With countless insects crawling around outside, it's no surprise that you could find one or two pests in your home. Learn how to protect and preserve your home by keeping out insects that want to make their way in.
How to Keep Insects Away from Your Home
The best way to keep from having to remove insects from your home and to keep from having to repair possible insect damage is to keep them out altogether.
A couple ways to do this include:
Eliminate water, food or shelter sources
- Keep your kitchen spotless, store food in sealed containers and regularly remove garbage from your home.
Don't let water accumulate in or around your home
- Frequently do your dishes, fix leaks and clean up spills as soon as possible, and don't leave pet food or water out overnight. Even improper water drainage outside your home could attract pests if the water causes anything around your home to start rotting.
Close off pest entry points
- Fill caulk cracks around baseboards, cabinets and windows, install door sweeps on doors that lead outside and check any boxes or packages for insects before bringing them into your home.
Check and maintain window screens
- If you enjoy opening your windows to let in fresh air, make sure that your window screens don't have holes in them. Make sure not to take out those screens unless you need to clean around your windows.
Avoid providing a hiding place or home
- Get in the habit of taking a few extra minutes a day to clean your home, which may involve vacuuming and avoiding leaving piles of clothing, mail and dishes in different rooms.
Natural Insect Repellents
If you've noticed there have been a few critters crawling around your home, you've probably already pulled out the pesticide, but before turning to chemical compounds that could be harmful to you and the environment, try a few natural remedies for these common pests:
Ants: Place cucumber peelings where ants are likely to enter your home
Flies: Plant mint and basil near doors and windows to deter flies from coming inside
Mosquitos: Catnip, lemon balm and basil are all three great, natural mosquito repellents
Spiders: Combine vinegar and water in a spray bottle to repel spiders
Plus, you can check out many more natural pest repellents like essential oils, coffee grounds and apple cider vinegar.
Insects and pests belong outdoors, so use these insect prevention tips to keep pests where they belong and out of your home. If you do ever have an infestation, call an exterminator to take care of your bug problem. In the meantime, check out other homeownership tips to keep your home investment in tip top condition and lower your risk of damage from pests.