Keep Bugs Out of Your Home With 6 Bug Prevention Tips
There are over 900 thousand species of bugs in the world and your home may hold over 200 of them.
Most bugs are not pests and actually help control the bug population. But some are, and pose a danger to you and your family and home.
What are some bug prevention tips and how can you implement these so your house doesn’t become home to many pests? Keep reading to find out!
Problematic Pests
Whether you like it or not, insects help the environment. They break down waste products like dead plants, animals, and so forth so the planet doesn’t become overrun with waste. Bugs are also the main meal for hundreds of other animals like birds, amphibians, and other organisms.
However, there are some bugs that don’t seem to care that their place is outdoors and will gladly make themselves home in yours.
Here is a list of some of the most common pests that you may find in your home:
- Cockroaches
- Termites
- Spiders
- Bees
- Wasps
- Bed bugs
- Ants
- Moths
- Mosquitos
- Fleas
- Housefly
- Beetles
- Earwigs
- Silverfish
- Centipedes
This is not an exhaustive list, but some of the main insects you might find lurking in your home. While sighting one bug may not indicate a problem, seeing them on a regular basis may mean there’s an infestation.
You might be thinking How Long Does It Take For Bed Bugs To Spread (And How To Get Rid Of Them)? Each insect’s lifecycle varies, but generally speaking, an insect takes one month to seven weeks to develop. From that time an infestation grows, so altogether the process may happen in a month or two.
Bug Prevention
The best way to keep your house pest-free is to make it difficult for bugs to settle there in the first place. But how do you do that?
If you’re ready to shield your home from insect invaders, here are a few key tips to follow.
1. Seal Spaces
Insects enter your home from the outside through cracks and holes in your home. They can also enter through open doors, fireplaces, pipe drains, windows, and even your vents.
You want to seal cracks in your home or windows with caulk or a sealant. Close the door when you come in from outside and the windows as well. Inspect the outside of your home to see if there are any major cracks that need professional work.
Of all the things you can to keep bugs out of the home, finding cracks or openings in your home is one of the most important steps. If you need to spend a little money for a professional repair, it’s likely worth the cost versus the costly work of an exterminator and the damage bugs can do.
2. Clean Your Mess
Your mom was right – clean up your food when you are finished! Insects love free food, and they’ll keep coming back from more if you continue to leave it out for them like a buffet.
Vacuum the floor, wipe down the counters, ensure all trash is thrown away and secure. Make sure that all food is crumbs are swept and leftovers stored properly. Standing water is also appealing to bugs, so mop up the water or any other liquid spills immediately.
When there’s a lack of good cleaning, bugs happily find their way in and won’t leave.
3. Store Food Properly
Bugs love an easy meal, and when food isn’t stored properly you can bet they’ll be back for more!
You need to store your food in air-tight containers making it impossible for bugs to feast. Thankfully, these are not very expensive and they’re a great way to make your kitchen or pantry organized and eye-catching.
Toss out old or decaying fruit displayed on the counter. Fruit flies and other pests accumulate quickly.
4. Keep a Lookout
You may think you do a good job of keeping your house clean, but sometimes bugs are smarter. Even if you follow all the steps, you still need to be on the lookout for pests.
If they fly under the radar, you may have an infestation on your hands and not even know it. Keep your eyes peeled in kitchens and other places you might have food.
5. Treat Your Home
Another way to keep bugs out is to purchase an at-home bug defender product. These are designed to spray around the perimeter of your home to discourage bugs from entering your home or property.
There are natural bug prevention methods if you’re not a fan of commercial chemicals. Several spices like cinnamon, black pepper, and turmeric are unfavorable to ants. Smells like lavender repels ants as well and spiders dislike peppermint.
Catch fruit flies with an easy DIY trap using apple cider vinegar, or kick out the cockroaches with sugar and Borax.
6. Call an Exterminator
You’ve done it all, but the creepy crawlies have found your home and they want to stay.
It happens, but calling an exterminator is your best bet at this point. They have the knowledge, skills, and tools to extinguish the unwanted invaders once and for all, so you can get back to the comfort of your home.
Banish Bugs for Good
Bug prevention isn’t rocket science and takes a little extra work and effort. However, the time you spend cleaning and following the above tips will go a long way to maintaining a bug-free environment, so you can actually enjoy your home instead of sharing it with insects. What steps do you need to take today to keep bugs away?
Do you need more home improvement tips? We know you do! Check out our home improvement page for all the latest ways to whip your home into shape.
