Sprinkler Magician
April 29, 2022
Mosquitoes are bothersome and leave itchy bumps. There has to be a way to limit how many mosquitoes are around your home, right? We’re here to help!
You can do this by not letting them develop into adults in the first place.
Many products and home remedies on the internet are aimed to kill mosquitoes in every stage of their life cycle, but can bleach kill mosquito larvae?
Will Bleach Kill Mosquito Larvae?
Bleach does kill mosquito larvae. However, it’s not suitable for use in all situations. It especially shouldn’t be used where animals have a chance of drinking it. It can also stain hard surfaces such as patios and driveways and permanently kill grass and other plants.
How Does Bleach Kill Mosquito Larvae?
Bleach is a strong base with a pH of 11-13. Because of this, it will kill almost anything. While it will also kill adult mosquitoes, larvae are especially vulnerable since they have yet to develop a hard exoskeleton.
How to Use Bleach to Kill Mosquito Larvae
Using bleach to kill mosquito larvae poses several risks because of its intensity. Even when diluted, it can still cause harm to living things and bleach surfaces.
Before using bleach, you should try other ways to kill mosquito larvae. However, if you are exploring this method to kill mosquito larvae, the safest place to use it is in clogged gutters (which is a place mosquitoes are notorious for hiding out and laying eggs if they aren’t drained completely).
Here’s the safest way to do it.
- Dilute two tablespoons of bleach in one gallon of water
- Put a collection bucket under the downspout
- Pour diluted bleach into the clogged gutter
- Wait two to three hours
- Remove debris from the gutters (with the collection bucket still in place)
- Thoroughly spray gutters with water
- Remove bucket and dispose of contents in a drain or toilet
Never use bleach to kill mosquitoes in your yard or anywhere animals or young children can access it.
What Else Will Kill Mosquito Larvae?
There are many safer methods to kill mosquito larvae than bleach. Bleach works, but poses risks to the environment and animals alike. Here at Mosquito Magician, we’re fans of natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes. Plus, we want to make sure you’re using items that are safe for you, your environment, and your pets!
It’s best to use something milder and natural. You can put the following things into water to kill mosquito larvae:
- Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) – Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces spores toxic to mosquito larvae. You can get a product called Mosquito Bits® that contains Bti to sprinkle in standing water.
- Dish Soap – Dish soap prevents mosquito larvae from surfacing and is highly toxic.
- Oils – The most cost-effective oil to use is vegetable oil. Similar to dish soap, it will prevent the larvae from breaching through to get air.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is not the best option for large volumes of water because the ratio has to be about 15% vinegar to 85% water to effectively kill mosquito larvae. However, it is an effective and environmentally friendly option for small puddles or birdbaths.
If you don’t want to have to deal with killing mosquito larvae in the first place, don’t give them a place to develop.
Eliminate Standing Water
Most mosquito species lay their eggs in standing water. If you eliminate standing water, the females will look elsewhere to lay their eggs.
You can do this in one of two ways:
- Get rid of the water entirely – There are an almost endless amount of places you might find standing water. However, some of the steps you can take include:
- Scouting your property for puddles about a day after rain and filling in low spots
- Turning over empty buckets and flower pots
- Unclogging gutters
- Removing any items that collect water
- Introduce movement in ponds – This tip is mainly for small ponds because females prefer laying their eggs there rather than in larger bodies of water.
- Add a fountain to your pond
Keep Mosquitoes Away With Mosquito Magician
We want to help you keep mosquitoes away safely. You don’t need to use bleach — we created an effective and natural ingredient mosquito repellant called Mosquito Magician.
It’s safe to use around your kids and pets when used as directed. You will finally be able to enjoy cookouts, pool days, and hanging out in your yard with your family!