Are You Hassled by Bugs?

Oh, that dreadful moment when you spot some little bugs crawling across your floor… What do you do? How do you get rid of them? How do you prevent them in the first place? Pests belong outdoors and you want to help keep them there. You can call Bug Out Pest Control right away (we’re at 317 – 777-5005) or here are some things you can do yourself to help keep the pests away!

Eliminate Bugs’ Food Sources

Kitchen counters, sinks, and floors with crumbs left behind are an invitation to dinner for pests! You also want to be sure that all your food in your pantry is stored in sealed containers. Don’t leave those dirty dishes in the sink for too long either. Make sure that the garbage is taken out regularly.

Eliminate Bugs’ Water Sources

Be sure that your sink and counters are kept dry. Clean up spills as soon as possible. Any drippy or leaky faucets should be fixed. Definitely, clean up after any major leaks. Do not leave your pet’s water dish out overnight. Even outside your home, do not allow standing water. The water will attract pests and if it is near your home it can start rotting which will also create openings for pests.

Clean Drains

Sink and floor drains accumulate debris and build up. This can attract pests, and provide an ideal breeding or nesting site. Regularly inspect and clean those drains with baking soda and vinegar or another commercial product.

Close off Entry Points

Bugs are able to wiggle through the tiniest of exposed places! It might surprise you to see where that trail of ants leads – or comes from. Here are a few suggestions to find those little gateways into your home:

Fill any cracks with caulk around baseboards, cabinets, and windows.
Install door sweeps on all outside doors.
Make sure your window screens are in good condition
Routinely inspect the entire exterior of your home for other cracks, crevices, and gaps through which pests could enter.
Check for foundation cracks, loose siding, missing roof shingles, and gaps around utility lines, including pipes, electric wiring, and cable wiring.
Seal any openings with copper mesh, coarse steel wool, sheet metal, or mortar.

Important Note: Expanding caulk is not ideal to use because many pests chew through it.

Eliminate Shelter Sources

Keep your home clean and free of things that bugs use to build nests or hide in. Vacuum regularly. Avoid piles of clothes or linens. Do not leave stacks of paper. Keep recycle container outdoors.

Use the Best Light Bulbs

To reduce flying insects around your doors and windows, replace standard mercury vapor lamps with high pressure sodium vapor or with halogen lights. Bulbs with a pink, orange, or yellow tint will be the least attractive to insects. When possible, instead of mounting a light on the home, place it on a pole away from the home. The insects will swarm the light and not your doorway.

Minimize Outside Habitats

Trim back any tree branches or shrubbery that touches your home. They can become bridges for insects to come inside. Mulch in areas that are up against your foundation can be an attractive shelter for bugs, too.

Properly Dispose of Litter

Most people know that household garbage can attract bugs, such as ants, roaches, as well as rodents. But yard waste also can draw in pests that might see it either as a nest or a food source. Make sure that all of your trash cans have tight-fitting lids, and clean the cans and area where they sit regularly to remove debris and spills on which pests can feed. Plus, keep yards, patios, decks, and garages free of leaf litter, plant clippings, and standing water, all of which can provide ideal environments for pests to create a home.

Take Advantage of Natural Insect Repellents

If you have concerns about using chemicals try some of these natural repellents.

Cucumber peelings will discourage ants from entering your home.
Mint and Basil planted near doors and windows will deter flies from coming in.
Garlic and mint spray together will keep your greens growing strong and free of pests.
Cornmeal will attract ants, but they cannot digest it. They will take it back to the colony and that will be the end of the pest’s nest!
Catnip, lemon balm, and basil all will help to keep away mosquitoes.
Vinegar and water in a spray bottle will repel spiders.
Onion also keeps spiders away – place one in a small dish of water.
Spraying plants with a dish soap and water solution will not hurt the plants but will deter pests.
Pests hate coffee grounds, in fact, for ants they are fatal.
Neem oil is a natural insecticide and anti-fungicide.
Borax and sugar will kill ants.
Snails and slugs actually like beer! Setting out dishes of it will attract them to the beer and away from the plants.
Apple cider vinegar can create a fly trap. Place it in a bottle with some apple slices. Make sure the bottle has a one way cap- the flies can fly in but cannot get out.
Clove, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and rosemary will keep mites away.

More Natural Repellants

Garlic will detract bugs and is good to put in soil of potted plants.
Pyrethurum spray is made from chrysanthemum flowers and will paralyze insects on contact.
A solution of water and pepper repels spider mites and other insects.
Essential oils from sage, thyme, basil, rosemary, mint, rue and lavender repel some insects.
Banana peels just under the soil at the base of plants will deter bugs and add nutrients to the soil.
Nicotine tea will repel leaf-chewing bugs
An alcohol and water solution will repel insects from houseplants and tropical foliage.
Finally, a strong spray of water from the hose can remove insects from plants like a heavy downpour of rain.

There is No Perfect Natural Repellant

All these tips and tricks sound great, but do they sound like a lot of work? Many of the deterrents are scent-based. Not only will the bugs react, but humans will smell and see them, too. Just keep that in mind.

In addition, different strategies are needed for different pests. Be aware that a deterrent to one pest may attract another! Many of these strategies are not particularly pleasant – are they even worse than living with the bugs!?

If you are having difficulty with any pests, or if the problem is bigger than you anticipated, do not hesitate to reach out for help from the professionals. Bug Out Pest Control can take care of any of these uninvited guests in your home! 317-777-5005

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