If you want to minimize the number of bugs that come into your home each year, the first step to take is to eliminate common places where they can enter. You’ll want to fill in the gaps that form by door jambs, along entryways, and by windows as the property settles.
All it takes is a little weatherstripping or expanding foam to reduce the possibilities of insect entry.
Once you have your home’s exterior prepared for the invasion, you can take these additional steps to win the war against pests.
What Are the Best Ways to Stop Bugs?
1. Reduce how much mulch and plants are by the home.
If you have any plants touching your home’s exterior, the items should get trimmed back at least 18 inches. You’ll want to limit the mulching next to your property since this natural material serves as a bridge that brings the pests closer to coming inside. It’s more effective to use rocks and other options that bugs find less attractive.
2. Get rid of your trash, litter, and yard debris.
We all know that garbage attracts all sorts of pests, big and small. If you keep the items outside without proper protection, you’ll get everything from ants to raccoons. Yard waste can also attract rodents, and insects can use it as a way to look for new routes to get inside. Anything that could create standing water should also get eliminated to prevent more insects from being around your property in the first place.
3. Upgrade your light bulbs.
Did you know that the standard mercury vapor lights attract insects to your property at night? If you upgrade them to halogen bulbs or use high-pressure sodium vapor, you’ll end up with better results. This step also changes the tint of your outdoor lighting, making it more orange, yellow, or pink.
It also helps to position your outdoor lighting away from the home whenever possible. If it is on a pole away from the front door, you’ll still get to see outside without encouraging insects to visit.
4. Check for interior gaps that aren’t always seen.
It helps to look for gaps and cracks inside that could allow insects to eventually make their way into your property. You’ll want to look behind your cabinet, stove, and refrigerator to see if anything could invite unwanted guests to visit. There could also be gaps in your trim, around the vents, by your cables, and around any pipes.
If there is anything that is at least a quarter-inch in size, it should get sealed. When this issue involves an electrical line, plumbing, or another specialty system, you’ll want to work with a trusted local contractor to resolve that issue.
5. Take the time to clean your drains at least once per month.
Your floor and sink drains can collect a lot of debris, grime, and slime over a year. Those items all attract pests because the dark, damp environment is perfect for breeding. This issue is one of the biggest reasons why you can have flies buzzing around your property. You’ll need to clean and inspect all of them, but the first ones to look at are in your laundry room and basement.
A fast way to get those drains clean is to combine vinegar and baking soda. That combination bubbles with pressure to “scrape” the sides of your plumbing to release the items into your sewer system.
6. Keep your food sealed.
Home pests often have a heightened sense of smell. If you have accessible food, they will find it. That means all of your items should get put into something resealable or reusable if the original packaging isn’t salvageable. It might be tempting to put your fruit out, but that choice can also attract pests. You’ll want to store the items appropriately in a cool environment to prevent spoilage.
7. Take the time to clean your home.
When you take care of your home, there won’t be as many options for pests to come in there to cause damage. Although it isn’t easy to take care of the chores after a long day at work, it will help keep your home safer. Try to tackle one room at a time, cleaning one thoroughly while maintaining the remainder of the space you’ve already finished. By the end of the week, you’ll have a clean home!
It takes proactive action to stop pests from coming inside. When you take these steps, you’ll reduce the risk of having a confrontation!
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