When bugs start appearing inside the house, it’s easy to blame an open window or a door that was left ajar. You might spray the insects you see, put out a few traps, and hope the problem goes away, only to find more of them a few days later.
Sometimes the source is much closer than you think. Everyday household items can attract insects without anyone noticing, from damp houseplant soil to food residue in recycling bins. If you’re dealing with unwanted summer pests, these 10 spots are worth checking.
1. Overwatered Houseplants
Those tiny black insects flying around your houseplants may be fungus gnats rather than fruit flies. Tradefix Direct points to overly wet potting soil as a common reason they keep appearing, since their larvae thrive in damp soil.
Related: 15 Low-Maintenance Houseplants Anyone Can Keep Alive
2. Recycling Bins
Empty juice cartons, wine bottles, and jam jars can still have enough sugary residue to attract wasps. Give containers a good rinse before putting them in the recycling bin, and clean the bin itself regularly to keep leftover spills from drawing insects.
Related: 15 Common Things You Should Be Recycling Instead of Throwing Away
3. Laundry Baskets
Clothes moths can find their way to dirty laundry before clothing ever reaches the closet. Wool, silk, and cashmere are especially appealing to these pests, so avoid leaving worn garments sitting in the hamper for long periods.
Related: 13 Things You Should Never Keep in Your Laundry Room
4. Fruit Bowls
Overripe bananas, peaches, and tomatoes can quickly attract fruit flies. Remove produce that’s past its prime, clean up any sticky juice, and store ripe fruit in the refrigerator if you aren’t planning to eat it soon.
Related: 15 Fruits You Should NEVER Refrigerate
5. Pet Food Bowls
Food left sitting in pet bowls throughout the day can attract ants, flies, and cockroaches. Wash bowls regularly, pick up uneaten wet food, and keep dry kibble in a sealed container rather than leaving the bag open.
6. Kitchen Trash Cans
Tying the garbage bag shut doesn’t always keep insects away. Food scraps and sticky spills can collect inside the can, so wash the bin every few weeks and clean up messes as soon as they happen.
7. Pantry Shelves
A few spilled crumbs, grains of cereal, or traces of flour and sugar can attract pantry pests. Store dry foods in airtight containers and wipe down shelves regularly to remove food particles before insects find them.
8. Standing Water
Mosquitoes need very little standing water to lay their eggs, and common household items can give them plenty of places to do it. Check buckets, watering cans, plant saucers, and clogged gutters, then empty any water that has collected.
9. Dirty Kitchen Drains
Drain flies can breed in the organic buildup that collects inside kitchen sink drains. Scrub the drain with a suitable brush and cleaner, following the product instructions, to remove the material where these insects may be developing.
10. Cardboard Boxes
Unused cardboard boxes give silverfish, cockroaches, and other insects dark places to hide, especially in damp basements and garages. Break down boxes you no longer need and recycle them rather than letting stacks sit around for months.
