Summer brings sunshine, cookouts, and open windows—but it also signals the annual invasion of ants, flies, mosquitoes, and other unwanted guests. If you’re preparing your home for sale, there’s nothing that will sour a buyer’s first impression faster than spotting insects crawling across your countertops or buzzing around a showing.
To protect your home and peace of mind, it’s critical to keep summer pests away before they find food, shelter, and water sources inside. Even clean homes can fall victim if preventive measures aren’t taken early in the season.
Here are nine essential tricks to keep summer pests away so your home stays fresh, welcoming, and bug-free all summer long.
1. Seal Windows and Doors to Keep Summer Pests Away
One of the most effective ways to keep summer pests away is by sealing up their most common entry points. Gaps around windows, doors, and baseboards give pests like ants and cockroaches an easy way in.
Apply silicone caulk to fill cracks or crevices around window frames. Add weather stripping to doors where light peeks through. These small steps make a big impact in keeping critters outside where they belong.
2. Maintain Outdoor Trash to Keep Summer Pests Away
Trash cans are a buffet for bugs. Raccoons, ants, flies, and even roaches are attracted to leftover food, sweet liquids, and sticky residues.
To keep summer pests away, make sure all outdoor garbage cans:
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Have tight-fitting lids
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Are placed several feet away from the house
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Are rinsed regularly to remove food odors
You can even sprinkle baking soda or vinegar in the bottom of the can to neutralize smells.
3. Use Natural Repellents to Keep Summer Pests Away
Essential oils like peppermint, citronella, and eucalyptus don’t just smell great—they also help keep summer pests away from your home interior.
Add a few drops to a diffuser or mix with water in a spray bottle for DIY pest control. Use these natural deterrents around:
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Kitchen and bathroom baseboards
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Windowsills
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Door frames
They’re not a complete solution, but they do help minimize activity in key areas.
4. Grow Strategic Plants to Keep Summer Pests Away
Want a beautiful yard that also deters bugs? Plant herbs that help keep summer pests away, such as:
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Mint
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Lavender
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Basil
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Lemongrass
You can also place citrus peels near known entry points or rub them directly onto windowsills to repel ants and flies. These plant-based methods are perfect if you’re staging your home for sale and want it to feel fresh and pest-free.
5. Clean Consistently to Keep Summer Pests Away
Regular cleaning is essential to keep summer pests away, especially in kitchens and bathrooms where food and moisture attract ants, flies, and roaches.
Focus on:
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Wiping countertops and cabinet fronts daily
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Vacuuming crumbs and food particles from floors
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Taking out trash and recycling regularly
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Deep-cleaning appliances and under furniture weekly
German cockroaches, in particular, can reproduce rapidly—and their droppings and shed skin can pose health risks, especially to children and people with asthma.
6. Trim Plants and Bushes to Keep Summer Pests Away
Vegetation that touches your home can act like a pest bridge—especially for ants, termites, and spiders.
To keep summer pests away, make sure:
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Tree branches are trimmed back from the roof and siding
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Bushes don’t brush against the home’s foundation
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Vines and creeping plants are controlled or removed
Keeping plants neat also improves curb appeal, which is especially important if you’re listing your home.
7. Eliminate Standing Water to Keep Summer Pests Away
Mosquitoes only need a small amount of stagnant water to breed. If you leave buckets, flower pots, or wheelbarrows outside, they can quickly become mosquito nurseries.
To keep summer pests away, turn over any containers after rain and dump out excess water. Also check for hidden sources of standing water in:
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Birdbaths
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Toys
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Tarps
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Pool covers
Emptying these items regularly can dramatically reduce mosquito populations.
8. Clean Gutters to Keep Summer Pests Away
Clogged gutters collect water, leaves, and debris—creating a perfect breeding ground for pests like mosquitoes and even rodents.
To keep summer pests away, clean out your gutters at the start of the season and inspect them monthly. This also prevents overflow during heavy rains, which can damage siding and the home’s foundation.
9. Remove Food Sources to Keep Summer Pests Away
Even one exposed food source can attract thousands of ants to your home. Ant colonies send out scouts specifically to locate sugar and carb-rich food.
To keep summer pests away, avoid:
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Leaving food on counters overnight
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Letting pet food sit out all day
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Storing opened snacks or pantry items without proper sealing
Ants work quickly, and once a trail is established, it can be hard to break. Use vinegar-based cleaning sprays to disrupt scent trails and wipe down surfaces where ants have been spotted.
Final Thoughts: Keep Summer Pests Away and Make Your Home Buyer-Ready
Whether you’re selling your home or simply want a more pleasant living space, it’s crucial to keep summer pests away before they become a problem.
By sealing entry points, maintaining cleanliness, using natural deterrents, and managing outdoor areas, you can keep your home bug-free and beautiful throughout the summer.
Plus, these efforts show buyers that your home is well cared for—a powerful selling point in any market.
