{"id":18109,"date":"2022-05-05T17:18:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T21:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.eztaxreturn.com\/?p=18109"},"modified":"2023-06-04T17:06:38","modified_gmt":"2023-06-04T22:06:38","slug":"how-to-keep-the-bugs-away-all-summer-long","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.eztaxreturn.com\/blog\/how-to-keep-the-bugs-away-all-summer-long\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Keep the Bugs Away All Summer Long"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

As much as we love the warm weather that summer brings, we can do without the pesky bugs.\u00a0 They land on your food while you\u2019re trying to eat, bite you when you\u2019re not paying attention and buzz around your room when you\u2019re trying to sleep.\u00a0 Although bugs help the environment sometimes it seems like their sole purpose is to annoy you.\u00a0 Fortunately, there are tricks you can use to keep bugs away.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Remove standing water from your yard<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Mosquitoes love to lay their eggs in and around standing water.\u00a0 Therefore, it\u2019s your responsibility to destroy their favorite breeding grounds.\u00a0 Scope out your yard and dump any water that\u2019s been collected in flowerpots, buckets, tire swings, etc.\u00a0 Also make sure you\u2019re regularly cleaning and removing debris from your gutters.\u00a0 This will prevent them from getting clogged and becoming a nesting site.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Buy an outdoor fan<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Kill two birds with one stone by investing in an outdoor fan.\u00a0 Not only will it keep you cool, it will also blow the bugs away.\u00a0 Problem solved!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Grow plants that repel bugs<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Have a green thumb?\u00a0 If so, make sure you\u2019re growing plants that don\u2019t attract bugs.\u00a0 Some of the best bug-repelling plants to add to your backyard are chrysanthemums<\/a>, basil, petunias<\/a>, marigolds, lavender<\/a>, mint, rosemary<\/a> and lemongrass.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Keep your house clean<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cClean up! Clean up! Everybody, everywhere.\u00a0 Clean up! Clean up! Everybody do your share.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Children’s song or not, Barney<\/a> had the right idea in mind.\u00a0 The best way to keep bugs away is to keep your house clean.\u00a0 When you drop food or drinks on the floor clean it up right away.\u00a0 Wipe down your dining table, stove, countertops and sink after dinner.\u00a0 Try to dust your furniture and vacuum at least once a week.\u00a0 Putting a lid on your garbage can also help keep the critters away.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Seal the cracks around your home<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Pests only need to tiny bit of space to enter your home.\u00a0 Do a walk through and keep an eye out for small holes and cracks.\u00a0 Pay special attention to your doors, windows and screens.\u00a0 Mice can fit through a hole the size of a nickel which is more than enough space for bugs to crawl in.\u00a0 Once you\u2019ve identified the problem areas get the gaps caulked or repaired.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Stick a dryer sheet in your pocket<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It sounds weird but Bounce fabric softener dryer sheets contain a chemical that\u2019s known to repel certain insects.\u00a0 While the verdict is still out on mosquitoes, dryer sheets can work on fungus gnats<\/a>, mites, beetles<\/a>, weevils and German cockroaches<\/a>.\u00a0 You probably already have some dryer sheets at home that you can use to test this theory.\u00a0 Just stick it in your pocket and go.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Create your own homemade bug spray<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Store-bought bug sprays are full of chemicals.\u00a0 A better alternative is to create an all-natural bug spray at home.\u00a0 Here\u2019s the recipe:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n