Imagine it’s a pleasant summer day, and you’re enjoying yourself with family and friends. Suddenly, you start feeling a sharp, itchy sting. When you look down, you see a mosquito bite. By the time you head back inside, you realize you’ve been bitten multiple times and it feels like you’re itching everywhere.

Mosquitoes can be tough to spot unless you’re specifically looking for them, but their bites are unmistakable. When a mosquito bites, it pierces your skin and injects saliva as it feeds on your blood. You might not even notice the bite right away, but later you’ll spot a sizable welt on your skin.

Typical symptoms of mosquito bites include itching, irritation, and redness. The itching can be intense, making it hard to resist scratching. If you’re in need of quick relief, here are five home remedies you can try right now.

1. **Ammonia**
Ammonia is an alkaline substance that helps neutralize acids produced by insect stings. Applying ammonia to a mosquito bite can reduce swelling, redness, pain, and itching. Simply soak a cotton ball in ammonia and apply it directly to the bite. If you’ve been outside and are covered in mosquito bites, head to the kitchen and grab some ammonia for quick relief.

2. **Baking Soda**
Baking soda is another alkaline compound that can neutralize the acids from mosquito bites. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with a little water to create a paste. Apply this paste to your bites and cover with a bandaid. The alkalinity helps remove toxins, while the salt and sodium will dry out the bite, promoting faster healing.

3. **Toothpaste**
Toothpaste contains menthol, derived from mint oils like peppermint, which has anesthetic properties that can soothe the itching and irritation from mosquito bites. Apply a generous amount of non-gel toothpaste to the affected areas. Let it dry for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

4. **Essential Oils**
Essential oils like tea tree oil and lavender oil have antiseptic properties that can relieve mosquito bite symptoms. Soak a cotton ball in tea tree oil and apply it directly to the bite for quick relief from irritation, swelling, and itching.

5. **Banana Peel**
Banana peels can help alleviate itching caused by mosquito bites. Rub the inside of the peel on the affected area and secure it with a bandaid for 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you leave it on, the better it works.

These simple home remedies can provide quick and effective relief from those annoying mosquito bites.