If you’re afraid of bugs, you’re certainly not alone. Not only do millions of people share that fear, turns out there are a lot of deeply rooted evolutionary reasons people don’t tend to love creepy crawlies.
Back in prehistoric times, an encounter with the wrong bug could easily be a matter of life and death. Now, it’s not usually so drastic, but it doesn’t make their unwanted incursions into your home any more pleasant.
If you want to keep a keen eye for pests and learn how to keep them out, look no further. Here are 10 common household bugs and how to get rid of them.
Flies
The dreaded fly. Is there any more universally annoying household pest? Not are they dirty, they flat out ruin a good time with their incessant buzzing.
Speaking of dirty, the fly’s reputation as a gross disease carrier is well-earned. It’s thought that flies transmit over 65 different diseases to humans. Among these diseases are dysentery, cholera, and leprosy. Charming.
Luckily, flies are pretty easily dealt with. For one, keep windows and doors closed and well-sealed. Couple this with good cleanliness practices and it will prevent flies from ever coming in.
If they’re already there, simple fly traps are a reliable method of catching them. Be mindful and flies shouldn’t be too bothersome.
Ants
Ants are fun to observe, but not when they’re marching single file out of your cereal box. Particularly during the warmer months, ants can be a real nuisance.
Though they don’t carry any diseases, they cause plenty of other issues. Depending on the type of ant, they can do serious damage to your woodwork. They will also eat and contaminate your food.
Like flies, they’re pretty easy to get rid of. Take the same precautions you would with flies, such as sealing off windows and doors and taking special care to keep food sealed.
There are various highly effective ant traps you can purchase to rid yourself of these unwanted guests as well.
Wasps
While flies carry disease, wasps can be dangerous in different ways. Though most people won’t end up in the hospital from one wasp sting, they can swarm when provoked, and an allergy to their venom can be a huge health concern.
With wasps, the key to keeping them away is getting rid of the nest. While it doesn’t necessarily need to be physically removed, it does need to be treated.
Unfortunately, this can be a dangerous task. In the case of wasps, calling a professional is your best bet. If you need to get rid of wasps ASAP, here’s some more information on how to get it done.
Termites
Unlike other bugs, it isn’t always obvious when you’ve got termites. This is why it’s important to do routine checks on vulnerable areas of your home with lots of wood. Unchecked, termites can do serious damage to a home.
Unfortunately, do it yourself termite control is mostly a bust. Most options in the consumer market are ineffective. With termites, you can’t afford to do a job halfway, so calling a professional exterminator is going to be a must.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the most reviled pests in the world. Known for being nearly unkillable, anyone living in a big city is a potential target for these disgusting bugs.
It’s often joked that cockroaches would be the one species to survive a total nuclear holocaust, but that’s barely a joke. As such, DIY extermination can be tough. Even just two roaches can make way more in short order.
Like with ants and flies, keeping your home clutter-free is a good step to keeping them away, but it’s often not enough. Should your efforts fall short, this is another pest worth hiring a professional for.
Mosquitoes
Like flies, mosquitoes are big-time disease carriers. To add insult to injury, they even suck your blood.
If mosquitoes are getting into your home in large numbers, it’s likely because your property is a breeding ground for them. The best way to keep them away is to go to the source.
For one, make sure you don’t have any standing water. If you have a pond, try to inhabit it with fish that eat mosquito larvae. Also, make sure vegetation is kept trimmed to reasonable levels.
Besides that, there are sprays and treatments you can buy if it gets too bad.
Beg Bugs
Although bed bugs were once almost totally eliminated in the United States, they’ve come back with a vengeance. Biting the inhabitants at night, bed bugs can be a true terror to deal with.
Sadly, they’re also very hard to treat. Bed bugs can persist in all sorts of conditions. You can purchase products to kill them and also buy wraps for your mattress to deter them, but this won’t always work.
The important thing is to stay on top of it. Beg bugs can come back, so it’s crucial you remain consistent with treatment. If that doesn’t work, a professional can come to finish the job.
Centipedes
Even though house centipedes aren’t dangerous, many people really hate these things. To be fair, they do look terrifying. It’s important to consider that they actually prey on other much more damaging pests, so it might not be wise to get rid of them.
That said, if you just can’t stand the sight of them, there’s good news. For one, they usually travel alone. Just because you see one doesn’t mean there’s a ton more.
Sprays that repel them are also highly effective. You can purchase ones that last for a whole year, so as long as you remain diligent about reapplying the treatment, you should be ok.
Spiders
The good news about spiders is that they usually hide and most aren’t harmful to humans. The bad news is that they’re one of the most common phobias out there.
Like centipedes, many spiders actually control worse pests, but it’s understandable if you don’t want to cohabitate with them.
To keep them out, all you can really do is maintain your space and keep it locked up tight. Seal up windows, doors, cracks, and other potential points of entry. Also, make sure to vacuum and clean regularly.
Silverfish
Silverfish are common and creepy. Attracted to moisture, silverfish get their name from their metallic appearance and fish-like movements.
They’re attracted to moisture, so keeping your home moisture-free is the best method of prevention. Make sure there are no leaky pipes or anything of that nature. Getting a dehumidifier is also a good course of action.
Luckily, they don’t post much of a risk beyond just looking creepy.
You Don’t Have to Live With These Common Household Bugs
While these common household bugs are a normal part of life, they don’t have to be a consistent one. With proper diligence, you can keep your home relatively free.
Speaking of homes, there’s a lot more to know about living somewhere than just how to keep bugs out. Keep reading for more awesome homeowner insights!
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