In this article, I’ll be giving you useful tips on how to get rid of bugs in basements.

No one likes bugs, but unfortunately, you can find them in any part of your home, as long as the conditions there are favorable. Your basement is not excluded, as it is one of the most conducive places where bugs can live and multiply.

Insect Pest Control In Basements

If you’re experiencing a bug infestation in your basement and you have no idea how to get rid of them, then you’ve come to the right place.

Keep reading!

Common Basement Bugs

Many household insects can invade your basement and make a home of it.

Among the most common ones include –

  • Cockroaches
  • Spiders
  • Mosquitoes
  • Bed bugs
  • Carpenter ants

The type of insects you will find in your basement is determined by what they are attracted to, and if those things are present.

What Attracts Insects Bugs To Your Basement?

Before we get into the extermination aspect of this article, let us understand why bugs are in your basement in the first place.

As you can imagine, there are several reasons for a basement bug infestation, and I’ll be taking you through some of the major causes.

Moisture: All living things need water to survive, and bugs are not excluded. Insects like mosquitoes, carpenter ants, and cockroaches all love to reside in areas that have water.

If your basement is flooded or has water leakages, then there is every possibility that water-loving bugs will be present there.

Food: Just like water, all living things need food to survive, and if your basement has a lot to offer in terms of nutrition, then there will be bugs there.

Food crumbs and beverage spillages that are left lying around is an open invitation for bugs like carpenter ants and roaches to invade.

Warmth: Most household bugs are immigrants, which means they migrated from the outdoors to seek shelter in a warmer, safer environment.

Outdoor bugs do not like freezing conditions, and they are known to travel in search of warmer environments when winter comes. If there are openings in any part of your basement that allow bugs to creep in, then you can be sure they will oblige.

Cracked or open windows are perfect entry points.

Pets: Do you have a dog that usually hangs out with you in the basement? If you do, then he might be the reason you have ticks on your sofa or rug.

Ticks and bed bugs are fond of clinging onto a host and living deep within its hairs. Your pet could’ve brought them in from outside.

Basement Pest Control Methods For Bugs

Now that you know why you have bugs in your basement, let me walk you through how you can get rid of them.

Follow these tips!

Tip 1: Basement Insect Control Products

When you find bugs in your basement, your first thoughts would probably be to grab the bug spray and let loose on them. That’s a good idea, and that’s probably the fastest way to kill bugs.

You still have a few things to consider though – Will you be using a commercial spray or a homemade bug killer?

Commercial sprays are packed with toxic chemicals that can harm humans and pets if accidentally ingested. For this reason, you need to be careful when using them.

Ensure that your pets and kids are out of the basement before you spray. Don’t forget to put on a facemask and eye goggles to protect your nose, mouth, and eyes from the toxic contents of the spray can.

When you’re sure that all safety measures have been taken, you can then visit the areas where the bugs have infested and spray directly on them. You can also spray into the air, as the chemicals will spread and kill insects like roaches and mosquitoes.

As for homemade bug killers, those are usually organic and less toxic, so they are safe around humans and pets. You can make a cayenne pepper, garlic, and water mixture and pour it in a spray bottle, then spray directly on the invading bugs.

Bugs can be very sneaky, so be sure to spray into all the tight corners, as well as cracks and crevices in the basement.

Tip 2: Take out infested materials

If you’re dealing with bed bugs, then you can find them hiding inside your mattress, couch, and rugs. If that is the case, then you should take out all the infested furniture and place them out in the sun.

After taking out the furniture, you can use a bug killer spray to kill them. Make sure you get every single corner of the furniture in question because as I said earlier, bugs can be sneaky and can hide even in the tightest corners.

Before you bring the furniture back inside, take a thorough look around your basement to ensure there are no bugs left inside. If there are, then use an insecticide to kill them.

You can use a vacuum cleaner afterward to suck them up and dispose of them in the garbage can. You can also use a mini vacuum to go over the furniture before you bring them back inside.

Tip 3: Hire Experts For A Bug-proof Basement

Some cases of bug infestation in your basement may be too much for you to handle. The case may be that you have been away from your home for a long time, and bugs have invaded and multiplied while you were away.

If this is the case, then it would be best to hire the services of a pest control contractor to get rid of them. They are armed with the skills and materials needed to tackle full-blown infestations, and you can rest assured they will get the job done.

Since the infestation is in your basement, you may not need to move away from your home while they work. You just need to stay away from the basement for a few days so the chemicals from the fumigation spray can do their job.

How To Keep Bugs Out Of Basement

Getting rid of basement bugs is one thing, keeping them out is another. Remember, bugs are stubborn creatures and they’ll keep coming back as long as your basement still has what they need.

Basically, there are two approaches to keeping bugs out of your basement –

  • Fortifying your structure to keep them out
  • Making your basement unconducive so they won’t bother staying

A combination of these two approaches will guarantee that insects will no longer be found in your basement.

Here’s what you can do.

Tip 1: Fix window cracks

Small creatures like ants can creep through cracks in your basement windows and make their way in. This is why you should replace broken window glass and tighten window sills to eliminate crawl spaces.

Tip 2: Install window screens

Mesh screens can be used to block entry through your basement window. Make sure the screen you install is tightly woven, so smaller insects like ants won’t be able to squeeze their way through.

Tip 3: Keep your pets out

Since insects like ticks and bed bugs can cling onto your pet and enter the basement with them, it would be a good idea to make your basement a no-pet zone.

This may seem like a harsh measure for your furry friend, but since you can’t really control how your pets play outside, it means you can’t control the number of outdoor bugs that will cling onto them.

Besides keeping your pets out of the basement, you should also make it a habit to give your pets regular baths. This will help shake the bugs off their fur.

Tip 4: Keep your basement dry

Water-loving bugs like mosquitoes and roaches will be attracted to your basement if it has leakages or standing water. If you’re serious about keeping bugs out of your basement, then ensure that it stays dry at all times.

Ensure that you fix all leakages and eliminate all standing water. The sump pump in your basement should be in good working condition so it can get rid of standing water effectively.

Tip 5: Keep your basement clean

Having a bunch of junk lying around your basement floors can be detrimental to your cause of keeping bugs away.

Practice regular cleaning habits and keep your couch, rug, and mattress free of food crumbs or beverage spills. Also, clear out old boxes and junk materials that are no longer in use.

The freer your basement is, the lesser the number of hiding spaces the bugs will have.

Tip 6: Eliminate outdoor standing water

If your yard slopes towards your foundation, then rainwater can gather there, and that can attract bugs into your basement.

You can re-slope your yard so water can flow away from your basement window. This should help reduce the bug population.

Final Words

Getting rid of bugs in your basement isn’t a difficult task, just follow the tips I’ve provided in this article.

Be sure to take preventive measures and make your basement as unattractive to the bugs as possible.

I trust this has been helpful.

Take care!

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