10 Home Hacks to Keep Bugs out of the House
Keep your home free of bugs with the following tips:
Your family isn't alone in enjoying the comfort inside your house. There are lots of bugs outside that would also like to live in climate-controlled comfort. Here are ten simple steps you can take to keep them outside this year.
1. Trim Trees and Shrubs
When trees and shrubs are allowed to sit against or hang over your home, you are creating an easy to navigate path for bugs to get into your home. Prune shrubs back so there are at least a foot or two between any branches and the exterior of your house. When trimming trees, make sure there are no branches that reach over your roofline.
2. Clean Up Leaves
Piles of leaves create warm and damp environments where many bugs thrive. When you allow them to accumulate around your home, you are also inviting these pests into the neighborhood. Don't set out the welcome mat for them, and instead, keep leaves cleaned up and away from your home.
3. Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Leaving food scraps and crumbs out is another open invitation to creepy crawlers. Why take the chance of opening up your cupboard to be greeted by an oriental cockroach? Wipe down any surfaces that you use for food preparation and make sure all stored foods are in sealed containers. This way you aren't advertising free meals for six-legged guests.
4. Use Window Screens
Installing window screens takes a few minutes and can help you keep bugs out of your house for many years. They act as a physical barrier in the openings so that you can get fresh air inside without anything larger than the screen openings. Pick screening with appropriately sized holes for the bugs where you live and be sure to keep them maintained. A screen with giant holes isn't going to block much.
5. Pick up Fallen Fruit
Overripe fruit on and around trees should be taken off and disposed of properly at the end of the season. It is a big attractant for bugs like yellow jackets and ants, which may decide to check out your house if it's near the trees.
6. Maintain Firewood
If you use wood to heat in a fireplace or stove, turn your attention to the woodpile to help keep bugs at bay. Stack wood away from your home to discourage pests from entering. Make sure to check logs for spiders and other hitchhikers when you bring them in, too.
7. Fill Cracks and Gaps
These are a great way for little critters like insects, spiders, and even mice to get into your home. Perform a careful exterior inspection to see if there are any cracks in the foundation or siding of your house. Look for any gaps around pipes or cables where they enter and exit your home or basement. These often under-looked spaces are ideal access points for many common pests.
8. Seal Windows and Doors
While you are checking for gaps, make sure to look around your entry points, too. Seal cracks around windows and doors with weatherstripping, caulk, or spray insulation to keep bugs out and increase your home's efficiency.
9. Take Out Trash
This is a simple way to keep bugs from wanting to enter your home. Stay on top of the trash throughout your house, and take it out to the curb regularly. That means emptying the trash bin in the guest bed and bath, too. Even if you don't smell the odors coming from trash cans, chances are bugs that feed on rotting food can. Don't give them a reason to come looking for a free meal.
10. Fix Leaks
Water is necessary to all life, even that of insects. During dry weather, bugs may come inside in search of water. Others, like termites and silverfish, seek damp spots out regardless of the climate. If you have a leak from plumbing or a foundation crack, have it repaired to help discourage bugs.
No matter why bugs are coming into your home, there are simple steps you can take to deter them. Many of them are simple preventative tasks that can also benefit your home's appearance, efficiency, or cleanliness. Don't let bugs keep you up at night. Try these helpful and easy hacks to keep them out of your home.
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