How to Keep Your Home Bug-Free This Summer

By Erin Wallace

July 19, 2024

Summer brings long days, warm nights and plenty of time outside. Another inevitable part of summer is the presence of bugs and other household pests. Insects are alive and well in warm weather, and sometimes it's challenging to keep them out of your home.

This May Also Interest You: How Much Does Pest Control Cost?

What Are Some Ways to Keep Bugs Out of Your House In the Summer?

Keeping pests and bugs out of your home in the summer can be challenging, but it's certainly not impossible. Any opening or crack, especially one that emits light at night, is a possible path for bugs. Here are some tips for a pest-free home.

Seal Your House to Keep Bugs Out

Since pests live outside, the best defense against them begins there. Try these tips:

Apply caulk sealant around any cracks or small openings of your home, such as around window frames, air conditioners, dryer vents and plumbing pipes. Foam weatherstripping can also be useful for sealing larger openings.
Check your home's foundation for cracks and repair any gaps in the mortar. Inspect the siding as well and fill any gaps.
Install door sweeps at the bottom of exterior doors to prevent bugs from entering. Without one, bugs and other pests can crawl through small door openings.
Inspect window screens and ensure the mesh isn't broken and holes aren't present. If parts of a screen aren't in good shape, you can patch them or replace them entirely.
Clear out any clogged gutters. Many insects and pests like to gather in damp and dark places.
Stack any firewood piles away from your home, as they can be food sources for pests.
When you're outside and about to open a door to come back inside, try to keep interior lights off while you do so. Bugs like moths and mosquitoes are often attracted to light and will be more likely to come inside if a light is on.

Prevent Bugs From Coming Inside Your House

If you're confident your home is pretty well sealed, another way to bug-proof it is with bug repellent. There are a few approaches you can take to creating a bug-proof home, and the best plan is probably a combination of several things.

Plants

Herbs like rosemary and mint and green plants like citronella have very pungent smells that help ward off insects. Other options include lemongrass and scented geraniums, which have a lemon scent similar to citronella. Plus, if you enjoy cooking with herbs, you'll have some on hand to use in the kitchen.

Natural Remedies

If you'd rather not use chemicals to get rid of ants, you can use diatomaceous earth. It's made of tiny crushed mollusk shells, and it will actually cut bugs and kill them. You can purchase diatomaceous earth at gardening shops.

Liquid dishwashing soap and water creates a combination that's fatal to many beetles and other pests. You can fill a spray bottle with this mixture and spray outdoor areas where you see them. Just be careful not to spray plants, though, as it will kill them too.

Pest Control

There are many concentrated pest control solutions available online that you can mix in a plastic compression sprayer with water and apply to your home's foundation. These products are often useful for a wide range of insects and bugs, including beetles, ants and spiders.

Professional pest control services are also available in many areas, including services for outdoor mosquito repellent. Applying these repellents lasts for a few months, and it can help you enjoy the outdoors without being bothered by biting bugs.

More Related Articles:

Make Your House Less Attractive to Bugs

While proper defenses outdoors can deter bugs and pests, it's also important to ensure the inside of your home doesn't attract critters. The best thing you can do is eliminate food and water sources, and keep your home clean.

Keeping floors and counters free of food, crumbs and other debris can help keep away ants and other insects that are attracted to food. Clean up spills right after they happen, and be careful when using sweet substances like sugar that can easily fall on the floor.

Emptying the trash frequently and wiping down counters after cooking are good preventive measures that dissuade bugs from coming inside. Store potential food sources, especially sweet substances, in tightly sealed containers. Don't leave out dirty dishes overnight, as the smells can attract pests and ants while you're sleeping. Store pet food in airtight containers, and keep them closed as well.

If All Else Fails, Hire an Exterminator

Hiring a pest control service is an easy way to keep your home pest-free this summer. If you're already dealing with a bug problem, hiring an exterminator is a good idea. They can help you suss out the root of the issue.

Follow us