There’s nothing worse than walking down to your basement, only to be greeted by creepy crawlies. The basement is the perfect place for several types of bugs to infest and call their new home. While some of these bugs tend to be harmless to humans, they can still be an annoyance. There are, of course, some bugs – think spiders, for example – that can cause serious side-effects if they bite you or a member of your family.
With this in mind, you might be looking to find how to keep bugs out of your basement. The good news is, even if there is already an infestation of bugs in the basement of your house, there are several strategies that you can use to get rid of these bugs and prevent such an infestation in the future.
Most Common Bugs That Enter the Basement
The world is full of insects and bugs – while any of these can enter your basement, it should be noted that certain kinds of bugs are more commonly found in basements than others. Thus, before we dive into the main topic of how to keep bugs out of your basement, we will first look at some of the most common bugs that you may find in the area.
Most people will find that these are the most common bugs and insects that tend to infest the basement of a house:
- Centipedes
- Earwigs
- Brown Recluse
- Termites
- Silverfish
Of course, the specific insects and bugs that you have to be concerned about might be dependent on your location.
Apart from these, also take note of spiders entering the basement. While many spiders do seem to be harmless, there are some of these insects that can have a poisonous effect on you or a family member when bitten. In this case, the spider’s venom can enter your bite upon a bite and cause disastrous effects.
Why You Want to Keep Bugs Out of Your Basement
When your basement is infested with bugs, there are multiple reasons why you should learn how to get rid of these creepy crawlers. The number one reason why you should learn how to keep bugs out of your basement is for the safety of your entire family.
Even though a few bugs in the basement may seem harmless at first, once they call your basement their new home, they may soon start to breed in the area. This means what seems like just a couple of bugs now may soon turn into hundreds, or even thousands, of bugs living in the basement.
Most bugs in your basement will not pose as a threat to the health of yourself and other members of the family, but they can be an annoyance and also lead to an increase in allergens in your home. Certain bugs, such as the common silverfish, can also eat through food packaging and cause your food to become spoilt. This means you will have to throw out the food – leading to lost money.
While there are only a few house spiders that are dangerous to human health, this should still be a matter that you take seriously. When bugs infiltrate your basement, and you do not take action, more-and-more insects will start to call this area of your house their home. Among these might be harmful spiders that are poisonous to humans.
Best Ways to Get Rid of an Existing Bug Infestation in Your Basement
When there is an existing infestation of bugs in your basement, then you will need to start the process by implementing steps that will actually get rid of these bugs. There are a few different options that you can rely on, but it is always important to actually go into your basement and take a closer look at the specific bugs that are present.
Once you know what types of bugs you are dealing with, deciding on the best ways to implement a strategy that will get rid of them becomes an easier task.
The severity of the bug infestation that you are dealing with is another factor that you will have to keep in mind. There is no need to go to extreme lengths if there are only a few bugs in the basement. On the other hand, if you find that there are hundreds of bugs crawling around, then a more invasive approach would be needed to ensure you can get rid of all these bugs effectively.
Let’s take a look at a couple of strategies you can use to get rid of existing bugs in your basement.
Sticky Traps
One of the best ways to get rid of bugs without causing concern among the rest of the family is to use sticky traps. This type of product will not leave any harmful chemicals in your house, which could be dangerous to children and pets. Instead, the product will contain a layer of glue that will actually trap any bugs that crawl over it.
When you use sticky traps, you will simply dispose of the product once a few bugs have become stuck on the trap. Once disposed of, you simply place a new one on the same spot and wait for bugs to collect on the trap again.
These products are generally very affordable, and you will find that they mostly come in bulk packages, which will definitely help you save money.
An excellent example is the Trapro Dual-Sided Yellow Sticky Traps – giving you 20 traps for less than $10.
If you have a more serious problem with bugs, consider the Bell Trapper Insect Trap – a pack of 90 traps will cost you just over $20.
Bug Fogger
If the sticky traps do not seem to work effectively, you might need a more invasive approach to dealing with the bug problem in your basement.
In this case, consider using bug foggers. These are usually items that will blow fog into your home that is infused with chemicals that kill bugs. Some foggers can be quite pricey. If you are on a budget, consider something like the Hot Shot Fogger pack, which gives you six small fogger bottles for just over $10.
If there are a lot of bugs in the basement and your budget allows it, consider something like the Petra Electric Fogger. Do make sure that you and your family have somewhere to go for the day after the fog has been sprayed into the basement.
Preventing Future Infestations of Bugs in the Basement
Once you get rid of the bug infestation in the basement, be sure to take appropriate action to help prevent yourself from facing the same dilemma in the future.
The first thing you want to do is organize the basement. Remove any clutter that is present in the area, as this makes ideal hotspots for bugs and insects to infiltrate. If there is no storage space in the basement, consider getting your hands on something to help with organizing the items that you do not want to throw away. A product as simple as the AmazonBasics 4-Shelf Shelving Storage Unit is perfect and costs less than $50.
Another option would be the KOUSI Portable Storage Cubes, which gives you 12 cubes that can be closed – this way, you can prevent bugs from entering your storage spaces.
Apart from shelving and getting rid of clutter, try to add some natural insect repellents in the basement. You could use a spray that contains peppermint oil, for example. There are a few insect repellent products that actually already comes with added peppermint oil. Simply use a few sprays of these products in your basement every day – it will help to keep bugs away.
Moisture problems in your basement might be another potential cause of bugs entering the area frequently. If this is the case, you should consider adding a dehumidifier in your basement – excess moisture in the air can be effectively removed with this type of device.
See also: Where to Sleep If You Have Bed Bugs.
Conclusion
When your basement is filled with bugs, both you and your entire family might fear to go into the basement. If you keep food in the basement, these bugs could get into the food and cause you to lose a lot of money, plus they may pose a danger to your family. Learning how to keep bugs out of your basement is an important step to take to get rid of these infestations and to keep future ones from entering your home.
