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Add screens -

To have some ventilation and enjoy some fresh air without the annoyance of insects, install screens in windows and doors. It's perfect for those hot, humid summer days. 

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Store trash properly -

Trash can become a buffet to cockroaches and other pests. To prevent bugs from feasting on your trash, proper storage and handling are critical. Remember, trash should be placed in a can with a lid, and it should be emptied regularly. 

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Maintain your yard -

Yard maintenance is highly important when it comes to diminishing bug infestations, especially regarding mosquitoes and fleas. For example, eliminating pooled water is one of the top ways to reduce the mosquito population.

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Another use for coffee grounds -

Use leftover coffee grounds in spots around the outside of your home where you think pests are coming in. Many of them can't stand the smell of the grounds and will stay away.

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Check seasonal clothing for pests -

Wash and dry your seasonal clothes and bedding thoroughly to kill any waiting bug eggs. Make sure to inspect everything before you pack it away or start wearing it.

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Remove fruit flies with apple vinegar -

If those annoying fruit flies are invading your kitchen, pour some apple cider vinegar in a small bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and punch a couple pencil-lead-sized holes in the plastic. It will work as a trap for the flies, who will be attracted to the vinegar and then unable to fly away. 

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Repair cracks -

Due to the microscopic size of many bugs, it's easy for them to enter the home through cracks that are nearly invisible to you. That's why sealing cracks can be one of the best ways to bug-proof your home.

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Spiders don't like onions -

To keep spiders away, slice up some onions and add them in a bowl of water. Then, place the bowl where spiders enter your home, and they'll stay away.

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Keep it dry -

Wet areas serve as both breeding ground and drinking fountains for insects. Avoid having your sink filled with dirty dishes, and try to keep the area dry. 

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Trim plants against your home -

To stop the flow of ants into your home, trim back bushes, shrubs and trees that brush against your walls or roof. This is because they provide a bridge for ants to reach your house.

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Get rid of dust mites -

Make your own dust mite repellent spray with essential oils. All you need is to mix eucalyptus, lavender, clove, or peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle. Then you use it to mist furniture and linens. Allow it to air dry. 

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Eliminate cockroaches -

Storing paper bags under the kitchen sink will eventually create a cockroach condo. And worse, once cockroaches move in, they'll release their pheromone laced fecal pellets. Then you'll have to hire a professional exterminator.

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Bananas deter aphids -

If aphids are taking over your garden, just place a banana peel under the soil near the stems of your plants. This will both deter bugs and add some nutrients to the soil.

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Seal your doors -

If you take a closer look at your entrance ways, you'll be surprised by the number of unsealed gaps you see, each an easy entrance for bugs. To keep them from crawling in, make sure you seal the gaps. 

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Get rid of boxelder bugs -

Even though they're harmless, it's not fun to have them taking over your home. Look for major congregations of bugs outdoors and spray them with a strong solution of soapy water. 

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Seal around pipe penetration -

You probably have some utility or pipe penetrations in your walls that are surrounded by large gaps, providing an open invitation for insects. Some common types include those made for water, gas, electrical, or air-conditioning piping. Make sure to have those sealed. 

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Deter ants with white wine vinegar -

Ants leave a trail for other ants from the colony to find their way to food. Wash away the trail by making a solution made from 1/4 cup white vinegar, two cups water and 10 drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil.

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Properly store your food -

Pests also love food, so keep it in sealed containers or in the refrigerator. Bugs also gravitate to fresh fruits, so you might want to store them in the fridge as well. 

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Keep ladybugs away -

If ladybugs are taking over your home, place some bags of cloves or sprinkle some clove oil in heavily infested areas. Ladybugs don’t like strong scents and will quickly disappear.

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Cover large openings -

It can be hard to cover some of the larger holes in your home's exterior. But you can do so by using a very fine wire mesh, often called hardwire cloth. It not only keeps bugs out, but can alos prevent squirrel and raccoon infestations as well.

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Careful with bed bugs -

Bed bugs travel easily on clothes, especially during vacation. After you've been away or had any overnight guests, check for bed bugs. Remember, these bugs can live in couches and mattresses as well.

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Cornmeal kills ants -

Place small piles of cornmeal down wherever you see ants. Ants like to eat the cornmeal, and they will take it back to their colony. However, they can't digest them, so they'll end up dead. 

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Close garage and basement doors -

Garages and basements are usually used as storage spaces, workshops, and studios. But for insects, they see them as a warm and welcoming home. Therefore, always close the doors when they don’t need to be open.

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Careful with your dryer vent -

Check your dryer vents to ensure the damper isn’t stuck open or broken off completely, as it could attract pests. Additionally, examine that the vent is tight on the wall. 

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Bye bye bug trails -

Sweeping or mopping isn’t enough to eliminate the scented trail left by ants and other bugs. Instead, mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle, then spray wherever you’ve seen them. 

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A solution against spiders -

Eliminate spiders in your basement by using a dehumidifier to maintain a 40% humidity level. Don't forget to also remove cobwebs whenever they appear. The spider population will disappear significantly.  

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Check for crawl spaces -

Have a look at your attic and basement since these places can be home for not only rodents, but also ants and cockroaches. 

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Protect wood from moisture -

Insects need to draw life-sustaining moisture from their surroundings. If the soil around your house and walls are dry, it'll be less attractive to insects and spiders. 

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Avoid clutter -

To keep bugs from making themselves at home, get rid of their favorite amenities, such as clutter, and unprotected food and water sources.

Sources: (Family Handyman) (How Stuff Works) 

See also: The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing 

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