Top 5 Tips for a Bug Free Home

So Daylight Savings has started, the days are getting longer and warmer, and the smell of barbeques are starting to linger in the evenings. And now we’re finding ourselves wanting to open our home to bring the outside in to soak up the warm weather. Only fly in the ointment is, it’s not just the nice weather coming in, you’re now faced with bugs and creepy crawlies wanting to come in too. Here are out Top 5 tips for a bug free home this summer.

1. Maintain your yard

Yard maintenance can have a big impact on bug infestations, especially when it comes to mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need a water supply in order to breed, so eliminating pooled water in your yard is one of the top ways to reduce the mosquito population. This can not only help you to better enjoy time spent in the yard, but will also reduce the number of bugs that are trying to enter your home. Keep your drains and gutters free from leaves, grass clippings and debris so they’re able to operate effectively. If you have a pool, keep it clean, even when not in use. Change the water in your fountains or birdbaths twice a week to keep mosquito eggs from hatching in them. Be sure to remove garden waste including piles of leaves or grass clippings. These areas are the perfect hiding spot for insects to hide and reproduce.

2. Sweet smelling Citronella

Citronella is a naturally occurring plant based mosquito and insect repellent. A benefit of using citronella as mosquito repellent is that it is safe and non-toxic to humans and animals (and even the insects). Citronella works by masking scents that are attractive to insects namely carbon dioxide and lactic acid in humans. Citronella Grass Cymbopogon nardus can be planted in your garden near entrance ways and windows or alternatively Citronella Oil and Candles can be burnt near open windows or in the outdoor areas where you are entertaining. For more gardening advice on best plants to naturally repel insects visit Tim’s Garden Centre.

3. Don’t invite bugs to dinner

Insects need a source of food to survive. Stop them from dining in your home by storing food in airtight containers and when possible store unsealed food products in the refrigerator. Whilst it can be easier said than done, where possible, ideally limit food consumption to a single area of the home, and wipe up crumbs or spills quickly. Wash dishes immediately after use, or put them into the dishwasher. Don’t forget pet food, which can be a tempting treat for ants and cockroaches. Put pet food away after mealtimes, or invest in a bug-proof container, which gives your pet access to food while keeping insects out.

4. Love your lizards

Lizards love to eat bugs so whilst it is not necessarily recommended to be the only strategy to reduce the bugs in and around your home, encouraging Lizards such as a Blue Tongue or Gecko to live in your garden can help. A pile of stones or old flowerpots with plenty of cracks and crevices randomly through the garden can give lizards a place of refuge from predators like cats, rodents and birds and an area to rest. Also, thick ground covers and vines give cover for lizards to avoid their predators.

5. Install Screens

Insect screens can dramatically help in your quest to keep bugs out, whilst letting the nice weather in. They are the last line of defence if bugs make it past your clean yard, citronella plants, lizards. There are a wide range of flyscreens that can be custom made for your requirements, from hinged, sliding doors, to retractable systems that are simply pulled down when required and hidden out of sight for the rest of the time. Retractable screens work particularly well with French doors, casement windows, double hung windows, and bi fold doors and windows. Flyscreens can also be fitted to your existing security windows or doors. Our team can measure, make and fit your flyscreens. We can also re-mesh security doors and windows previously installed by Macarthur Home Improvements.