How to Keep Bugs Out of Your House This Summer
Raleigh ProConnect- March 16, 2025
Summer is great—but not when your house becomes a hotspot for bugs. Follow our guide to enjoy a pest-free summer.
Summer brings backyard barbecues, warm evenings, and, unfortunately, more bugs than you’d ever want in your home. The second the weather heats up, insects start looking for food, water, and shelter—and your house is the perfect target.
That’s why you might notice ants in the kitchen, house flies buzzing around whenever you start cooking, or even the occasional cockroach skittering across the floor (because who doesn’t love a surprise like that?).
But don’t worry—keeping summer bugs out of your home isn’t impossible.
With a few simple modifications, you can create an insect barrier that stops pests before they ever make it close to your home.
This guide will help you take care of your bug problems before they start. We’ll explain why bugs love your home in the first place, the best way to prevent them, and a few quick tips to make your space completely uninviting to pests.
Why Bugs Love Your Home in the Summer
Whether you’re dealing with trails of ants, stink bugs, or that one stubborn mosquito that keeps getting away, bugs aren’t actually in your house just to annoy you (even though it definitely feels that way).
They’re on a mission—for food, water, and a safe place to live. And in the warm weather, your home checks all the boxes.
Food and Liquid Sources
Bugs don’t need much to survive. From crumbs on your kitchen counter to pet food bowls left out overnight, your home basically has a big sign on it that says, “Welcome In!”Â
Even the tiniest spills or forgotten bits of food are enough to send ants and cockroaches scurrying in your direction.Â
And bugs aren’t picky eaters—they’ll gladly feast on whatever your kids dropped beneath the couch two weeks ago. And they’ll keep coming back looking for more.
Warmth and Shelter
When summer temperatures rise, bugs need relief just like we do. Your home becomes their ideal shelter, offering cool spots during hot afternoons and warmth at night.
German cockroaches, oriental cockroaches, and spiders gravitate toward hidden, undisturbed areas behind appliances, under furniture, and inside storage boxes.
Other areas like attics, basements, crawl spaces, and even wall voids become prime real estate for pests, giving them spots they feel safe enough to settle in, breed, and grow their numbers without attracting your attention.
Easy Entry Points
Bugs don’t need an invitation—they just need an opportunity. Open doors, tiny cracks around windows, or gaps under doors are all ways bugs can sneak inside.
Even something as simple as window screens that aren’t properly fitted can let in ants, house flies, and stink bugs. Sealing these entry points is often your first (and best) line of defense against summer invaders.
Common Bugs to Watch for in the Summer
Knowing exactly which bugs you might encounter helps you prepare better. Here’s a quick list of the most common summer pests:
Tiny Bugs
| Type of Bug | Where You'll Find Them |
|---|---|
| Ants | Typically invade kitchens looking for sweets or proteins |
| Mosquitoes | Found anywhere with standing water and damp conditions |
| Fruit Flies | Appear around ripe fruit, garbage bins, or drains |
| Gnats | Often found hovering near moist soil, drains, or houseplants |
| Termites | Attracted to moisture and wood, especially around foundations, decks, and damp basements |
| Bed Bugs | Introduced through luggage or furniture; commonly hide in mattresses, bedding, and upholstery |
| Fleas | Brought inside by pets; hide in carpets, pet bedding, and upholstery |
| Ticks | Found in tall grass, wooded areas, and leaf piles; can carry Lyme disease and other illnesses |
Big Bugs
| Type of Bug | Where You'll Find Them |
|---|---|
| Cockroaches | Primarily German and oriental cockroaches—love damp, dark, hidden spaces and easy food sources |
| Stink Bugs | Invade homes for shelter, especially in late summer, as nights cool |
| Spiders | Cellar spiders and wolf spiders who look for secluded, dark hiding spots |
| Centipedes and Millipedes | Common in basements, crawlspaces, and other damp areas |
| Crickets | Usually found in basements, crawlspaces, or garages, drawn in by moisture and darkness |
| Wasps & Hornets | Build nests in eaves, gutters, or bushes close to your home, creating a real hazard, especially if disturbed |
So what’s the best way to stop them? Start by making the inside of your home as unwelcoming as possible. Which is what we’ll talk about next.
Best Ways to Prevent Insects From Getting Inside Your Home
The first step in keeping bugs outside is making sure they don’t have a reason to come inside in the first place.
Just a couple of small changes can create a solid insect barrier that stops summer bugs before they even think about moving in.
1. Seal Your Windows and Doors
Bugs don’t need a huge hole to enter your house. Any tiny gaps or spaces around your house are all they need.
Check around your home’s entry points, including your doors, windows, and any utility openings where vents, pipes, or cables enter. Here are some things you can do to make sure everything stays sealed:
- If you can see daylight around your door frames, so can the bugs. Install weather stripping or door sweeps to close the gaps.
- Inspect your window screens. Even the smallest tear in a window screen can let mosquitoes and flies waltz right in. Patch up any holes or replace any damaged screens you notice.
- Walk around your home and look for small gaps in the foundation, siding, or near pipes and vents. A little caulk or expanding foam can go a long way.
2. Keep Your Home Clean
If you’re starting to notice more and more bugs in your house, chances are they’re not just passing through—they’ve likely found a food source. If you’re leaving food on the counter or letting dirty dishes sit, bugs will find it.
The solution? Clean up daily and cut off their supply before it turns into a full-blown infestation:
- Wipe down surfaces: Kitchen counters, dining tables, and even the stovetop should be wiped down regularly to remove food residue that attracts ants and roaches.
- Sweep, Mop, and vacuum often: Even the tiniest crumbs are enough to keep bugs coming back. Hit the floors regularly, especially in the kitchen and dining areas.
- Never leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight: A sink full of dirty dishes is like a five-star restaurant for pests. If you can’t wash them immediately, at least get rid of any extra food and rinse them off.
The cleaner your home, the less appealing it is to pests. They’ll take what they can get, and you don’t want to make it easy for them.
3. Store Food Properly
Bugs love boxes—especially cardboard ones in the pantry. That’s why the best way to prevent pests from getting into your food is by storing it properly. Implement these quick pantry hacks to protect your pantry and keep your food off the menu for pests
Use Airtight Containers
Bugs can easily chew through cardboard, paper, and thin plastic. Transfer dry goods like flour, rice, pasta, cereal, and snacks into sealed glass, metal, or heavy-duty plastic containers.
Keep Pet Food Sealed
Leaving pet food sitting out in the open (or in a torn bag) can attract ants and roaches. Store it in a sealed bin, and try to only put out what your pet will eat in one sitting.
Inspect Groceries Before Bringing Them Inside
Pantry pests like moths and weevils sometimes hitch a ride home from the store. Check for damaged packaging before you buy (holes or ripping). Once you’re home, consider freezing grains or flour for a few days. This helps kill insects and their eggs by slowing down their metabolism.
Keep Fruit and Vegetables Fresh and Covered
Fruit that’s overripe and beginning to spoil attracts fruit flies who are attracted to the stronger, sweeter odors they’re emitting. Try to store produce in the fridge when possible. Or use a covered fruit bowl to keep these flies from finding an easy meal.
Clean Up Spills in Cabinets and Pantries
If something spills, wipe it up immediately—especially sticky liquids like syrup, honey, and juice. Sweet liquids that sit for a while can attract an entire colony of ants.
Check Expiration Dates and Toss Old Food
Bugs love forgotten food and snacks that have been sitting for months. Regularly go through your pantry and toss anything expired or stale.
4. Reduce Moisture in Your Home
If there’s one thing bugs love almost as much as food, it’s moisture. Damp areas create the perfect breeding ground for roaches, silverfish, and even mosquitoes.Â
If you’ve got leaks, standing water, or excess humidity in areas within your home, you’re basically rolling out the red carpet for them:
- Fix leaky pipes and faucets. A slow drip under the sink might not seem like a big deal, but even this is enough water to keep pests hydrated and thriving. Regularly check under sinks, around toilets, and near your water heater for any leaks.
- Use a dehumidifier in damp areas. Basements, crawl spaces, and laundry rooms often trap humidity, making them a hotspot for insects like silverfish, cockroaches, and centipedes. Running a dehumidifier helps keep things dry and less attractive.
- Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens. Steam and moisture from showers and cooking can create damp conditions that attract bugs. Use exhaust fans or open windows to keep the air moving.
5. Manage Trash Responsibly
Your trash might not smell great to you, but to summer bugs, it smells like dinner. The longer it sits, the more it smells—and the more pests it’ll attract. The best way to make sure your trash isn’t the reason for bugs in your house is to:
- Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids: Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids. If your bin isn’t sealed properly, pests will find their way in. Invest in a can with a secure lid to keep bugs (and smells) locked inside.
- Take out the trash regularly:Â Letting food waste sit for too long gives bugs more time to find it. Empty indoor trash cans often, especially in the kitchen.
- Rinse out food containers before tossing them:Â Even small food remnants in recyclables can attract ants and roaches. A quick rinse of cans and jars can help prevent an infestation.
- Clean trash bins regularly:Â Liquids from food packaging, grease from takeout containers, and sticky residues from soda cans or fruit scraps can build up over time. These create odors and attract insects. Give your trash can a good scrub every few weeks.
These steps will make the inside of your home much less inviting to ants, roaches, flies, and other pests.
But what about outside? Let’s talk about how to manage your yard so bugs don’t even get close to your home in the first place.
How to Manage Your Property to Make Your Home Bug-Proof
Your outdoor space matters just as much as your home’s interior when you’re trying to keep bugs away. A tidy, well-maintained yard prevents pests from nesting or multiplying close to your home.Â
Here are some tips on how to maintain your yard during the summer.
Regular Lawn Maintenance
Tall grass, leaf piles, and overgrown bushes aren’t just messy—they’re the perfect hiding spots for bugs before they make their way inside.
Spiders, stink bugs, ticks, and even fleas use yard clutter for shelter before sneaking inside. A well-maintained yard gives pests fewer places to settle.
Here’s a simple yard upkeep schedule to follow during the summer months:
Summer Yard Maintenance to Keep Your Yard Bug Free
| Yard Task | How Often? | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Cut grass | Weekly | Prevents ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes from hiding in tall grass. |
| Trim hedges and bushes | Monthly | Reduces shelter for spiders, ants, and other pests near your home. |
| Remove leaves and yard debris | Bi-weekly | Eliminates breeding grounds for insects and rodents. |
| Check and clean gutters | Monthly | Prevents standing water that attracts mosquitoes and other pests. |
| Store firewood away from the house | As needed | Keeps termites, ants, and roaches from finding a home close to your foundation. |
| Inspect and drain standing water | Weekly | Removes mosquito breeding sites like birdbaths, planters, and other open containers |
Bonus tip: Keep mulch at least 12 inches away from your home’s foundation. It holds moisture, which attracts ants, cockroaches, and carpet beetles.
Trim Trees and Bushes
Bugs don’t always crawl in—sometimes, they climb. Overgrown trees and shrubs touching your house act as a bridge for pests like spiders, ants, and even cockroaches.
- Cut back branches that touch your roof or siding.
- Keep bushes trimmed to allow airflow and reduce moisture.
Remove any dead plants or rotting wood—they attract insects fast.
Eliminate Standing Water
Nothing invites mosquitoes faster than stagnant water. Even small amounts can turn into a breeding ground in warm weather. To prevent this:
- Empty birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, and wheelbarrows after rain.
- Clean gutters regularly to avoid water pooling.
- Fix any outdoor faucets or hoses that leak. Even small drips create moisture that attracts pests.
Use Landscaping to Repel Bugs Naturally
Some plants can help keep bugs away, making your yard less appealing to pests. To avoid using chemicals, plant these near entry points and outdoor seating areas:
Types of Plants That Naturally Deter Summer Bugs
| Plant | Repels |
|---|---|
| Lavender | Mosquitoes, fleas, moths, flies, ticks |
| Citronella | Mosquitoes, flies |
| Mint | Mosquitoes, ants, spiders |
| Marigolds | Mosquitoes |
| Basil | Mosquitoes, houseflies |
| Rosemary | Mosquito, houseflies |
| Chrysanthemums | Ants, roaches, mosquitoes |
| Catnip | Mosquitoes |
These plants can be used in landscaping or placed in pots near areas where you want to deter these pests.
Adjust Exterior Lighting to Discourage Bugs
Ever notice a swarm of bugs near your porch light? That’s because most insects are drawn to bright, white light. Try these lighting strategies to keep pests away:
- Swap out standard bulbs for yellow or warm-colored LED bulbs.
- Keep outdoor lights away from doors and windows when possible.
- Use motion-sensor lighting to reduce the time bugs are drawn to your home.
Natural Remedies and Repellents to Get Rid of Bugs in Your Home
If bugs still manage to sneak inside, you don’t have to jump straight to harsh chemicals. There are plenty of natural insect control methods that are safe, effective, and easy to use. Here are some quick tips to keep pests away using everyday household items.
Citrus Peels for Spiders and Ants
Spiders and ants hate the smell of citrus, which makes orange and lemon peels a great natural deterrent.
Rub fresh peels along windowsills, doorways, and baseboards to create a barrier. You can also blend the peels with water to make a DIY spray or leave dried peels inside cabinets to keep pests from sneaking in.
Peppermint Oil for Mosquitoes and Ants
Strong scents like peppermint oil work as a natural bug repellent, keeping away ants, mosquitoes, and even cockroaches.
- Mix 10 drops of peppermint oil with water and spray it along bug entry points.
- Place cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil in problem areas like cabinets and under appliances.
- Add a few drops to your mop water for an extra layer of protection.
Diatomaceous Earth for Roaches and Ants
If you have cockroaches, ants, or even carpet beetles, diatomaceous earth (DE) is one of the best ways to get rid of them.
This natural powder is a safe but deadly solution for roaches, ants, and carpet beetles. Sprinkle a light dusting along baseboards, under sinks, and around trash cans where bugs like to hide.Â
If you’re using it near food areas, make sure to choose food-grade diatomaceous earth, which is safe for humans and pets but lethal to insects.
Vinegar Solutions for Fruit Flies and Ants
Vinegar is a powerful, natural way to disrupt ant trails and get rid of fruit flies. Wipe down kitchen surfaces with a vinegar-water mix to erase scent trails that attract ants, and if fruit flies are swarming, set out a small bowl of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dish soap—the flies will land in the mixture and won’t be able to escape.
When to Call Pest Control Professionals
Even with the best prevention methods, some bug problems are just too big to handle on your own. If you’re seeing the same pests over and over—or signs of a full-blown infestation—it might be time to bring in an expert.
When to Call Pest Control Professionals
Bugs do a good job hiding, but they always leave behind clues. If you notice any of the following, you could be dealing with an infestation that requires immediate attention:
- Cockroach Sightings: Seeing one cockroach usually means there are more hiding nearby. German and oriental cockroaches reproduce quickly and can be difficult to eliminate without professional treatment.
- Droppings or Damage: Tiny black specks (roach droppings), shredded paper (a sign of carpet beetles), or gnawed food packaging are clear indicators that pests are making themselves at home.
- Bed Bug Evidence: Rust-colored stains on sheets, dark specks on your mattress, or pale yellow eggshells are all red flags for a bed bug infestation. These pests are elusive, but their traces are hard to miss.
- Wood Damage: Small tunnels, pinholes, or hollow-sounding wood can signal a termite problem. Ignoring it can lead to serious structural damage over time.
- Nesting Materials: Finding shredded paper, torn fabric, or insulation in hidden corners? Rodents or other pests may be building nests in your home. Check attics, basements, and behind furniture for these materials.
What to Expect from a Pest Control Visit
If bugs keep showing up no matter what you do, a pest control visit might be your best move.Â
First, they’ll do a thorough inspection, checking all the common places bugs like to hide. This includes crawl spaces, behind appliances, and inside walls. Once they figure out what you’re dealing with, they’ll create a treatment plan using the best method (baits, sprays, or traps) to eliminate the problem.
Most pest control companies offer different service plans based on the type of pests you’re dealing with. No matter which plan you choose, treatments will usually cover both the inside and outside of your home to stop bugs at the source.Â
Your plan will also determine how often they come back to apply follow-up treatments and keep your home protected year-round. If your house already has a built-in pest control system, they’ll use that to apply treatments more effectively.
Even if you’re not dealing with an infestation right now, regular pest control treatments before the summer bug season can help you stay ahead of the problem.Â
A pest control company can find and seal tiny openings before bugs do, apply long-lasting insect barriers, and prevent infestations.
Do You Live in Wake County, NC?
Find a local pest control company that will come out today and assess your property. Â
Enjoy a Pest-Free Summer—Starting Now
Summer should be about sunshine, cookouts, and lazy evenings—not battling ants or chasing roaches around your kitchen. Thankfully, keeping your home pest-free doesn’t have to be complicated.Â
To recap, here are the key steps for a bug-free home this summer:
- Seal entry points to stop pests at the door.
- Eliminate food and moisture sources so bugs have no reason to stay.
- Maintain your yard regularly to remove pest-friendly habitats.
- Use natural repellents as an added layer of protection.
- Call in pest control experts if the bugs just won’t quit.
Put these tips into action today, and enjoy the relaxing, comfortable summer you deserve.
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