<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"  There&amp;#039;s nothing that ruins a backyard bash quite like a swarm of mosquitoes (and the group of itchy, bitten party-goers they leave behind). Try these inventive, homespun remedies to remind bugs that they&amp;#039;re not on the guest list. 1. Decorate with basil centerpieces. This double-duty tip comes from party planners Seri Kertzner and Michelle Bachman at Little Miss Party: &amp;quot;Set out jars of basil on your table. It smells great, looks beautiful and repels mosquitoes.&amp;quot; 2. Burn coffee grounds. Our own associate food editor Erin Phraner swears by a trick her family taught her. They light a little plate of used coffee grounds so they smolder. The smoke keeps bugs away naturally. 3. Open tuna cans. &amp;quot;Place open cans of tuna around the perimeter of your party,&amp;quot; says Britanny Egbert at One Charming Party. &amp;quot;The meat attracts yellow jackets so they leave your buffet table alone.&amp;quot; (We&amp;#039;ve heard sliced cucumbers could do the trick, too.) 4. Turn on a fan. &amp;quot;Set up fans on your deck to blow away bugs, &amp;quot; says associate food editor Cathy Lo. &amp;quot;Mosquitoes are pretty weak flyers, so they won&amp;#039;t be able to land long enough to bite anyone, and the fans will keep guests extra cool on sweltering days.&amp;quot; 5. Soak cotton balls in a borax solution. If you spy a sneaky family of ants infiltrating your patio party, try this D.I.Y. trap we spotted on Hometalk: Soak a cotton ball in a solution of water, borax, and sugar. The mixture will attract (and kill) the little buggers. Just be careful to keep your dog away. [From GoodHousekeeping.com] Related:Biggest Mistakes You Make Planning an Outdoor Party8 Secrets Every Outdoor Party Host Should KnowFun Ideas for Your Next Party "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/home/advice/a18393/keep-bugs-away-party-good-housekeeping/>