DR. MICHAEL SMITH:
Between their itchy bites
and their ability to carry
diseases, mosquitoes are
houseguests nobody wants.
To really yank the welcome mat
out from under them,
get rid of any standing water
around your home.
You'll be taking away
the soggy spots where they like
to lay their eggs.
First, look around for things
that can collect water --
anything from rain gutters
to furniture covers to flowerpot
saucers and old tires.
Check once a week to see
if water's pooling in them.
Depending on the item,
you could empty and scrub it,
cover it, or remove debris
that's causing a clog.
You could even dust off
your power tools and drill holes
in the bottom of containers
like garbage cans
and recycle bins to let the rain
water drain.
If your home has features where
water's a must, no sweat.
Have a swimming pool?
Just keep the water treated
and circulating.
Birdbath or fountain?
Change the water at least once
a week.
And if you're dealing
with standing water you can't
cover or dump out, you could use
treatment tabs that kill
mosquito larvae.
Now, don't put them in water you
might swallow, and follow
the directions closely.
Take these steps, and hopefully
the bugs will be more
likely to buzz off.
For WebMD, I'm Dr. Michael
Smith.
