How to get rid of stink bugs once and for all

Table of Content

• Using Natural Pesticides
• Why Do Stink Bugs Come Indoors?
• How stink bugs can make your life miserable
• How do you get rid of stink bugs once and for all?

Lay out a wet towel outside for the stink bugs to gather on. Saturate a towel with water and wring it out so that it’s damp, rather than dripping. Bring it outdoors and drape the towel over a deck railing, an empty planter, a tree branch, or any other surface in your yard. The next day, you’ll see stink bugs sitting on the towel drinking the water. Submerge the bug-laden towel in a bucket of soapy water to kill the bugs.

So, if you want to avoid an infestation, here’s how to get rid of stink bugs in your home and garden for good. Stink bugs can enter your home through many different routes. Among just a few are chimneys, attics, vents, windows, loose siding, weep holes, and crawlspaces. Sealing around these structures can be very helpful at reducing the populations of stink bugs in your homes.

Using Natural Pesticides

You are likely to have a stink bug infestation in the cooler months as they would be in search of a warm place to stay during winter. Aside from using a vacuum to get rid of stink bugs, you can also purchase traps to catch them. If you are using a vacuum to get rid of a stink bug infestation, it is important to dispose of the bags properly.

For that reason, you’ll want to stick to natural remedies. The fragrance of dryer sheets is said to repel stink bugs. To add a layer of protection to your home, wipe a dryer sheet over the surface of each of your window screens. The scent will linger on the mesh wire and deter stink bugs from trying to enter your home. The best way to catch and get rid of stink bugs is to use a dust pan and brush to collect them.

Why Do Stink Bugs Come Indoors?

Hold this beneath the climbing stink bugs and flick them down into the solution using a gloved hand. Put water into a bucket and add a good squirt of washing-up liquid. Knock the stink bugs into your soapy solution using a brush, and they’ll drown. Though they are not drawn to chemical bait, stink bugs are attracted to UV light. You can make your own light trap by filling a large pan with soapy water and putting it underneath a lamp or night-light.

Using an insecticide sprayer, you should treat the perimeter of your home every 30 days throughout the seasons that stink bugs thrive in – summer and fall. Stink bugs entry points will be very small and hard to see, so you’ll need to pay very close attention or even employ professional pest control. Stink bugs can be physically removed from walls and windows with a simple vacuum cleaner. This method is one of the best to kill stink bugs and prevent infestations from forming.

How stink bugs can make your life miserable

While the dish soap will help kill off stink bugs, the lavender oil smell deters other stink bugs from coming back to your plants. Another method to keep stink bugs away is to seal your home properly. Stink bugs can enter through the smallest cracks and holes in your home.

If it’s hard for them to enter a house, they’ll go somewhere else. When they find a good place to stay, they release a pheromone that attracts more stink bugs. In cases where you’re killing stink bugs in wall cracks, the stench of the carcasses will attract carpet beetles—and now you’ve replaced one problem with another.

Are Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs Harmful?

This was one of the worst summers I can remember in terms of mosquito activity where I live, so I’m ready for our first frost to come and rid the Midwest of bugs. Once signs of autumn start to show, it’s a good idea to seal off the entry points to your house. Stink bugs are a common pest that can find their way into your home during the colder months. With a few simple home remedies, you can easily get rid of them. In addition, close any blinds or drapes after dark, so the light from inside your home won't attract these critters.

Place traps in trees/shrubs or other sturdy plants near the home or garden in early spring. Be sure to place them so both the top and bottom parts of the trap are in contact with the plant. This allows to stinkbug easy access into the trap but no escape once inside. Stink bugs are attracted to lights, so it’s recommended to keep outdoor lighting to a minimum.

How do you get rid of stink bugs once and for all?

You can find various stink bug traps for different environments that use electricity, sticky surfaces, and smells. Stink bugs get their name from the foul odor they emit when they feel threatened or are squashed. Despite their small size, the stink they produce is big and will cling to whatever surface the bug lands on, whether a wall, a drapery, a rug, or something else. Vacuuming up stink bugs is a quick and easy way to get rid of them. However, it may leave an odor behind that can linger for days. If you don't want to vacuum up stink bugs, consider trying a DIY spray using dish soap and vinegar to kill the bugs on the spot.

You can also mix garlic powder or peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and apply it anywhere you think stink bugs can enter your home. However, there’s little information on the effectiveness of these repellents. If you don't want to use insecticides, you can make a simple, homemade solution to deter stink bugs. Simply add one cup of white vinegar, and ½ cup of dish soap to two cups of hot water in a spray bottle before spraying directly onto the bugs.