Having an outbreak of bugs in the home can be infuriating because the little critters can squeeze through the tiniest holes, and they just keep coming by the thousands, no matter how many you kill. These problems tend to peak during the warmer and more humid months of the year—especially the late spring and summer—but it can happen any time. The important thing is to keep a cool head and not get too angry or grossed out by the bugs. There are ways to get rid of them without paying for an exterminator. Here’s what to do.


Step 1: Head to the hardware store and purchase two types of bug spray—one for the outside of the house, and one for the inside. Spray along the perimeter of your house in the outside, and then come indoors and spray along the door jams and any windows where bugs may enter.

Step 2: Make sure the home stays clean. It’s important to get old food out of your home as soon as possible. Keep your trash and recycle bins outdoors—even outside of the garage, if you have one—and take your trash out every day. Don’t leave old or rotting food inside overnight. Also, while it may not seem quite as important, one should also try to keep the home uncluttered, as many types of bugs like to hang out in dark places. Take a minimalistic approach to your home design, and be sure to let in lots of natural light.

Step 3: Cut back on the moisture in your home. If you live in a humid area, or if your home often feels quite muggy, you might want to invest in a dehumidifier. When the dehumidifier is not running, just make sure to get lots of air flowing through the rooms by opening windows in all sections of the house and keeping doors open. Bugs like humidity, so all of these things will help.

Step 4: Try to identify the exact locations where the bugs get in. For example, if you have cracks in the foundation, these could be the entry points. In this case, you’ll want to seal up the cracks. Also look for spots around doors and windows where the clearance is large and seal them up wherever possible. Replace any ripped or broken screens, and make sure that doors close as they’re supposed to.