Don’t we just know that annoying feeling? Perhaps you left the screen door open a second too long for that die-hard mosquito to buzz in, and while you are watching the latest episode of Empire, or snoozing off into la-la land, you hear that godawful noise! Don’t lose your cool, and don’t reach for the can of insecticide just yet. Try these simple tricks first.
1. Turn On the Fan or Air-Conditioner
This will cool you down, and the cooler you are, the less you sweat. How does this figure? Research has shown that it is our sweat that attracts mosquitoes. The explanation is that fresh sweat is odourless, but when it combines with certain bacteria, it becomes a unique, sweet scent (at least to a mosquito!). This is what makes them ‘notice’ you and become attracted to you. And who knows, if it is turned up high enough, maybe it will just blow the mosquitoes away.
2. Ensure To Have Regular Baths
As stated earlier, fresh sweat is odourless and does not act as a marker for mosquitoes. A bath reduces bacteria and lactic acid build-up on your skin, but in real fact, most of the human scents that attract mosquitoes are unique to us and at times there is nothing we can do. This moves us to the next trick.
3. Mask Your Scent
How can you do that? Mosquito wristbands and other insect repellent creams are infused with citronella oil, which works by effectively masking human scents, and making you appear no more useful than a bloodless plant. Pure genius!
4. Call In The Top Guns
If all these fail, perhaps because there is no electricity, you have had your bath already, and you’ve run out of Odomos. Now is the time to get your hand on that can of insecticide, and spray the space. But ensure to leave the room unoccupied for as long as the manufacturer’s instructions say, so you do not inhale residual aerosols which could result in vomitting, dizziness and nausea among others.
Don’t let mosquitoes spoil your joy, you spoil theirs!
