Cleaning tips to keep bugs out of your house

To keep bugs out of your house, take away what they come in for: food, water and places to hide. Wipe up crumbs and spills right away, keep food sealed, take the kitchen trash out daily in summer, rinse the recycling, and leave the sink dry at night. Fix drips, cut clutter and seal gaps. Cleaning prevents a lot; an infestation is a job for a licensed pest control company.

In a Philly summer, a lot of the fix happens in the kitchen.

What do you do in the kitchen?

• Wipe counters and the stovetop after every meal.
• Sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor daily in summer, under the toe kicks too.
• Seal open food in containers with lids: cereal, flour, sugar, pet food.
• Wash dishes at night, or at least rinse and stack them.
• Leave the sink dry. Wipe it, and wring out the sponge, or swap it out often.
• Clean behind and under appliances a few times a year. Crumbs collect beside the stove and under the fridge.

Our everyday kitchen guide covers the daily routine.

How do you handle trash and recycling?

• Kitchen trash out daily in hot weather, in a can with a lid.
• Rinse recycling before it goes in the bin.
• Wash the cans with hot soapy water every few weeks, and let them dry in the sun.
• Keep outdoor bins closed and away from the back door if you can.

What about water and damp spots?

Bugs need water as much as food.

• Fix drips under sinks and around the toilet.
• Run the bathroom fan during and after showers.
• Empty pet water bowls at night if pests are a problem, and wipe the spot under them.
• Dry the tub and shower floor with a squeegee.
• Check basements for damp corners; a dehumidifier helps in a muggy summer.

How do you cut hiding places?

• Clutter goes. Piles of paper, bags and boxes are shelter. Recycle cardboard quickly.
• Vacuum edges and corners where dust and crumbs collect.
• Seal gaps around pipes, windows and doors with caulk or weatherstripping, and keep screens in good repair.

When is cleaning not enough?

If you see bugs or droppings regularly despite all of this, find signs of mice, or suspect bed bugs or termites, call a licensed pest control company. In a rowhome or an apartment, tell your landlord, since you share walls.

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FAQ

What attracts bugs into a house? Food, water and shelter. Crumbs, open food, pet bowls, overflowing trash, damp sponges, leaky pipes and piles of clutter give them all three. Take those away and the house is far less inviting.

How do you get rid of fruit flies? Toss overripe fruit, take out the trash, rinse recycling, and clean the sink drain. A small dish of apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap traps the ones that are left.

When should you call pest control? When you see bugs or droppings regularly despite keeping things clean, find signs of mice, or suspect bed bugs or termites. Cleaning helps prevent pests, but it doesn't remove an infestation; a licensed pest control company does.

Book a cleaning

Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.