Let’s be honest: no one likes bugs in their home. They can be annoying, and some can be stuck in your house for a long time.
Then again, you will be surprised to know that some bugs are helpful. Nevertheless, most of them can still be dangerous to live with. Either way, it is essential to know how to get rid of bugs in the house, which is what we will discuss at length in this article.
There are countless types of bugs out there, and all they are looking for is a lovely home to live in, just as you do. They need water, shelter, and food, which they can easily find in your home.
Some common bugs include cockroaches, earwigs, ants, flies, firebrats, silverfish, house centipedes, spiders, and more. If you own a pet, you must also deal with ticks and fleas.
These pests show up at your house at different times of the year; some are more problematic than others. Some can even be downright dangerous.
For this reason, you must follow the tips we have listed below to keep the bugs in your house at a minimum.
Never Let the Bugs Feel at Home
All those tears in the window screens and the tiny gaps at the front door are a big welcome sign for these bugs to enter your home. Of course, keeping the bugs out of your house always is not possible, but paying close attention to these small openings in your home, especially during bug season, is a great way to start.
Ensure that you have sealed all the screens, doors, and windows. If you find any holes or cracks, you should caulk or repair them right away. You can also add new weather stripping around the door to keep these pesky bugs from getting in. After all, even little openings and cracks are wide-open doors for bugs.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Not only do you have the bad habit of getting into the kitchen for a late-night snack, but so do your unwanted guests. For this reason, you’d want to keep your kitchen squeaky clean.
Bugs like cereal, flour, baking mixes, dried pasta, dried fruits, spices, nuts, popcorn, and more. Ants have attracted to sweet food; Indian meal moths love nuts, flour, rice, and cereal, and flour beetles prefer foods like cake mixes, chocolate, nuts, spices, and more.
The first way to ensure these bugs are at bay is by keeping all of your foods in airtight containers. When you purchase food, try to buy them in small packages so it can be consumed in a shorter period.
Always ensure that the kitchen counter and floor are clean and clear of any food crumbs. If your flour has bugs or wants to keep it from entering it, you can store it in your freezer. Do not forget pet food as well. It would be best if you stored it in airtight containers.
Dry Up Damp Areas
In addition to protecting your food from bugs, it is also essential that you keep them away from water. Bugs are in constant need of water—specific bugs such as silverfish, house centipedes, and springtails like being around damp areas.
If you have leaky pipes, faucets, or drains, ensure that you fix them immediately. In areas of your home that are constantly damp, such as the basement, run a dehumidifier for a while. Make sure that you check the attic so it is dry.
Keep Your House Clean.
Good housekeeping is also an effective way to keep bugs at bay, especially in kitchen areas where crumbs of food are known to accumulate. Make sure that you are emptying trash cans every day and that you vacuum your home regularly.
Clean your bathtub drains and the kitchen sinks every day too. This is where drain flies tend to live and fly out in search of food.
Regularly using drain cleaners will keep these pests from becoming a bigger problem. To avoid cockroaches, avoid stacking up magazines, boxes, and newspapers.
Keep Your Outside Surrounding Free of Debris
Compost bins, yard waste, and firewood stacks are some of the best hiding places for pests that could come inside the house. Make sure all of these places are far away from your home as possible.
Before bringing in the firewood, check it for bugs thoroughly. Remove areas of standing water in your yard, as these can be excellent breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Keep your landscape beds free of plant debris and weeds so they do not harbour insects. Lastly, ensure that you regularly prune the branches, so they are away from your home’s foundation.
Kill Any Bugs You See Right Away
To stop minor bug problems from turning into massive ones, you must control them immediately. You can do so by killing every bug you see at that very moment. You can try different insect control products in the markets, such as baits and aerosols. Use these products mentioned on the packaging. Stick to using non-toxic and natural ingredient-based formulas that are safe for kids and pets.
Do Adequate Research
The world is filled with thousands of insects, some of which you may have never seen before. Hence, it is essential to research such bugs and finds the most effective way to eliminate them.
Always remember that preventing the infestation of insects is a more straightforward thing to do rather than getting rid of a whole bunch of them. So, be more attentive to your surroundings.
Conclusion
Thanks to this article, you know now how to get rid of bugs in house effectively. As you can see, all of these are easy solutions, and most rely on prevention. After all, that is always the best way to keep all these pesky insects at bay.
