company, they will have the experience necessary to precisely attack the problem. Different methods may be more or less effective in different regions of the country.
Your local pest control company can employ the most effective techniques to get rid of mosquitoes in your house. For example, the insecticide most often used to kill mosquitoes (synthetic pyrethrin) is not available in:
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Parts of Connecticut
So other options may be employed in those states. Contacting a pest control company helps you get rid of troublesome mosquitoes in your house and yard and eliminate other pests that may make their way into your home.
If you decide to call a pest control company, be sure to set up a monthly or bi-monthly maintenance service to keep your property pest-free.
Pest control maintenance programs are the most effective way to ensure no bugs or pests can take up residence in the place you call home – and eliminate the need for more drastic measures down the road.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in the House
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Are you still wondering how to get rid of mosquitoes in the house? If so, the DIY steps we listed didn’t work. In that case, simply use our form above to connect with a local pest control company.
We partner with Networx, which has complied an industry-leading database of contractors in your area. Just enter your information and an expert in your area will reach out to you to create a treatment plan.