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Summer is the season of revival of all things, and it is also the time when mosquitoes are rampant.
In the countryside, Grandma Liu was often plagued by mosquitoes, but she was not helpless because of this.
Instead, she summed up two simple and practical ways to make the family no longer use mosquito coils all summer.
1. Wormwood: an ancient and effective mosquito repellent
Grandma Liu, who lives in the countryside, knows the problem of mosquitoes.
So, she began to try various ways to solve this problem.
One of the most effective ways to do this is to use wormwood.
Wormwood is not only a Chinese medicinal material, but also a plant with great mosquito repellent effect.
The method of making wormwood mosquito repellent is simple.
For example, when the morning sun shines on the field, you take a basket and walk step by step through the lush wormwood bushes, gently plucking the tender green leaves with your hands.
Or you can depict the aroma of wormwood, and when you approach them, the faint fragrance hits your face, as if you are in the lap of nature.
Next, the process of drying the wormwood allows the reader to feel how you have neatly laid out the fresh wormwood to dry in the sun.
Or you can talk about the changes in wormwood after drying, such as a darker color, a drier texture, and a more intense aroma.
Next is to hang the dried wormwood near the doorway or window, this step allows you to describe how to hang the wormwood with a rope or hook and the benefits of hanging it near the doorway or window.
You can talk about how the special smell of wormwood fills the room when the breeze blows, giving it a feeling of freshness, while effectively repelling mosquitoes from approaching the house.
Or you can combine your personal experience to describe the effect of using wormwood to repel mosquitoes in your home, for example, on a summer night, there is wormwood hanging in front of your house, and almost no mosquitoes dare to approach, so that you and your family can sleep peacefully.
Grandma Liu told us that although this method is deceptively simple, it is very effective.
Moreover, wormwood also has a fresh fragrance and is not pungent like traditional mosquito coils.
So, try this ancient and effective method of soil at home, and you might as well be able to get rid of mosquitoes.
2. Soapy water: a simple and easy-to-get home mosquito repellent tool
In addition to wormwood, Grandma Liu also introduced us to another soil method - soapy water.
Soapy water is an easy-to-use home mosquito repellent and is very easy to make.
First, we need a plain bar of soap.
You can choose your favorite soap, which may be a soft soap or a classic home soap.
Whichever you choose, make sure it's pure and doesn't have too many added flavors or chemicals.
Because what we want is a gentle yet effective cleanser, not a product full of all sorts of unnecessary ingredients.
Next, we cut the soap into small pieces.
You can use a knife or cutting tool to cut the soap into small squares or slices to make it easier to dissolve in water.
The process itself has a healing feel to it, as if a new magic recipe is being created.
Then, we need some warm water.
There is no need for boiling water, just lukewarm water.
Hot water can help the soap dissolve faster, but water that is too hot may ruin the texture of the soap or make it sticky.
Therefore, warm water is the most ideal choice.
Now, let's put the soap cubes in warm water.
Stir well until the soap is completely dissolved.
The process may take some patience, but trust me, the end result will definitely be worth it.
You'll see the water become slightly lathery and give off a faint soapy scent, like a gentle hug.
Once the soap is completely dissolved, we can fill the soapy water we have made into a spray bottle.
This way, you can use it anytime and anywhere.
Whether it's cleaning kitchen countertops, wiping down furniture, or even cleaning glass, this homemade cleaner can do the job.
Moreover, its ingredients are simple and pure, and it will not cause any harm to the family or the environment, which is where the real magic lies.
Grandma Liu told us that the mosquito repellent effect of soapy water is very significant.
Just spray soapy water on potential mosquito gathering places indoors and outdoors, such as wall corners, window sills, etc., to effectively repel mosquitoes.
Moreover, soapy water is not harmful to the human body or the environment, and it is a very safe way to repel mosquitoes.
3. Why are there so many mosquitoes in summer?
Summer is like the "carnival season" for mosquitoes! Have you heard of it? When the temperature rises, the water temperature also "warms", which gives the mosquitoes a "perfect breeding ground" to give birth.
As the temperature rises, so does the growth and reproduction cycle of mosquitoes, as if they are all preparing for a "carnival of life".
Moreover, the summer rain is also the "timely rain" of mosquitoes, giving them a perfect environment for "dry daddy wet mom".
Imagine that after a rainstorm, there are puddles, ponds, and rivers everywhere, which is simply a "water park" for mosquitoes.
In these waters, mosquito larvae can grow and reproduce to their heart's content, and the more water there is, the more joyful and abundant the mosquitoes become.
Climate is also one of the important factors in mosquito breeding.
The high temperature and humidity of summer are ideal for mosquitoes to survive and breed.
High humidity can make the living environment of mosquitoes more humid, which is conducive to the hatching and growth of larvae.
High temperatures can accelerate the metabolic activity of mosquitoes and increase their ability to hunt and reproduce.
Thus, the climatic conditions in summer provide favorable conditions for the proliferation of mosquitoes.
In addition to environmental and climatic factors, human activities are also one of the important reasons for the abundance of mosquitoes in summer.
Summer is the season when people are outdoors more, and human activities not only provide more blood sources for mosquitoes, but also increase the chance of mosquitoes coming into contact with humans.
And in outdoor activities, people usually wear revealing clothing, exposing their skin and becoming a target for mosquitoes.
In addition, outdoor gathering activities in summer, such as picnics, camping, outings, etc., can also attract a large number of mosquitoes, increasing the likelihood of people being bitten.
The summer outdoors is like a "food festival of humans and mosquitoes"! Have you ever noticed that there are always some unlucky ghosts in the crowd who have become the "top food" of mosquitoes? This is not accidental, but because everyone's body odor is different, like a unique "human hot pot", mosquitoes can always accurately pick out the most delicious piece of it.
All of this is related to the individual's physiological structure, eating habits and many other factors.
Some people may have a special body odor, like a kind of mosquito "scent bait", and they will be attracted to it, as if they have found a rare piece of food.
Perhaps because the chemicals excreted by these unlucky ghosts are particularly eye-catching, mosquitoes are like professional foodies, able to taste exactly what is delicious.
Body temperature is also one of the important factors influencing the target selection of mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes usually target people with higher body temperatures because people with higher body temperature have more active blood circulation and more abundant blood in their bodies, which in the case of mosquitoes means a richer blood supply.
As a result, people with higher body temperatures are more likely to be targeted by mosquitoes, while people with lower body temperatures are comparatively less favored by mosquitoes.
Exhaled carbon dioxide is also one of the important factors in the selection of targets for mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes determine the location of their host by sensing exhaled carbon dioxide, so people with higher concentrations of exhaled carbon dioxide are more likely to be targeted by mosquitoes.
Some people have higher levels of metabolism and higher concentrations of exhaled carbon dioxide, making them more likely to be spotted and bitten by mosquitoes.
For those who have a "mosquito sucking" constitution, how to effectively prevent mosquito bites has become an important issue.
In addition to using mosquito repellent products, wearing long-sleeved clothing is also an effective preventive measure.
Long-sleeved clothing can effectively cover the skin and reduce the chance of mosquito bites.
Light-colored clothing may be your best choice in the summer months as mosquitoes are less attractive to them.
Why? Let's uncover this little "talisman" together.
This is because light-colored clothing often reflects sunlight and keeps your body cool.
During the hot summer months, we all want to minimize our body's heat absorption, and wearing light-colored clothing can help achieve this.
In contrast, dark-colored clothing will absorb more heat and make you feel more stuffy, which is exactly the environment mosquitoes love.
Light-coloured clothing tends not to stand out as much as dark-coloured clothing.
Mosquitoes often rely on visual cues when choosing a target, and they are more easily attracted to dark clothing.
Therefore, wearing light-colored clothing can reduce the attention of mosquitoes to a certain extent, making it easier for you to escape their clutches.
In addition to wearing light-coloured clothing, regular cleaning of stagnant water in your home is also a very important precaution.
Have you ever noticed that there may be puddles of water that make mosquitoes "happy" in some corners of your home? Flower pots, buckets, awnings, etc., are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Imagine mosquitoes thriving in these stagnant waters at nightfall, scrambling to find their next bite target.
At this time, it is especially important to regularly check and clean up this stagnant water.
Why? Because this stagnant water not only provides a place for mosquitoes to breed, but also allows the mosquitoes to continue their life cycle.
Mosquito larvae need water to hatch and grow, so even a small pool of stagnant water can give birth to hundreds of mosquitoes.
Cleaning up this stagnant water regularly can effectively interrupt the mosquito's life cycle and reduce their number, which in turn reduces the chance of being bitten.
In addition to regularly cleaning up stagnant water in our homes, there are also some household measures we can take to prevent mosquitoes.
For example, close doors and windows in time to prevent mosquitoes from entering the room.
At night, especially at dusk, mosquitoes are most active, so try to keep doors and windows closed at this time to avoid giving them a chance to "open their doors".
The use of mosquito nets while sleeping is also an effective preventative measure.
Mosquito nets can effectively isolate mosquito infestation and provide you with a peaceful sleeping environment.
If you're worried about how well you sleep, you can also choose to install mosquito windows or use mosquito repellent appliances to protect yourself and your family from mosquito infestation.
epilogue
Grandma Liu, who lives in the countryside, tells us from her own practical experience that it is not difficult to solve the problem of mosquitoes.
With simple soil methods such as wormwood and soapy water, we can effectively repel mosquitoes and keep homes free of mosquitoes.
At the same time, we should also pay attention to the causes of mosquito breeding and take corresponding precautions to protect the health of ourselves and our families.
May we stay away from mosquitoes and enjoy a refreshing and pleasant life this summer.
Reference source: The application of wormwood in the Song Dynasty: Reflections on social life Liu Chang, Journal of Tangshan Normal University. 2021,43(05)