How to Keep Insects Away From Your House

The following is a contributed post from a blog partner.

Insects in your home – how to solve the problem

There is no way you can avoid coming into contact with insects; they share the planet with us. That does not mean you have to like getting bitten by a flea or encountering a disease carrying cockroach. Of course, not all insects are bad news. For instance, pollinating bees are very important to the preservation of the world around us.

Even bees are not usually welcome in the home though, although you should not kill them. It makes sense to kill other insects, such as flies, if they invade your home. Not doing so could mean that they spread bacteria to you and your family. The best way to avoid problems with any insects in your home is to stop them getting in. Once they are there, you need to deal with the situation, effectively and quickly.

Preventing insects from getting into your home

• Fill in gaps and cracks in the exterior walls of your home. Insects can get in through even the tiniest of spaces so you need to be vigilant.
• Fit weatherproofing around doors and windows. Weatherproofing fills in any gaps around the windows and doors of your home. Doing this has the added benefit of providing additional insulation as well as keeping insects out.
• Keep your home tidy and clean. Insects such as cockroaches need food, water and a place to nest. You need to make sure that none of these are available in your property.
• Cut back bushes and trees. The trees and bushes in your garden can help insects hop into your home through open windows. Keep them cut back so that their foliage is not close to your property.

Ways to deal with invading insects

If insects do gain access to your home, you need to get rid of them quickly. There are several techniques that can be useful to use.

• Mix a solution of warm water and soap detergent in a spray bottle and use it to spray the insects.
• Use an electronic fly control system which attracts flies and then kills them.
• Spread diatomaceous earth around access points, and places where insects are present. It damages their exoskeletons and causes them to dehydrate and die.
• Use herbs such as oregano, sage and cloves to deter ants. These insects rely on their sense of smell so this type of strong smelling herb is a deterrent.
• Convert plastic bottles into insect traps by cutting them in half, placing a solution of water and sugar in the bottom and placing the top half back on, upside down so that a funnel is created. Insects are attracted in and are unable to get back out.

None of us really want to share our indoor space with insects, although it does happen sometimes. It’s important to do all you can to try and keep them out of your home and to get them out, or dispose of them, if they do get in.

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