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Insect & Pest Solutions

Pro tips to prevent, control, and recover from bug and rodent infestations at home.
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How To Repel Fleas with Regular Household Items (Using Smells Fleas Hate!)Cleaning
There’s a lot to love about having pets, but one of the downsides is the fleas that can sometimes come with them — especially if your pet goes outdoors. Fleas can be a pain to get out of your house, but there are a number of regular household items that can be used to repel and kill them without harming your beloved furry friend (no, not you, Windex). Learn more about these below.
Carolin Lehmann
Oct 27, 2022
Neem Oil is the Best $10 You Can Spend on Your PlantsPlants & Yard
It will keep your plants healthier.
Rebecca Straus
Oct 25, 2022
You May Have Heard That Windex Kills Bugs. Here’s the Real DealCleaning
Can it really be used to get rid of small insects like ants? We asked an expert.
Brigitt Earley
Oct 22, 2022
How to Keep Pests Away This FallCleaning
Protect your home from these five common critters.
Laura Wheatman Hill
Oct 15, 2022
Diatomaceous Earth Is The All-Natural Way to Save Your House (and Plants!) From PestsPlants & Yard
It's the chemical-free way to combat spider mites, aphids, silverfish, ants, roaches (and more of your other favorite bugs) at home.
Rebecca Straus
Sep 16, 2022
This $6 Amazon Find Helped Me Beat My Fruit Fly Battle — and It’s Just So Darned Cute!Cleaning
Bye-bye, fruit flies.
Amy Gordon
Sep 14, 2022
How To Make a Feeder for Ladybugs to Attract Them to Your GardenPlants & Yard
Last week, I showed you how you can make natural pesticides for your plants. While these sprays pose less risk than the toxic ones, they also rid your plant of beneficial insects like the ladybug. Unlike most pesky bugs you want to purge from your garden, ladybugs pose no harm and are beneficial to your plants by feasting on a few of your plant’s nemeses such as aphids, mealybugs, leaf hoppers, scales, and mites.
Kimber Watson
Sep 14, 2022
How To Catch a Mouse: Our Biggest & Most Helpful PostsCleaning
It’s mouse season, and two friends have found critter droppings in their kitchen since New Year’s, throwing them into a tizzy. I’ve been through this before, and it drove me crazy how difficult they are to catch. They have patterns that you can expect, and then they break them. A number of years ago (when I recorded the videos below), I finally DID catch the mouse in our home, but it took days and lots of patience.
Maxwell Ryan
Sep 13, 2022
Silverfish: How To Get Rid of Them and Prevent an InfestationCleaning
Look familiar? Here's what to do if you spot one.
Dabney Frake
Aug 11, 2022
Coors Light Has Created Its Own Mosquito TrapCleaning
Summer’s all fun and games until you start getting eaten alive by mosquitos. I came home from a recent trip with no less than 30 mosquito bites, regardless of trying all of the creams, scents, and clothing items that claim to keep those pesky blood suckers away. To help stop these little pests from being a buzzkill this season, Coors Light has come up with a clever contraption so you can instead kill the mosquitoes’ buzz.
Emma Kershaw
Jul 30, 2022
How to Keep Your Pets Safe During Flea SeasonCleaning
Expert remedies to help protect your home and your furry friends.
Alexandra Frost
Jul 21, 2022
This New Gadget Is the Answer to Your Pesky Fruitfly and Mosquito Problems — and It’s 50% Off Right NowCleaning
It's sleek and effective to keep your home pest-free.
Britt Franklin
Jul 19, 2022
Here’s How I Keep Mosquitoes Away All Summer LongCleaning
A mosquito magnet's toolkit.
Stephanie Nguyen
Jul 6, 2022
Pest Control Company Wants to Release 100 Roaches in Your Home And Pay You
News
North Carolina-based pest control company The Pest Informer is in search of homeowners who are willing to welcome 100 cockroaches in their homes to test the effectiveness of various treatment methods.
Inigo Del Castillo
Jun 23, 2022
My Family Swears By This $15 Amazon Find That Makes Bug Swatting So Easy (and Kinda Fun)Cleaning
It's gratifying to use, according to shoppers.
Britt Franklin
Jun 17, 2022
How to Get Rid of Pantry Moths in Your KitchenCleaning
They are the bed bugs of pantries.
Rebecca Straus
May 25, 2022
How to Get Rid of Fruit FliesCleaning
Here's what to do when you realize that, yep, you’ve got a fruit fly infestation on your hands.
Brigitt Earley
May 25, 2022
This Sleek Amazon Gadget Solved My Pesky Fruit Fly Problem — and It’s On Sale for More than 30% Off
Shopping
It also got rid of another editor's plant pests!
Amy Gordon
May 18, 2022
How To Get Rid of Moths (and Prevent Them, too)Cleaning
Nothing threatens a closet full of clothes more than moths. And they can invade even the most well-organized closet. These pesky creatures are responsible for holes in your favorite clothing, and oftentimes, the problem occurs completely unbeknownst to you. Like pantry moths and other pests, these silent clothing killers multiply quickly, too, so it’s a problem you’ll want to solve quickly with a good moth repellent.
Ashley Poskin
May 11, 2022
Mosquitoes Swarm Around These Four Colors the MostCleaning
Avoid these hues.
Inigo Del Castillo
Apr 21, 2022
7 Super Easy Ways to Fight Off Pests This Spring (Before They Take Over)Cleaning
Stop them in their tracks with these common hacks.
Marlen Komar
Apr 9, 2022
Bed Bugs Are Coming — Here Are 3 Things Everyone Should KnowCleaning
Fun fact: They’re more common on red-eyes and international flights.
Jenna Gallagher
Mar 17, 2022
Here’s What Drew Barrymore Should Do to Get Rid of Her Closet MothsCleaning
Luckily, there are lots of solutions and prevention methods.
Alexandra Frost
Jan 15, 2022
One Thing You Have to Clean Now that Halloween is Behind Us
Weekend Projects
This mess can usually pass for a Halloween decoration, but it's November now.
Shifrah Combiths
Nov 5, 2021
4 Truths About Cleaning Away Spider Webs at Home, According to an ArachnologistCleaning
If you destroy a web, the spiders will still live in your house — they’ll just labor over making a new one. But there is one thing you can do.
Ashley Abramson
Oct 19, 2021
This Pest Index Gives Real-Time Info About Critters in Your Area
NEWS
You can use this handy tool when packing for your next outdoor adventure.
Arielle Tschinkel
Aug 4, 2021
This Miraculous $5 Amazon Find Completely Solved My Annoying Ant ProblemCleaning
This bait did *not* mess around.
Ivy Ford
Jul 30, 2021
This $15 Amazon Find Keeps Flying Pests Away from Your Food When Dining OutdoorsCleaning
Unlike other repellers and traps, it won’t put a damper on your dinner.
Rochelle Bilow
Jul 26, 2021
This $10 Mosquito Repelling Candle Will See You Through SummerDesign Ideas
If you buy one thing this summer, make it this candle.
Emma Kershaw
Jul 11, 2021
One Good Thing: My Best Homemade DIY Fruit Fly TrapCleaning
Welcome back to One Good Thing! We’re outdoors again this week with my final insect repellent DIY and this one might just be my very best. We will see. It’s how to get rid of fruit flies, and after years of mucking about and trying a number of different solutions I finally buckled down, did much more research and got it right.
Maxwell Ryan
Jul 1, 2021
Even if You Live Alone, There's A Roommate You Need to Clean Up After
Weekend Projects
I certainly don't appreciate the messes they leave behind.
Shifrah Combiths
Jun 25, 2021
One Good Thing: Madison James Flyaway Sticks are Awesome Outdoors at HomeCleaning
Welcome back to One Good Thing STILL AT HOME!!! And also this week outside. Okay, full disclosure, Hands and I are playing around with our format and having fun. I’ve also chosen to go deep on insect repellants, because it’s a personal passion and I’ve been finding a bunch of really interesting new solutions.
Maxwell Ryan
Jun 24, 2021
One Good Thing: The Amazing Tabasco Yellow Jacket Repellant SecretCleaning
Welcome back to One Good Thing BACK AT HOME! Yes, this week I’m back in my yard, enjoying the warm weather and sharing with you YET ANOTHER genius tip for repelling bugs – this time, yellow jackets – which can really drive you batty by getting in your food and drink on a hot summer day. This tip came from a restaurant upstate that I went to last autumn.
Maxwell Ryan
Jun 17, 2021
The $26 Amazon Find This Kitchen Tools Editor Swears Keeps Mice AwayCleaning
And more than 17,000 Amazon reviewers agree that it works!
Vanessa Spilios
May 24, 2021
I Live in the Caribbean and These Are 5 Mosquito Solutions That Locals Swear By
Shopping
Surefire advice from people who battle these pesky insects year-round.
Amy Gordon
Apr 28, 2021
The Trash Can Our Staffer Swears Solved Her Mouse Problem
Shopping
Bonus: It costs a *lot* less than a visit from a pest control company!
Vanessa Spilios
Apr 2, 2021
7 Simple Things You Can Do This Weekend to Ward Off Pests
Weekend Projects
It's hard to enjoy springtime when you're swatting at mosquitoes, hopping away from spiders, or fleeing wasps.
Shifrah Combiths
Mar 26, 2021
The Editor-Favorite Mosquito Solution I’m Stocking Up on Before It Sells Out AgainCleaning
“Just set up a few around your patio or picnic table and you’re basically setting up a do-not-disturb sign.”
Vanessa Spilios
Mar 23, 2021
Natural Bug Repellents to Keep Your Dinners Outside BearableCleaning
There’s nothing like a swarm of mosquitoes or army of ants to ruin your time outdoors. Even though bugs are often useful, they can put a damper on picnics, BBQs, and simply chilling outside, and leave you with some nasty bites and stings. Thankfully it’s fairly simple to find ways to keep bugs away.
Melissa Epifano
Oct 24, 2020
Humane Rodent ControlCleaning
I recently discovered evidence of mice in my apartment, err… actually, my cat discovered them for me. She’s a great hunter and tormentor but, as I discovered after a few hours, not a killer. Mice are one of the most horrifying things I can imagine in my home, so I’ve researched a few humane ways to get rid of them.
Kathryn Wright
Jul 18, 2020
7 Kitchen Waste Items to Use in the GardenPlants & Yard
Composting kitchen scraps for use in the garden is a classic green living practice, but there are many kitchen waste items that can also be put to good use in other ways in the garden. From hot peppers to paper towel rolls, here are seven kitchen waste items to make your home and garden healthy and happy. Paper Towel Rolls: Trim them down to about 2 inches high and press them into the soil around seedlings, this serves as an added layer of protection from pests such as slugs.
Kathryn Wright
Jul 17, 2020
The Battle of the Bugs: How To Prevent & Get Rid of PestsReal Estate
A couple of weeks ago I helped my brother pick out an apartment in Northern Virginia. We found a great one-bedroom in an older apartment complex, recently remodeled, it has ample storage, a large patio, and it’s close to his work. One little problem: we started to move him in and found a roach hanging out in the kitchen cabinet. Then we found another by the sink. And a tiny one was running across the pantry door. Uh-oh, there’s a bug problem.
Erin Roberts
Jul 16, 2020
I Had Bedbugs—Here's How I Learned to Feel Safe at Home, and What Pros AdviseCleaning
My relationship to my space was forever changed.
Sarah duRivage-Jacobs
Jul 10, 2020
The Best Bug-Repellent Products for Your Outdoor SpaceCleaning
Say goodbye to those uninvited guests for good!
Madelyn Simons
Jul 9, 2020
Tips & Tricks for Getting Rid of and Dealing with MosquitoesCleaning
Looking for ways to rid your indoor and outdoor spaces of mosquitoes? Here are our best posts on how to keep those little buggers away. Natural Remedy: 5 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes How To Make Your Own DIY Mosquito Repellent Device Make Your Own Citronella Candles That Really Work 5 Tips For a Mosquito-Free Summer How To Make A Wine Bottle Tiki Torch for Under $4.
Kate Legere
Mar 11, 2020
Why I Never Kill Spiders (and Why Pros Say That's Totally OK)Cleaning
Can't we all just get along?
Audrey Carleton
Nov 20, 2019
The First 8 Things To Do If You Think You Might Have Bed BugsCleaning
Instead of bugging out, follow these steps to make sure your home is bug-free and prevent the little pests from spreading.
Rebecca Renner
Sep 24, 2019
5 Things You Need to Do After Every Trip to Protect Yourself From Bed BugsCleaning
Not only do these tiny pests tend to hide (and breed) inside of beds, couches, and clothing, they’ll gladly hitch a ride on your clothes and luggage if given the opportunity.
Caroline Biggs
Sep 14, 2019
7 Unsuspecting Places Bed Bugs Might Be Hiding in Your Home
Bed bugs don’t just live in your bed. If you suspect you have a bed bug infestation, you might be unhappy to find that bed bugs can thrive just about anywhere. They have a soft spot for fluffy fabrics with lots of folds and cushy places to hide. But they also party in cracks in grout, under your box spring, and in your dresser drawers. In other words, almost nowhere is safe from these sneaky critters.
Rebecca Renner
Sep 6, 2019
Where Do Bed Bugs Come From? A Quick, Non-Gross Explainer
We talked to Brittany Campbell, Ph.D., staff entomologist for the National Pest Management Association—and probably one of the few people in the world who seems genuinely excited to talk about bed bugs—to demystify the pests.
Rena Behar
Aug 29, 2019
Fruit Fly Death Trap
All the fruit we had gave us not only delicious fruit conserves, but also a bumper crop of fruit flies. We were humane to the spiders, but we had something else in mind for these fast-reproducing pests…It’s easy to make your own: just roll a piece of paper into a cone, pour some apple cider vinegar or put a piece of ripe banana in the bottom of a glass or jar, insert the paper cone, and wait.(Oh yeah, and get rid of the ripe or rotten fruit that’s attracting the fruit flies.
Jonathan B.
Aug 22, 2019
How to Get Rid of Mealybugs
As far as the ick factor goes, mealybugs are a 10 out of 10.
Rebecca Straus
Aug 18, 2019
This Entomologist Has a Travel Warning: Always Put Your Suitcase in the Hotel Bathroom
The reason behind it is simpler than you might think, but it might make your skin crawl.
Kaitlin Stanford
Aug 11, 2019
This Mosquito Solution Has a Serious Cult Following
Imagine extra-long incense sticks that burn for hours and repel mosquitos, hornets, and other pesky insects. Just set up a few around your patio or picnic table and you're basically setting up a do-not-disturb sign.
Lisa Freedman
Jul 29, 2019
One Icky Reason You May Want to Put Dryer Sheets Under the Legs of Your Table
Dryer sheets, especially fragranced ones, have gotten a bad rap as of late. But these very same fragrance-laden fabric softeners are excellent at keeping one thing away.
Shifrah Combiths
Jul 28, 2019
The No-Freak Out Guide for How to Handle a Wild Animal in Your Home
Wildlife management experts say, for the most part, you can evict unwanted tenants (also known as "nuisance animals") fairly easily. But don't try to take care of everything yourself (and don't ignore what's happening). Call on the experts for guidance as soon as possible.
Susan Marque
Jun 19, 2019
How To Make a Fruit Fly Trap To Get Rid of Fruit Flies
We’ve all experienced it at one point: fruit flies, first a few then an infestation surrounding your fruit bowl. They’re pesky little critters, but we’ve found the best way to rid your kitchen of them. Here are our quick instructions for making a fruit fly trap with just a few simple materials. Vinegar, fruit or wine (apple cider vinegar works especially well) Glass or jar Sheet of paper Tape Find a suitable glass or jar.
Ashley Poskin
Jun 5, 2019
The Best Mouse Traps
It might not be fun to talk about, but with winter approaching you know it's necessary
Nicole Lund
May 23, 2019
How to Get Rid of Gnats
If your apartment is plagued by tiny floating black dots, you might think you’re hallucinating or your eyes are failing. We can’t totally rule those out… but it’s more likely you’ve got a much less alarming but still extremely annoying problem.Gnats.There are a few strategies for getting rid of your pesky new visitors.
Rena Behar
May 10, 2019
How To: Build A DIY Humane Mouse Trap
It appears that my recent house guest was an elderly member of a rodent community underneath our building. Our friend and neighbor found another rodent brought in by her cat in her adjoining unit, and was notified that some workmen discovered a nest of mice living beneath the building in the foundation. She’s been looking to get rid of it, but humanely, but isn’t too keen on traditional traps.
Gregory Han
May 10, 2019
Dust and Dust Mite Proof Your Bedroom
If humans or animals live in your house — you have dust mites. No special test is needed to check, it is a fact. Even if you are not sensitive to dust, keep reading.I found all of this information on the web via Environmental Health and Safety Online and The Allergy Store.House dust mites are microscopic bugs that primarily live on dead skin cells regularly shed from humans and their pets. Dust mites are harmless to most people.
Sparrow King
May 8, 2019
How To Make A Wine Bottle Tiki Torch for Under $4.00
Inspired by the this Recycled Wine Bottle Torch post and annoyed by mosquitoes this week (how is it that they’re already out and there’s been only a few weeks of spring?), we hit up the hardware store and threw together a $3.48 recycled wine bottle torch filled with citronella. While it’s not as classy as the real thing (nor as safe), it keeps the bugs at bay and looks pretty good. And it was quick and cheap.
Trent Johnson
May 8, 2019
How To Make Natural Garden Pesticides
Garden pests make otherwise enjoyable gardening frustrating. Whether it’s snails taking over your lettuce or aphids sucking on your roses, a pest infestation is definitely disappointing, but it’s not a reason to reach for harmful, toxic sprays. The sprays might eliminate the pesky culprits, but they are harmful to you and the environment. Instead, try whipping up one of these simple recipes with ingredients you most likely have on hand.
Ashley Poskin
May 5, 2019
How To Get Rid of Bedbugs
A warning before you read further: this post will make your skin itch. A good friend of mine aptly pointed out that bed bugs are like the adult version of head lice. I never had head lice as a child, and I never imagined that I would have bedbugs as an adult, until it happened to me. I had heard about the great bedbug epidemic in New York back in 2010, but my personal nightmare with bedbugs began last fall.
Claire Bock
May 4, 2019
Search and Destroy: How To Get Rid of Sweater Moths
Usually the first sign you have a moth problem is when you pull out a sweater and discover it’s laced with tiny holes. Clothes moths are sneaky little pests. They like to lie low in dark corners, snacking on your best cashmere. They rarely take time out from feasting to flutter about your house, so before you start swatting at each and every moth you see, here is what you need to know. Tineola bisselliella and Tinea pellionella are the two most common types of clothes moths.
Rebecca Bond
May 4, 2019
Terribly Helpful: How To Identify Household Pests
Last spring, I celebrated sundress weather with some huge, blotchy bites on my calves. San Francisco is known for its lack of mosquitoes, so I did the sensible thing and panicked: BEDBUGS. Nope — it was spiders! In an effort to save you the same confusion, I’ve put together this list of tips for IDing your household pests. Bite in the night? Get yourself to a doctor.
Tess Wilson
May 4, 2019
What Are the Small Brown Bugs on My Houseplants? Dealing With Scale Pests
Notice the raised, brown growth on my Sago Palm. This is an example of scale. I’m currently dealing with a really sticky problem — yes, pun intended! — and anybody that has discovered one of their houseplants has a case of scale knows exactly what I’m talking about. While you may think scale is only attacking your plants, think again. Yes, it is first and foremost a plant pest, but this little creature can also wreak havoc on your home. So what exactly is scale?
Kimber Watson
May 4, 2019
How To Avoid Bringing Bedbugs Home from Hotels, Thrift Stores and More
Although they aren’t actually dangerous unless you’re allergic to their bites, bedbugs are pretty revolting. And, as we all probably know, infestations have been on the rise. Following are some ways to help ensure that these very unwanted guests don’t end up in your home. Here are a few ways you could unintentionally bring bedbugs home — and how to avoid them.
Shifrah Combiths
May 4, 2019
The Assassin Bug: Facts, Dangers & Prevention
Assassin bugs (or kissing bugs) get their names from their habit of biting humans on the face near the lips. (It’s true people: I can’t make this stuff up.) Here’s what you need to know about this not-so-nice insect. Assassin, a.k.a. kissing bugs, are found all across the bottom two-thirds of the United States, and predominantly in Arizona, California, Texas, and New Mexico.
Dabney Frake
May 4, 2019
Can’t Sleep? 5 Reasons Why Your Bedroom is Keeping You Awake
Sleep is a key building block of health and happiness, yet it’s often hard to get and stay there for one night, let alone a string of several nights at a time. Here are five common reasons your bedroom isn’t working, and eight small changes to help you fall asleep, keep snoozing throughout the night, and ultimately function better the next day. PROBLEM #1: ALLERGIES Is your stuffy nose keeping you from getting shut eye?
Dabney Frake
May 4, 2019
Everything You Need to Know: How To Have a Wasp-Free Summer
Despite an unpleasant childhood experience involving a tire swing and a hornets’ nest, I’m not terribly bothered by the wasps’ nests that came with our new house. However, a certain member of my family is not so blasé about our buzzing neighbors, so I’m determined to make our summer wasp-free. Here’s how… Set up wasp’s-nest decoys. They mimic real nests and trick the wasps into nesting elsewhere.
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Why You Should Spray Vinegar Around Your Windows
We’re eager for that moment to throw our windows open to fresh spring breezes — and it seems that the things outside our homes are awaiting the opportunity, too (but for different motives). If it’s not the pollen blowing inside, it’s the bugs that somehow make it through the tiniest nooks and crannies you don’t see (even if you have screens).
Shifrah Combiths
May 3, 2019