Warm weather often leads to opening the windows to cool off. It also means more bugs are out trying to get into your home.
Flies, ants, mosquitoes, spiders, wasps, and even moths are out there. It’s bug season and there are a lot of products out there to help control the insect population from invading your home. But the first step to keeping your home bug-free just might be a natural one.
"Marigolds, some of the geraniums, mint, oregano, and citronella are very attractive landscape plants. They also repel a certain amount of insects,” said Rail City Garden Center owner Pawl Hollis. Landscaping can help create the first barrier to prevent insects from making their way to your home. “People used cedar for getting rid of moths. Moths can't navigate in the aroma of the cedar,” said Hollis. "If you don't have room for the plants, some sprays have oils that do the same thing. Peppermint oil, mint oil, and thyme will work really well for repelling the insects,” said Hollis.
Spiders are always a threat. “Spiders crawl up water pipes. They will come in through water pipes,” said Sierra Pest Control president Sherry Kornahrens. "A little home maintenance can help with that. Construction foam around kitchen sinks and under the kitchen sink (if there is a gap) helps keep spiders from getting in,” said Sherry Kornahrens.
When it comes to ants, exterminators can spray your house to kill off the pesky invaders. “When we spray it sets up a barrier. So when they do crawl through, they take the chemical back to the nest and the whole colony dies,” said Kornahrens. A simple inspection of your home can cut down on the chance of a flying insect coming into the house. “Make sure there are no rips in the screens and no standing water. Mosquitoes can lay their larva in standing water,” said Kornahrens.
If you're having a picnic on your patio or right outside your home, there are also bug bombs you can set off before everyone gets there. So you can have a break from the bugs, while everyone's enjoying themselves.
