When bugs start appearing inside the house, it’s easy to blame an open window, a screen door, or a forgotten crumb on the counter. You might spray the insects you see or put out traps, only to find them coming back a few days later.
The source can sometimes be something you wouldn’t think twice about. Everyday items like damp plant soil, recycling containers, laundry, and cardboard boxes can give certain pests food, moisture, or a place to hide.
If bugs keep turning up, check these common household spots before reaching for another can of spray.
1. Overwatered Houseplants
Those tiny black bugs hovering around your houseplants may be fungus gnats rather than fruit flies. Tradefix Direct notes that constantly damp potting soil gives their larvae a place to develop, so letting the soil dry between waterings can help reduce the problem.
Related: The Houseplant Gnat Problem Most Plant Owners Deal With
2. Recycling Bins
An empty juice carton, wine bottle, or jam jar can still have enough sugary residue to attract wasps. Give bottles, jars, and containers a good rinse before putting them in the recycling bin, and clean the bin itself from time to time.
3. Laundry Baskets
Clothes moths can be drawn to dirty clothing before those clothes ever make it into a closet or dresser. Wool, silk, and cashmere can be especially appealing, so don’t let worn clothes sit in the hamper for too long.
4. Fruit Bowls
Overripe bananas, peaches, tomatoes, and other soft produce can quickly attract fruit flies. Check your fruit bowl often, toss anything that’s past its prime, and wipe up any juice or sticky residue nearby.
Related: 10 Tomato Growing Tricks That Lead to a Garden Full of Fruit
5. Pet Food Bowls
Pet food left sitting out for hours can attract ants, flies, cockroaches, and other pests. Wash food bowls regularly and keep extra kibble in a sealed container instead of leaving the bag open.
6. Kitchen Trash Cans
Tying up the garbage bag doesn’t get rid of food residue stuck to the bottom or sides of the trash can. Wash the inside of the can every few weeks and wipe down the lid to get rid of smells that can attract insects.
7. Pantry Shelves
A few crumbs or a small spill of flour, sugar, or cereal can be enough to attract pantry pests. Wipe shelves regularly and keep dry foods in sealed containers so insects have fewer places to find food.
8. Standing Water
Mosquitoes can lay eggs in surprisingly small amounts of standing water around the house. Check plant saucers, watering cans, buckets, clogged gutters, and other containers, then empty them regularly.
Related: 9 Water-Saving Tips That Can Put More Money Back in Your Budget
9. Dirty Kitchen Drains
Food particles and buildup inside a sink drain can give drain flies a place to feed and reproduce. Scrub the drain with a brush and use hot water or a suitable drain cleaner to help clear away the buildup.
10. Cardboard Boxes
Unused cardboard boxes give silverfish, cockroaches, and other insects a dark place to hide, especially in garages, basements, and other damp areas. Break down boxes you no longer need and get rid of them instead of letting them pile up.
