Sometimes bugs decide your home is the perfect place to hang out. If they can find food, water, and a good hiding spot, pests are likely to stick around for a while. Making your space as unwelcoming as possible can help keep pesky pests away. We’ve made a list of tips to keep bugs out of your home.
Seal Entry Points
It’s important to make sure bugs can’t find a way into your home.
- Seal Cracks & Gaps: Examine the interior and exterior of your house for cracks or gaps. Seal any you find with caulk or steel wool.
- Check Your Screens: If you don’t have screens on your doors and windows, you should consider adding them. Repair or replace damaged screens to ensure pests can’t slip inside.
- Add Door Sweeps & Weather Stripping: Door sweeps and weather stripping can also help keep pests out. You’ll want to make sure existing sweeps and weather stripping are in good condition.
Eliminate Moisture
Bugs gravitate to areas with moisture build-up, which is why you want to reduce water in your home and yard.
- Repair Leaks: Check pipes, faucets, and hoses for leaks. Repair or replace any leaky fixtures to avoid attracting pests.
- Check Your Gutters & Drains: If your gutters and drains aren’t working properly, moisture can build. Keep your gutters clean and make sure your drains aren’t clogged.
- Eliminate Standing Water: Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water. Remove items in your yard where water can collect including old flowerpots, watering cans, and toys.
- Use a Dehumidifier or Fan: Use a dehumidifier or fan in your home to help reduce moisture build-up in damp areas of your house.
Keep Your Home Clean
A clean home can help to deter pest activity.
- Vacuum, Sweep, & Mop: Vacuuming and sweeping can help to remove crumbs that can attract bugs. It can also help to get rid of bugs or eggs hiding in your home. Mopping can remove sticky residues that ants
- Remove Trash: Your trash can provide hungry bugs with a meal. Remove trash from your home regularly and make sure your bins have tight-fitting lids. You’ll also want to check the lids on your recycling bins.
- Wash Dirty Dishes: Leaving dirty dishes in the sink is a quick way to invite bugs into your home. Wash dishes after using them to help prevent pests.
- Remove Clutter: Having clutter in your home increases the number of hiding spots for bugs. Remove cardboard boxes, paper, and other items that you don’t need or use.
Use Proper Food Storage
Bugs are attracted to homes that provide them with food. Properly storing food will help keep these pests away.
- Use Containers: Store pantry items, like rice, pasta, and flour, in containers with secure lids. This will help to keep pantry pests out of your food.
- Store Produce in Fridge: Place your fruit and vegetables in the fridge. This will help to prevent pests, like fruit flies, from invading your home.
- Store Pet Food: You’ll also want to keep your pet’s food stored in containers. It’s best to pick up food when they aren’t eating it.
Keep Your Yard Clean
Before bugs enter your house, they spend time in your yard. Pest-proofing outside will help to deter pests from entering your home.
- Remove Yard Debris: Leaves, weeds, and grass clippings can provide shelter to bugs. Removing these from your yard will help keep pests out.
- Trim Shrubs & Trees: If you have plants or tree limbs touching the side of your house, you’ll want to trim them. This will stop pests from using them as a bridge into your home.
- Store Firewood Away from House: Many bugs hide on firewood. Store wood several feet from your house and keep it off the ground.
Plant Bug-Repelling Plants
Adding plants to your yard will not only spruce up the space, but can help to deter pests. Some plants have fragrances that naturally repel bugs. Mint, lavender, thyme, rosemary, petunias, and chrysanthemums are known to repel pests. Try adding a few of these plants to your yard. You can also keep containers in your home for extra protection.
Create a Protective Barrier
Using plant-based insecticide sprays can help to keep your space bug-free. Our Yard Bug Spray kills pests on contact and provides you with residual repellency. These repellent properties help to create a protective barrier that keeps bugs out. You can spray the perimeter of your yard and house to deter pests. You can also use our Home Bug Spray to protect the inside of your home. Spraying common entry points will help to prevent bugs from coming inside. Our plant-based insecticide sprays are a more environmentally and family-friendly solution.
Preventing bugs from entering your house is always better than dealing with an active infestation. That’s why it’s important to pest-proof your home and yard. If you’re dealing with an invading bug army, we’re here to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.