Saturday, April 27, 2024

How to Get Rid of Bugs in Your House: 10 Common Pests

how to keep bugs out of house

You can, however, get rid of them with traps, insecticides, or a natural substance like boric acid or diatomaceous earth. To make sure silverfish stay out, make a few small changes to make your home less hospitable to them. Store off-season clothing and supplies in plastic storage bins, and take your dry goods out of their boxes and store them in containers with tight-fitting lids. They don’t destroy your home or contaminate your pantry, but instead feast on the bad bugs like termites, moths, and roaches. But if you just can’t stomach coexisting with these many-legged neighbors, trap them or spray an insecticide around baseboards, doors, and windows.

What causes a ladybug infestation?

If they must stay in all year, seal up any gaps around the unit and cover it before the weather turns colder. Make sure there are no openings to the outside (check for daylight showing through). Pet and wild bird food can cause rodent infestations at the points of food storage, and feeding.

Bird Seed and Pet Food

Remember, all of these door sealing techniques won't help if the door is left open. This hydraulic device will automatically close and latch your door after it's been opened and can be adjusted to control closing speed and power. You can find affordable door closers at your local home improvement store, and the average homeowner can install this device using only simple tools. Regardless of the critter, no one wants a surprise like that when they go to slip on their shoes, especially if they're not paying attention to what might have taken up residence in them. Reduce pest problems like this by keeping your shoes stored off the ground, and making sure you stay vigilant when you go to put them on. In addition to this, even when they're stored off the ground, always shake them out first before putting on a pair.

WVU Today EXPERT PITCH: WVU Extension expert offers tips and tricks to keep stink bugs out of your house this fall - WVU Today

WVU Today EXPERT PITCH: WVU Extension expert offers tips and tricks to keep stink bugs out of your house this fall.

Posted: Wed, 06 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

How to Get Rid of Water Bugs Once and for All

Animals are attracted to the warmth and protection that our houses provide. Possible entry points include holes or missing boards on the fascia or soffit, gaps between the fascia and eaves, gable or ridge vents without screens, and missing shingles. The best way to keep animals outside is to inspect these areas annually, and keep your roof in good repair.

Fit screens

Since there are different kinds of diatomaceous earth for different purposes, it's important to use the food-grade type for pests in and around the house for ultimate safety. It's also important to use it in the correct way to prevent it from becoming an irritant to everyone else (including pets). The advice is to apply it with a duster can that has a nozzle, rather than sprinkling it all over the house willy-nilly. Stay away from high-traffic areas and instead look for the paths insects travel.

Fruit Flies

Unfortunately, this can also be a big attraction for all kinds of pests. Besides the typical ants, roaches, and flies, other insects, like beetles, weevils, and even moths, are commonly found around pet food. The point is to not leave food out and to remember to clean up any mess. It makes sense to keep water accessible to your pet, but just keep a close eye on it and change it regularly. While pill bugs are generally harmless to humans and pets, they are a nuisance indoors.

Expert Help for Pests In The Home

In addition to the annoyance of having them buzz around your home, flies can be dangerous because they carry and spread diseases. They have been responsible for the spreading of salmonella, E.coli and food poisoning. “Here we were, about to have this nice, Norman Rockwell dinner, and it sounded like a soccer game or a convention going on,” she recalls. A few days later, a pest-control expert trapped them and carried out half a dozen dead bodies. And they do it so stealthily you may not know you have a problem until it’s too late. Spiders especially tend to stay away from strong scents so using peppermint oil or a lavender-scented item in the corner of your room could keep those eight-legged creatures away.

Frequent appearances of these pests in your home may indicate a leak, high humidity, or poor drainage. Also, indoor pill bug infestations can attract other bugs, like centipedes, and damage indoor plants. Here is what you need to know about pill bugs and how to get rid of them. For even more targeted bug banishing, sprays that allow you to hit bugs directly are a great option throughout the home. This is particularly true of the kitchen, where they might show up regardless of your best efforts to keep food items up off the countertops and floors swept clean. The product's active ingredients are powered by plant-based essential oils that target nervous system receptors vital to bugs, not people or pets.

How to keep snakes, mice & roaches out of your home in winter - Raleigh News & Observer

How to keep snakes, mice & roaches out of your home in winter.

Posted: Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Seal your food to deter bugs

how to keep bugs out of house

To help keep these pesky bugs away, turn off outdoor lights when possible at night. Use Ortho® Home Defense Max® Indoor Insect Barrier with Extended Reach Comfort Wand® to create a bug barrier inside your home around windows, doors, and along baseboards. Indoors, on non-porous surfaces it will kill and prevent ants, roaches and spiders for up to 12 months.

Repair fascia, soffits, and rotted roof shingles; and replace weather-stripping and loose mortar around basement foundation and windows. Maintain an 18-inch gap between soil and any wood portions of your home and avoid using mulch up against the exterior of structures. Additionally, store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house. "Closing insect entry points will help keep spiders out," says Matta. "Still, stagnant water attracts mosquitoes that can transmit harmful viruses," says Dr. Campbell.

The trash should be placed in a can with a lid, and should be emptied each night. Exterior cans should have self-closing lids along with tight seals to keep insects out. Clean and sanitize all interior and exterior trash receptacles and recycling bins regularly, especially if they're exposed to spills.

These substances build up on our bedding, leading to the development of bacteria, which in turn attracts bugs and pests. The Sleep Foundation recommends washing sheets once per week to avoid a buildup of germs and bacteria. If you notice ants around your houseplants, an infestation of aphids may be the problem.

Ants use pheromone trails to travel the same paths and find the goodies they're after, which is why it can be tough for you to eradicate them once they've started to come inside. Baby powder is an effective tool for eliminating the scent they follow, and by mixing it with chalk, it boosts the effect and provides a necessary barrier as well. Four officers were killed Monday while trying to serve a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina.

They find their way indoors, seeking moisture and shelter through common entry points like door and foundation gaps, openings, cracks, and crevices. They might also access your home through ventilation systems, windows, and crawl spaces. These bugs typically dry out and die indoors unless they shelter in high-humidity areas. Ladybugs are drawn inside searching for food, warmth, and shelter – especially towards the beginning of winter when they struggle to survive outside.

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