How To Remove Insects From Your Home

In any hot climate, bugs and insects can make themselves apparent, creating a nuisance in the home. They are particularly problematic in parts of Spain in the summer months, with ants and fruit flies make regular appearances in many Spanish kitchens when the weather is warm.

But what can you do about it? How can you prevent bug infestations in your Spanish home? A lot of that will depend on the types of bugs that your home is attracting.

The most common types of bugs that can invade homes in Spain are fruit flies, ants, stink bugs, cockroaches, pantry moths, plaster bagworms and mosquitoes. If you have pets, then animals such as cats and dogs can also bring fleas and ticks into your home.

Here’s everything you need to know:

How Can I Prevent Bugs From Coming Into My Home?

Prevention is better than a cure, and so the best way to remove bugs and pests from your home is to stop them getting in in the first place.

One of the best ways to prevent bugs from being attracted to your home is to ensure that all food sources are fully covered and never exposed. Some bugs can into your food and lay eggs in your cupboards, so covering your food is not only essential for deterring bugs, it’s also good for your health.

As well as closing food packets and covering any food (with a fruit net, for example) you should also do the washing up as soon as you have finished eating, throw away any food waste outside of the home, and sweep away any crumbs both in the kitchen and wherever you have eaten your meal. Clean homes generally attract less insects than those that aren’t cleaned regularly. Plaster bagworms and moths can lay larvae on walls and ceiling that aren’t kept clean, for example.

Another key pest prevention measure is to ensure that your pets are treated with flea and tick treatments on a regular basis. Pay attention to your pets fur by combing them regularly with a fine toothed comb, and if you do find any evidence of fleas or ticks then treat both your pet and your home thoroughly.

Finally, consider installing a screen door or window net in your home. Because Spanish temperatures soar during the summer months, many Spanish homeowners will leave their windows and doors open to create a breeze. But open windows and doors act as an open invitation for bugs!  Shutting the door isn’t a realistic solution if you’re feeling the heat, but a screen door or mesh window cover will provide the same breeze whilst still keeping the insects out. You can buy these items from most hardware stores or home stores in Spain, and they are incredibly simple to install.

How To Remove Insects From Your Home

If you are already finding bugs and insects in your home then, as well as taking the prevention measures outlined above, you should also start taking steps towards removing the insects from your home. Some of the best ways to do this include:

• Insect Traps. There are many different approaches to kill the insects that are in your home. Electric fly swats, ant traps and sticky paper are all popular approaches. If you prefer something a little more gentle then plants such as lavender, basil, lemongrass and mint are all natural insect repellents and may scare the bugs away.
• Insecticides. These are widely available in Spain, and can be used as a cleaning solution to kill the bugs in your home. If you have pets or simply don’t want to use chemical insecticides then natural ones made from white vinegar, citrus plants, or peppermint oil can also work.
• Pest Control. If your insect infestation is completely out of control, and the solutions outlined above simply aren’t helping them you may need professional help.  Pest control services are available across Spain. They are known as ‘control de plagas’ and are easy to find within most communities. It’s worth checking with your home insurance provider to see if they will cover you for this service: if not, you may need to pay independently.

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