Tiny gaps around the front door and tears in the window screens—these are giant “welcome!” signs inviting bugs into your home. While it seems nearly impossible to keep bugs out all the time, here are some easy ways to help make them scarce.
Seal Up Cracks & Openings
Take a close look at your screens, windows, and doors. If you see any cracks or holes, caulk them or repair them. Add new weather stripping around your door to not only keep out cold drafts but also pesky bugs. Little cracks and openings are like wide-open doors for bugs.
Clean Up the Kitchen
Not only do you peruse the kitchen counter and pantry for a late-night snack, so do bugs, and different bugs like different foods, including flour, cereals, baking mixes, crackers, dried pasta, dried fruits, nuts, popcorn, and even spices. Ants go after the sweet stuff. Indian meal moths (a.k.a. “grain moths”) love rice, flour, cereal, and nuts. Flour beetles prefer a broad range of food including flour, cake mixes, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, and spices. Make sure your food is stored in tightly sealed containers and purchase small packages that can be used up in a shorter period of time. Keep your floors and counters clean and clear of food crumbs. To keep bugs out of your flour, you can store it in the freezer. And don’t forget about your pet’s food; bugs, like the Indian meal moth, will eat that as well.
Dry Up Damp Areas
Bugs are not only seeking food, they are also searching for water. And some home invading pests, such as silverfish, springtails and house centipedes, prefer to hang out in damp places. Fix any leaky faucets, drains, or pipes. Make sure your air conditioner, washing machine, and dryer are all working properly. In areas of your house that are always damp, like the basement, run a dehumidifier. And don’t forget to check the attic to make sure it’s dry.
Clean & Sweep Regularly
Good housekeeping helps keep bugs away, especially in the kitchen where food crumbs can accumulate. Empty trash cans regularly, and vacuum weekly. Don't forget to clean your kitchen-sink and bathtub drains; drain flies will live in there and fly out to look for food. Use a drain cleaner on a regular basis to keep these pests from becoming a problem. Avoid stacks of magazines, newspapers, and boxes—cockroaches love to hang out in them.
Keep the Outside Free of Debris
Firewood stacks, compost bins, and yard waste are good hiding places for bugs that might move indoors. Make sure these places are away from the house. Before you bring in firewood, check it for bugs hitching a free ride. Remove areas of standing water in your yard which can be breeding areas for mosquitoes. Keep landscape beds free of weeds and plant debris which can harbor insect pests, and keep plant branches pruned away from the foundation of your house.
I use Ortho HOme Defense it works great and will not harm pets or kids just follow directions you can get it for around $10 at Home Depot Walmart Etc better than having an exterminator. We spray outside the house, deck, garage and inside the house
Besides making your house smell wonderful, mint plants and peppermint oil naturally repel ants, spiders, mosquitoes and even mice. Mix 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil in 8 oz of water then shake and spray the mixture in areas around doorways, vents and windows.
If they are flying bugs, I use fly strips that hang from the ceiling. If they are cabinet moths, I use pheramone traps you can buy at the hardware or big box stores (same for clothes moths). If they are ants, I use non-toxic natural Ant spray from EcoSense, EcoLogic or Victors.- spray the thresholds with it, spray on a paper towel and wipe counters. With ants, Command has a type of trap that they eat the material and go back to the colony and it kills them all. If they are carpenter ants, I spray the outside of the house foundation with a toxic Carpenter Ant Termite spray, wearing a mask and gloves - it does keep out all ants also - I do this in the spring and fall. If they are flies on the windows, they make a sticky tape you put on the glass that catches them, and it pulls off easy when full.
I diffuse peppermint oil
It depends on the type of bug. Here's a link:
https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/the-10-most-disgusting-house-bugs-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/
Here is my guide to get rid of bugs in the house.
https://www.mydiydecor.com/what-attracts-bed-bugs-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/
Cedar oil will get rid of most bugs. Spray screens, entrances, and anywhere they are coming in and bedding.
This link is a general guide for specific bugs, the one I disagree with is their treatment for bed bugs, for them You'd need a professional:
https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/house-bugs/
Hello. I have found using the home perimeter foundation sprays and ant traps seasonally to be the answer in my rural situation.
Don't Let Bugs Feel at Home
Tiny gaps around the front door and tears in the window screens—these are giant “welcome!” signs inviting bugs into your home. While it seems nearly impossible to keep bugs out all the time, here are some easy ways to help make them scarce.
Seal Up Cracks & Openings
Take a close look at your screens, windows, and doors. If you see any cracks or holes, caulk them or repair them. Add new weather stripping around your door to not only keep out cold drafts but also pesky bugs. Little cracks and openings are like wide-open doors for bugs.
Clean Up the Kitchen
Not only do you peruse the kitchen counter and pantry for a late-night snack, so do bugs, and different bugs like different foods, including flour, cereals, baking mixes, crackers, dried pasta, dried fruits, nuts, popcorn, and even spices. Ants go after the sweet stuff. Indian meal moths (a.k.a. “grain moths”) love rice, flour, cereal, and nuts. Flour beetles prefer a broad range of food including flour, cake mixes, dried fruits, nuts, chocolate, and spices. Make sure your food is stored in tightly sealed containers and purchase small packages that can be used up in a shorter period of time. Keep your floors and counters clean and clear of food crumbs. To keep bugs out of your flour, you can store it in the freezer. And don’t forget about your pet’s food; bugs, like the Indian meal moth, will eat that as well.
Dry Up Damp Areas
Bugs are not only seeking food, they are also searching for water. And some home invading pests, such as silverfish, springtails and house centipedes, prefer to hang out in damp places. Fix any leaky faucets, drains, or pipes. Make sure your air conditioner, washing machine, and dryer are all working properly. In areas of your house that are always damp, like the basement, run a dehumidifier. And don’t forget to check the attic to make sure it’s dry.
Clean & Sweep Regularly
Good housekeeping helps keep bugs away, especially in the kitchen where food crumbs can accumulate. Empty trash cans regularly, and vacuum weekly. Don't forget to clean your kitchen-sink and bathtub drains; drain flies will live in there and fly out to look for food. Use a drain cleaner on a regular basis to keep these pests from becoming a problem. Avoid stacks of magazines, newspapers, and boxes—cockroaches love to hang out in them.
Keep the Outside Free of Debris
Firewood stacks, compost bins, and yard waste are good hiding places for bugs that might move indoors. Make sure these places are away from the house. Before you bring in firewood, check it for bugs hitching a free ride. Remove areas of standing water in your yard which can be breeding areas for mosquitoes. Keep landscape beds free of weeds and plant debris which can harbor insect pests, and keep plant branches pruned away from the foundation of your house.
I use Ortho HOme Defense it works great and will not harm pets or kids just follow directions you can get it for around $10 at Home Depot Walmart Etc better than having an exterminator. We spray outside the house, deck, garage and inside the house
Besides making your house smell wonderful, mint plants and peppermint oil naturally repel ants, spiders, mosquitoes and even mice. Mix 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil in 8 oz of water then shake and spray the mixture in areas around doorways, vents and windows.
Hi! Sticky traps for flying insects. Diatomaceous earth for anything that crawls. Both work!
If they are flying bugs, I use fly strips that hang from the ceiling. If they are cabinet moths, I use pheramone traps you can buy at the hardware or big box stores (same for clothes moths). If they are ants, I use non-toxic natural Ant spray from EcoSense, EcoLogic or Victors.- spray the thresholds with it, spray on a paper towel and wipe counters. With ants, Command has a type of trap that they eat the material and go back to the colony and it kills them all. If they are carpenter ants, I spray the outside of the house foundation with a toxic Carpenter Ant Termite spray, wearing a mask and gloves - it does keep out all ants also - I do this in the spring and fall. If they are flies on the windows, they make a sticky tape you put on the glass that catches them, and it pulls off easy when full.
I would hire a professional exterminator. It depends on the bugs too!
Here are some natural ways to get rid of flies and other flying insects in the house, if that helps you?
https://countrylivinginacariboovalley.com/natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-house-flies/
It all depends on what kind of bugs you’re looking to evict. Be careful with Borax as it’s toxic to pets.