12 Tips To Protect Yourself From Summer Bugs

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Summer Bug Protection: 12 Tips for Pest Control

Here in South Carolina, we’ve got many pests and critters to contend with during the summer. Whether you’re talking about mosquitoes, ticks, termites, or any number of other pests, it’s important to take the right steps to protect yourself and your family from these annoying creatures, and pest control services are an important piece of the puzzle. 
 
That said, there are some other things you can do both when you’re out and about, as well as around your home, to cut down on your summertime pest problems.
 
We’ve put together a handy list of our top 12 pest control tips to help you make it through the summer months without battling the bugs and bees that come with it. Read on to learn more!
 

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Keep Pests Away All Summer with These Tips

 

1. Protect Your Skin

It goes without saying that bugs like mosquitoes and ticks need access to your skin in order to bite you or latch on. Still, a lot of us head outdoors in the summertime wearing shorts and a tank top. If you’re going on a hike in a tick-infested area or lounging by a lake with a large mosquito population, consider wearing a lightweight, long-sleeved, moisture-wicking shirt and long pants.
 

2. Wear Light Colored Clothes

Some bugs, including the dreaded mosquito, are more attracted to dark colors than light ones. One of the easiest ways to cut down on the number of bug bites you get this summer is simply swapping out dark colors for light ones. This simple fix can make a dramatic impact on how many mosquito bites you take home as a summer souvenir. 
 

3. Avoid Scented Products

If you’re a perfume or cologne wearer, cutting down on your use in the summertime can help keep the bugs away. Why? Many insects are attracted to the intense scent of cologne or perfume. There are also many personal products that we don’t typically think of as “scented” that can still attract bugs to us, like magnets. Opting for unscented sunscreens, lotions, hair products, and detergents will help keep bugs at bay.
 

4. Eliminate Standing Water

Bugs love standing water. Mosquitoes, in particular, are big fans, as they use standing water as their preferred breeding ground. While your chlorinated pool is safe thanks to the chemicals, something as simple as a bucket that’s collected rainwater can result in more mosquitoes than you can count. Check around the outside of your home and eliminate standing water wherever possible.

 

5. Use Your Garden

Though not a guarantee, certain plants are thought to repel bugs like mosquitoes. Consider planting lemon thyme, tansy, sweet basil, sassafras, scented geraniums, and marigolds around your home, as these flowers and herbs may cut down on the number of biting bugs in the area.
 

6. Apply Insect Repellent

At the end of the day, applying the right insect repellent may be necessary to avoid bites from insects like mosquitoes. Particularly if you’re going to be outside in wooded areas or at specific times of day, bug repellent can be a lifesaver. Just be sure to follow the directions on the label, as some repellents have more safety restrictions than others. Click here to find the right repellent for you! 
 

7. Trim the Hedges

Simply put, bugs are big fans of messy yards. Big piles of leaves, overgrown grass, and tangled masses of shrubbery are some of their favorite hiding spots. By cleaning up around your yard, you’ll cut down on the number of bugs in the area.
 

8. Check Your Screens

As the weather warms up, we feel the urge to open our windows and let in the fresh air. Before you do this, it’s a good idea to check all of the screens in your home to ensure that they’re intact. Replace any screens with holes in them, and check for gaps around the edges where they meet the window or door frame.
 

9. Clean Things Up

Dust mites, spiders, and other indoor bugs tend to make their home in dark, dusty, less-than-tidy corners and closets. Roaches and ants are often attracted to improperly stored food and dirty kitchen counters. With summer approaching, a bit of spring cleaning is probably in order. The cleaner your home is, the less of a bug problem you’ll have. Download our Spring Cleaning Guide to get started!
 

10. Check for Ticks

If you’ve ever run your fingers through your hair and encountered a tick firmly attached to your head, you know just what awful little creatures they can be. Steer clear of areas with dense woods or tall grass: this is where the ticks tend to congregate. Make a habit of always checking for ticks when you get home from a hike by giving yourself a thorough scan and immediately removing any that you find.
 

11. Watch Out Around Dawn or Dusk

Different insects have different preferred feeding times. Here in the United States, the vast majority of mosquito species tend to prefer dusk and dawn, which is why you tend to get more mosquito bites if you’re lounging on your porch right around dusk. If possible, avoid spending time outdoors as the sun’s coming up or going down.
 

12. Use a Pest Control Service

At the end of the day, one of the best ways to protect yourself from summer bugs involves working with the right pest control company that understands the importance of summer pest control.
 
Here at Home Pest Control, we have the knowledge and experience to eliminate pests in and around your home with our safe, effective, and environmentally friendly approach. Take a look at our Home Shield Pest Prevention Programs to learn more.
 

Sign up for our Home Shield Pest Prevention Service Today!

 

May 28, 2021


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