Summer is around the corner and with it comes sun, fun, fresh air, and yes, bugs. As the temperatures rise, the tendency for outdoor pests to become unwanted guests inside your home also goes up. Fortunately, there are ways you can still have the sun and fun, but keep summer pests outside, where they belong.

The Usual Suspects

These are just some of the common pests that may be planning an unwelcome visit to your home when the weather gets warmer:

  • Ants / Carpenter Ants / Fire Ants
  • Mosquitoes
  • Bed Bugs
  • Bees and Wasps
  • Flies
  • Roaches
  • Fleas and Ticks

While some pests like bees, wasps, and fire ants are guilty of giving itchy or even painful bites, other bugs like termites and carpenter ants can cause major structural damage to your home. And mosquitoes have been a huge concern lately for carrying dangerous diseases. At best, a pest is just that—an annoyance.

How to Keep Summer Pests Out

First things first, try to maintain a clean home, and continue to clean frequently. Some pests, like ants, leave a scent trail to let other ants know to follow. By cleaning often you will get rid of these trails. Other tips for the inside of your house:

  • Never leave food out. Store leftovers in airtight containers
  • Wipe down counters after cooking
  • Get rid of crumbs. Eat at the table, not on the sofa where you can’t always see the crumbs you leave behind
  • Empty the garbage regularly
  • Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink
  • Eliminate piles of papers, books, or boxes where bugs can hide

Keep summer pests out of your yard and they are less likely to enter your home. Some tips for the outside:

  • Get rid of standing water. Birdbaths, over-turned containers, puddles, and clogged gutters can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
  • Keep garbage and recycling containers covered tightly and as far away from the house as possible. Make sure recyclables are rinsed well.
  • Don’t stack firewood against the exterior walls of the house.
  • Use nature’s repellents. The scent of certain plants, like mint and rosemary, tend to keep bugs away. And geraniums and lemongrass contain citronella oil, a natural bug repellent. You can even plant citronella plants in your yard.
  • Use LED bulbs in exterior lights. Bugs are less attracted to them, and therefore less likely to hang around your door.

More ways to stop pesky intruders from entering your home:

  • Close up any small openings or holes around the house. Use caulk around air conditioning units, window frames, and dryer vents. If air or light can come through, so can pests.
  • Put fine mesh screens in all your windows. Repair any holes on existing screens.
  • Use store-bought or homemade traps to attract and eliminate ants, roaches, or flies.
  • Take chalk and draw a line around windows and door openings. It’s not clear why, but ants refuse to crawl over chalk lines.
  • Remind family members and guests that you don’t live in a barn. Doors should be opened and closed quickly so as not to give bugs an opportunity to enter.

Whether your pests are creepy crawlers, flying annoyances, or nasty nibblers, you want them to remain where they belong—outside. Call Free Spray Lawn Care today at 419-529-5296 to find out how we can protect you, your family, and your home from unwanted pests.