Ants
Seal up all sweets and greasy foods, which attract ants. Washing countertops, cabinets, and floors with a vinegar-and-water solution kills the scents that guide ants to food.
Bees
There are over 10,000 kinds of bees. If the bee that's bugging you is fuzzy with brown and yellow stripes, you may be dealing with honey bees. If so, there's a chance a local beekeeper will take them off your hands for free. Large infestations of other types of bees may require a call to the exterminator.
Carpenter ants
Find and fix the moisture problems (usually roof or plumbing leaks) that attract them. Lay a line of chili powder or powdered charcoal to bar their points of entry. Sprinkle boric acid on a spoonful of apple-mint jelly, mix it in, and spread the jelly on an index card and place it near the ant colony. For a severe infestation, call in professional help.
Fleas
If your pet has fleas, you need to treat your home, too. Vacuum all areas where your pet sleeps or sits. Vacuum your pet’s bedding and then wash it in hot water. (Seal up and discard the vacuum bags.) Be sure to keep your pet's flea treatments up to date.
Moths
To prevent infestation by pantry moths, store food in tight-lidded glass or sturdy plastic containers. Clean your pantry with a disinfecting cleanser or a vinegar-and-water solution. If you find holes in woolen or other clothing, check the corners of closets and behind furniture for webbing or small cocoons, which are signs that clothes moths are present. Pheromone traps, which use natural insect bait, can be used for both types of moths.
Roaches
Paper and glue attract roaches, so don't stockpile empty grocery bags. Sprinkle boric acid under cabinets and in corners where these pests are known to travel. Keep your kitchen sparkling clean, fix leaky faucets immediately, and schedule regular exterminator visits if necessary.
Termites
If you think you have an infestation, call a reputable exterminator, find and fix the moisture problems that attracted the termites, and then repair damaged or compromised wood.
Wasps
If you notice a small wasp nest under a roof eave, wait until after dark on a cool evening when the insects are inactive. Use a long pole to knock the nest from its mooring, and the wasps won't return. Treat larger hanging nests or ground nests with wasp and hornet spray killer (follow package directions).
CAUTION: It is not advisable to use boric acid in homes where small children or pets live.
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There are many ways to keep insects outside where they belong.
