Clean your surroundings
Stagnant water makes perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and even a small container of standing water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes. Yet many of us are guilty of allowing these habitats to develop around our homes. The primary remedy is to get rid of any source of standing water from and around your home. Discard any junk around that collects water and fill in holes in the ground that do not drain or dry quickly. If you have a box window garden, keep it healthy and well maintained.

Mosquito net
Mosquito proof your house with a screen on all exit doors and windows and repair any damage to it promptly. With construction work on the rise in the city, many assert mosquito nets are a very practical solution to protect yourself from the mosquito menace.

Make your own herbal repellent

Dr Urjita Jain, a well known gynaecologist cum herbalist from Mumbai, prescribes a mixture of neem, peppermint and coconut oil as a safe repellent. “Prepare a mixture of ½ teaspoon neem oil, five drops peppermint oil and two spoons coconut oil. Apply the mixture on the exposed parts of your body,” she advises.

While enthusiasts of aroma therapy suggests, “You can use a combination of any of the following essential oils: basil, geranium, lemon, eucalyptus, lavender, sage, fennel, pine, thyme, myrrh, cedarwood or citronella (2 ½ teaspoon) to a cup of carrier oil which could be either almond or coconut oil to make an effective moisturizing mosquito repellent. Simply shake the essential oils and the carrier oil to blend well and apply on the exposed parts of your body.

A word of caution: Do a patch test on a small area of your skin to rule out allergic reaction to any of the essential oils.

Apple cider vinegar is an ancient grandma’s remedy to repel mosquitoes. If you are comfortable with its smell, you need to simply rub the vinegar on your body.

Fumigate
Dr Urjita Jain also encourages the ancient traditional Indian custom of fumigating the house by burning a mixture of herbal powders on a hot tawa (iron plate). One spoon each of neem, tulsi, dhoop, vavding and chandan powders are recommended for the purpose.

• In several villages across the country, folks swear by the effectiveness of fumigating the house and the surrounding area with a burning piece of cow dung to keep mosquitoes away. 
• Smoke from burning used tea leaves is also known to repel mosquitoes. 
• Light a piece of charcoal in a metal shallow container. Sprinkle used tea leaves (that have been dried after use) on the hot charcoal. The emanating smoke will drive away the mosquitoes.

Green protection

There are plants that make excellent home remedies for mosquitoes, simply because they emit odors that are unpleasant to mosquitoes. Plant marigolds, catnips, rosemary, tansy or basil around patios, porches, windows, doors, or other areas that you want to keep mosquitoes away from.

Candles to the rescue

It is commonly held that citronella candles help keep mosquitoes away. Likewise, aromatic candles and inscence sticks such as lavender, eucalyptus, myrhh, sage, neem, loban are claimed to keep the pests at bay. In the recent past, two students from Mumbai, were on national network advocating papaya candles as a simple eco friendly way to keep mosquitoes away. Those who have tried it say it works well. To make papaya candles, you need to shade dry the leaves of papaya. Melt wax, add powdered dry leaves to it, pour it into a mould, affix a wick and let it set.

Light colors

Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors. Wearing light colored clothes helps to keep mosquitoes away from you.