Preventing Autumn Pests
Everyone talks about Spring Cleaning, but Midwesterners know that there are plenty of house chores that need done before winter creeps in. Here are some eco-friendly tips that will save time and effort, while also allowing you to skip harsh chemicals and pesticides.
Autumn is a time when insects are looking for a warm place to sleep for the winter, or a warm place to deposit their eggs which will hatch in the spring. Their preferred habitats include leaf litter, hollow parts of trees, wood piles, and other naturally occuring homes. Humans have taken away many of these natural options, so insects can often be found trying to enter your home and outbuildings especially in autumn. This can create cobwebs in your home, especially near the ceiling and around walls; dead bugs accumulating in window sills and light fixtures; and undesirable encounters with insects in your home. (Even writing this, I can hear myself screaming like an actual baby and throwing myself out of the room the last time I encountered a wolf spider in the house— no judgment here if you react the same).
So what can we do?
Use scents to your advantage. Insects are especially sensitive to strong smelling essential oils. These can be sprayed around windows to make entering your home unappealing to insects. Better yet, many of these plants are beautiful additions to your yard and can have many of the same benefits when planted as an ornamental. Mint, lavender, sage, marigolds, mums, basil, and lemongrass are all scents that can help repel insects when planted close to your home. Many can be planted in pots and brought in right before the first hard freeze. It is important to be aware that some scents can also be harmful to your pets, especially in their concentrated form as essential oils. This article is not exhaustive as different pets have different needs not just based on their species, but also their medical history. Research what you can and cannot use around your fur babies and when in doubt, always ask your veterinarian.
Turn off exterior lights at night. Insects use the light of the moon and stars to guide their flight patterns. Exterior lights therefore attract bugs which attract spiders. And where is your porch light? Right next to your door! By leaving outdoor lights on, you inadvertently attract insects to your door with a big old billboard that says: “All You Can Eat Buffet: Spiders Eat Free!”
Address insulation needs. Before it gets too cold, go ahead and check windows, doors, vents, and crawlspaces. Foam insulation is easy to install in window sills and door jambs and incredibly inexpensive. Not only does this help seal out unwanted visitors, it will also save on heating and cooling costs all year long.
Provide them a better option. When I asked my Grandma how she keeps squirrels out of her garden, she gave me this delightful advice: “Well, darling, I feed them of course.” Her squirrel feeder was on the opposite side of the yard from her garden, effectively drawing them away from the garden and preventing their interest in the garden entirely. Why would they need to eat her vegetables and herbs when they were so well cared for? The same advice is applicable here and even easier to follow as insects need little to be directed away. Leaving leaf litter in flower beds over the winter enriches the soil, prevents leeching and erosion, and provides a preferred habitat for insects. A compost pile built away from the house can also provide an excellent home for insects to overwinter while also providing your plants with amazing and free compost for your flower beds and garden.
Looking for more information on cobwebs? We were featured in a Redfin article with more great advice from many other cleaning business owners across the U.S. Check it out here: What Are Cobwebs? Understanding and Eliminating Unwanted Webs in Your Home | Redfin
Amber Starling, Author
Founder and President of
Good Witch Cleaning Services, LLC
IICRC Master Textile Cleaner