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With summer comes the return of the mosquitoes. Mosquito bites can be quite painful and the best way to avoid them is to have preventive measures to keep them away. Insecticides and chemically-laced mosquito repellants can be harmful to the environment and health of people, so here are natural ways to keep mosquitoes away:

1. DIY Candles Made with Citronella Oil

Citronella oil is a natural mosquito repellant. For those who don't like the idea of having a dish of citronella oil around, making them into candles is a great idea. Furthermore, candles burn slower so having these lit in the patio or backyard can keep the mosquitoes away longer.

To make these candles, you will need candle-making materials and citronella oil specifically used for candle making, according to Garden Therapy.

2. Smell Great and Keep Mosquitoes Away with Lavender Body Oil

Store-bought insect repellant can smell unpleasant. Plus, it contains a lot of ingredients that may be harmful to the environment. Rubbing on lavender body oil on any exposed skin can effectively keep the mosquitoes off from biting you. Natural Living Ideas wrote that lavender body oil can be diluted with two tablespoons of vegetable oil as well.

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— Summit Medical Group (@SummitMedicalNJ) June 6, 2016

3. Cultivate Mosquito-Repellant Plants

There are plants that actually keep mosquitoes away. On top of citronella, mosquitoes don't like to be around catnip and lemon grass, Urban Asian said. You can cultivate these plants in your backyard or keep pots inside the house as well.

4. Remove Stagnant Water to Kill Mosquito Larvae

Prevention is better than cure and the best way to keep mosquitoes away is to remove their nest. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquito larva and you may have some lying around the house. According to CBS, house gutters frequently become clogged and there is a big chance that stagnant water has collected and mosquitoes are breeding in it. The best way to prevent this is by declogging the gutter and or emptying any places that may contain stagnant water.

5. Eat Garlic

What you eat can sometimes affect how mosquitoes will react around you. Reality Times shared that eating garlic will keep the mosquito bites away. Garlic oil repels mosquitoes and eating a lot of it will protect your skin from their sting.