With the arrival of summer, the annual battle with mosquitoes begins. Someone reaches for repellants, others install nets in the windows, and others try all sorts of home tricks. One of them is surprisingly simple and uses an item that absolutely everyone has at home. All you need is a regular roll of toilet paper and a few drops of essential oil.
Summer evenings on the terrace, open windows and a pleasant breeze. But with warm weather comes uninvited guests in the form of mosquitoes. Therefore, many people are looking for simple ways to make their stay at home and in the garden more pleasant without using strong chemicals. One of the unusual tricks that has been spreading on the Internet lately is supplemented with a few drops of essential oil.
For a video from Hole in the World with tips on simple homemade mosquito traps, check out YouTube:
Although it is a very it only takes a few minutes to prepare and can help create an environment that doesn’t smell too bad for mosquitoes.
How the trick works
The principle is surprisingly simple. An essential oil with a strong aroma is dripped onto a roll of toilet paper or several scraps of it. The paper then gradually releases the aroma into the surroundings.
Most often, scents are used that are pleasant to people, but not much sought after by mosquitoes. For example, citronella, eucalyptus, lavender or mint oil is popular.
Where to put the paper
Scented toilet paper can be placed near an open window, on a windowsill, a garden table or next to sitting on a balcony. Some people also prepare smaller pieces of paper and place them in various places in the home. The advantage is that no special equipment or electricity is needed.
A natural alternative to chemical repellants
Many people prefer natural solutions to classic repellants. Essential oils do not guarantee 100% protection, but they can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in the immediate area.
However, it is important to take into account that the intensity of the scent gradually weakens and the oil needs to be dripped again from time to time.
Fragrances that are most popular in summer
In addition to citronella, lavender, peppermint, tea tree or eucalyptus are often used. These scents are also pleasant for people and at the same time they can refresh the interior.
Some create their own blends of several oils to make the effect even more pronounced.
“If you want to create a homemade mixture against mosquitoes, a combination of citronella, lavender and eucalyptus essential oil works well. Citronella is considered a classic among natural insect repellants, lavender adds a pleasant scent and eucalyptus complements the effect of the whole mixture. It is the combination of several scents that is often more effective than using a single oil,” recommends herbalist Ema Drábková.
If mosquitoes regularly bother you during the summer, toilet paper with a few drops of essential oil can be an interesting addition to other protective measures. It’s cheap, quick to prepare and uses things that most households have on hand. Sometimes it takes just a little to make summer evenings a little more pleasant.
