How to Get Rid of Mosquito Larvae Using Vegetable Oil

Most people know they should empty outdoor containers with standing water on a regular basis. Doing so greatly helps to reduce the number of mosquito larvae that can hatch. Sometimes it’s impossible to eliminate every bit of standing water, and so a little may remain in the bottom of a container. That is enough water to allow mosquito eggs to hatch into healthy, wiggly larvae. Sink the egg rafts and drown the larvae with non-toxic vegetable oil from your kitchen.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic spray bottle

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Fill a plastic spray bottle with vegetable oil.

   • 2

     Spritz a puff of the vegetable oil onto the surface of standing water. Afterward, you’ll see an oil slick on the water.

   • 3

     Squirt another puff of vegetable oil onto the water if the first amount you sprayed wasn't enough to cover the water's surface completely with a light oil slick. The mosquito larvae will quickly drown and egg rafts will sink before they can hatch. The oil will evaporate within one or two sunny days.

   • 4

     Repeat the vegetable oil treatment once weekly.