How to keep bugs out of the house in summer

To keep bugs out of the house in summer, take away what they come in for: food, water and a way in. Wipe crumbs and sticky spots every night, store food sealed, keep trash closed and taken out, fix drips and standing water, and seal gaps around doors, windows and screens. If you already have an infestation, call pest control first.

What brings bugs inside in summer?

Bugs come in for the same three things every time.

• Food. Crumbs under the toaster, a sticky ring from a juice cup, the dog bowl, ripe fruit on the counter, the recycling bin with soda cans in it.
• Water. A dripping faucet, a wet sponge, condensation under the sink, a damp bath mat, plant saucers.
• A way in. Gaps under doors, torn screens, cracks around window frames and the spots where pipes and cables come through the wall.

Heat and summer storms push ants and other insects indoors in search of all three. Take those away and the house gives them much less reason to stay.

How do you keep the kitchen from attracting bugs?

A nightly five-minute kitchen reset:

1. Dishes washed or in the dishwasher. No dirty plates in the sink overnight.
2. Counters wiped, including under the toaster, the coffee maker and the fruit bowl.
3. Stovetop wiped of grease and spills while it's cool.
4. Sink drain flushed with hot water and the strainer emptied.
5. Floor swept or vacuumed where the kids eat, and around the pet bowls.
6. Sponge and dishcloths wrung out and left to dry, or tossed in the wash.

Once a week, pull the toaster and microwave out and clean behind them, and wipe the sticky bottles in the fridge door and pantry.

For drains specifically, see how to clean a kitchen drain and disposal.

How should you store food in summer?

• Sealed containers for cereal, flour, rice, pasta, crackers and pet food. Paper bags and folded-over boxes aren't sealed.
• Fruit in the fridge once it's ripe, or in a covered bowl.
• Rinse cans and bottles before they go in the recycling.
• Pet food bowls picked up after meals, not left out overnight.
• Check the pantry for small moths or webbing in dry goods. If you find them, throw out the affected food, vacuum the shelves and wipe them down.

How do you deal with ants, fruit flies and other common summer bugs?

Ants

Don't just kill the line. Ants follow a scent trail, so wipe the whole trail with warm soapy water, then follow it back to where they're coming in and seal that spot with caulk. Keep the counter it led to crumb-free for the next few days.

Fruit flies

They breed in overripe fruit, drains, and the film at the bottom of trash and recycling bins. Throw out or refrigerate the fruit, take the bins out and rinse them, and flush the drain with hot water. A small dish of apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap, covered with plastic wrap poked with a few holes, traps the adults that are left.

Spiders and stink bugs

These come in through gaps more than for food. Vacuum webs and egg sacs from corners and window frames, and seal gaps around window air conditioners and screens. Vacuum stink bugs up rather than squashing them, since they release their smell when crushed.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Tip out flowerpot saucers, kiddie pools, buckets and toys left in the yard after it rains, and change the water in the birdbath every few days. Check that window and door screens close tightly.

How do you seal the way in?

• Door sweeps on exterior doors where you can see daylight underneath
• Weatherstripping around doors and windows that don't close tight
• Screens repaired or replaced where there are tears
• Caulk around window frames and where pipes and cables enter the house
• Trim plants and mulch back so they don't touch the siding

What about natural repellents?

Peppermint, citrus and vinegar sprays may bother some bugs for a short while. They don't replace the basics. A spotless counter beside an open gap still gets ants, and a sealed house with crumbs everywhere still gets the ones already inside. Put your effort into food, water and entry points first.

When do you need pest control?

Call a licensed pest control company if you see:

• Ants that keep coming back after you've cleaned and sealed
• Droppings in cabinets or drawers
• Termite swarms or mud tubes on the foundation
• Wasp or bee nests near doors or windows
• Bed bugs, roaches or mice

Cleaning helps after treatment. It doesn't replace it.

What a house cleaning does in the kitchen

Pest activity isn't on any of our cleaning checklists, so a pest problem is for pest control.

On Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, the countertops and backsplash, the sink and faucet, the stovetop, the range and hood exteriors, the outside of the appliances and the inside of the microwave are cleaned, and the floors are vacuumed and mopped.

It can be booked one time, weekly, every other week, every 4 weeks or twice a year. See what's covered at House Cleaning, and for hosting season, kitchen cleaning during summer parties.

FAQ

Why are there suddenly ants in my kitchen? Summer heat and rain push ants indoors in search of food and water, and one scout that finds a crumb lays a scent trail for the rest. Wipe the trail with soapy water, find and seal where they come in, and keep counters and floors free of crumbs and sticky spots.

How do I get rid of fruit flies fast? Throw out or refrigerate overripe fruit, take the trash and recycling out, and flush the sink drain with hot water. A small dish of apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap, covered with plastic wrap poked with a few holes, catches the adults that are left.

Do essential oils keep bugs away? Peppermint or citrus sprays may bother some insects for a short time, but they don't fix the reason bugs come in. Fix food, water and gaps first.

Does a house cleaning get rid of bugs? No. Pest activity isn't on any of our cleaning checklists, and an infestation needs a licensed pest control company. A clean kitchen just gives bugs less reason to stay once it's treated.

Book a house cleaning

Tina's Clean Team serves South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.