There are countless options available to keep mosquitoes away, many of which contain harmful chemicals. Most people don’t realize that the grounds used to make their morning coffee can also function as an all-natural repellent. Here’s what you’ll need to know to use coffee grounds for mosquitoes.
The Dangers Of Mosquitoes
Pesky mosquitoes can give you itchy bites that last for days and are just plain annoying especially when you’re trying to enjoy your time outdoors. However, mosquitoes are much worse than your average backyard pests.
Depending on where you live and the type of mosquitoes you have in your area they may transmit a range of very dangerous illnesses such as malaria, West Nile virus, Zika virus, yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis among others.
Mosquitoes And Coffee Grounds Don’t Mix
As it turns out, mosquitoes don’t like the smell of coffee. This smell is intensified when the coffee grounds are burned. Burning coffee grounds repel mosquitoes not only because of their strong scent but also because of the smoke they produce. And as anyone who has spent time camping or in the outdoors will tell you, smoke is something that just about all insects will avoid.
The combination of their scent and the smoke makes them an effective option not just against mosquitoes but wasps and a range of other insects as well. There are other animals that dislike the smell of coffee too, such as cats. And many people specifically use coffee grounds to deter cats from their gardens by sprinkling the grounds in and around them on a regular basis.
Extra Advantages Of Coffee
Many people prefer using coffee for mosquitoes because they also provide quite a few other benefits. Unlike sprays and various types of coils, coffee is natural so you won’t have to worry about inhaling any harmful chemicals. Also by using your coffee grounds instead of throwing them away you’re helping the environment since they would have ended up taking up space in a landfill.
While a day’s worth of grounds may not seem like a lot, this little bit can really add up over time. So if you save your grounds you can end up with a whole lot of free mosquito repellent. And if you decide not to use them or have too much, you can always compost them or use your coffee grounds in the garden as fertilizer. They make great worm food too!
How To Use Coffee Grounds To Repel Mosquitoes
To get started repelling mosquitoes all you need to do is:
- Save your used coffee grounds in a container whenever you make coffee.
- Wait for them to dry out.
- Grab a handful or two of the grounds and place them in a bowl, piece of aluminum foil, or tinfoil tray.
- Light them up just like you would incense.
For maximum effect, you may want to place them in a few different locations so that they are surrounding where you are relaxing. And placing them lower down, such as under a table or on the ground often works best since they will protect you from the ground up. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the direction the smoke is blowing and adjust its position accordingly.
Realistic Expectations
Do coffee grounds repel mosquitoes? Sure they do, but don’t expect burning your grounds to kill or eradicate these pests from your backyard. They will simply keep mosquitoes out of the general area temporarily. If you’d like to cut down on their numbers one of the easiest steps you can take is to simply make sure there is no standing water on your property where they can lay their eggs.
Another natural option and one that can make a huge dent in the population is to install a bat house in order to entice bats to move in. Each one of these helpful critters can consume more than a thousand insects on a nightly basis which can be a big help.
Using coffee grounds for mosquitoes can be a great way to cut down on waste while protecting your friends and family. And best of all, they’re both natural and free!
Start Shopping for Mosquito Repellents!
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