Basic Principles for Preventing Home and Pantry Pests

 

To keep pests like sowbugs, bed bugs, pillbugs, boxelder bugs, elm seed bugs, western conifer seed bugs, brown marmorated stink bugs, clothes moths, Indian meal moths, and woodlice out of your home and pantry, focus on keeping your living areas clean, dry, and well-maintained. Since these pests often enter buildings seeking food, moisture, or shelter, a combination of good housekeeping, proper storage, moisture control, and physical barriers makes your home much less attractive to them.

 

Sealing Points of Entry

 

Block pests from getting inside by finding and fixing entry points. Check all exterior doors, windows, vents, and cracks in foundations or walls. Use caulk or weather-stripping to seal small gaps and make sure window screens are tight with no tears. Install door sweeps at the bottom of doors to block spaces pests might crawl through. Regularly inspect and repair any openings you notice, especially at the change of seasons when pests are most likely to seek shelter indoors.

 

Controlling Moisture and Ventilation

 

Most of these pests—especially sowbugs, pillbugs, and woodlice—are drawn to damp areas. To prevent them, fix any leaks under sinks, around windows, or in basements right away. Use dehumidifiers in areas that tend to be damp, such as basements, laundry rooms, or crawlspaces. Make sure that bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas are well ventilated—run exhaust fans and open windows when possible. Redirect downspouts, fix landscaping problems, and make sure the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation to keep outside moisture from seeping indoors.

 

Good Housekeeping and Regular Cleaning

 

Stop pests from finding food or hiding places by cleaning regularly:

• Vacuum floors, carpets, and furniture thoroughly—pay special attention to under beds, behind furniture, and corners where pests hide.
• Quickly clean up crumbs, spilled food, and pet food both in the kitchen and other eating areas.
• Store pantry items in airtight containers made of glass, plastic, or metal instead of paper or cardboard packaging.
• Routinely wipe down shelves and cupboards where food is kept to remove spilled grains, flours, or sugars that attract moths and bugs.
• Launder bedding, curtains, and clothing regularly—especially items that have been in storage, which is where moths are likely to lay eggs.

 

Decluttering and Safe Storage

 

Many pests thrive in clutter where they can hide undisturbed. Reduce chances of infestation by:

• Keeping storage areas, basements, and closets neat and free of unnecessary items like stacks of newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, or old fabrics.
• Storing out-of-season clothing or linens in tightly sealed bins, not in plastic bags or open boxes that pests can enter easily.
• Rotating pantry goods and using older products first—inspect for signs of pests before opening packages.
• Checking secondhand furniture, bedding, and clothing for insects or larvae before bringing them into your home.

 

Proper Waste Management

 

Pests are drawn to garbage and organic waste. Manage refuse by:

• Keeping kitchen garbage cans tightly closed and emptying them often.
• Storing outdoor trash bins away from the home’s foundation and making sure lids fit tightly to prevent pests from finding food or nesting spots.
• Cleaning up leaf litter, mulch, and decaying plant material around the house’s perimeter where bugs often live and breed.
• Composting properly—ensure your compost bin is well managed and far from building foundations.

 

Physical Barriers and Traps

 

Use screens, sticky traps, and physical barriers as extra protection:

• Install fine-mesh screens on windows, doors, and vents. Repair tears and holes as soon as you notice them.
• Place sticky traps in areas where you’ve seen bugs—such as behind furniture, pantry shelves, or along baseboards—to monitor and reduce pest numbers.
• For clothes moths and pantry moths, use pheromone traps made specifically for those pests, placing them near the area you’ve seen activity.

 

Regular Inspection and Early Identification

 

Stay ahead of infestations by watching for early warning signs:

• Check for shed skins, fecal spots, larvae, webbing, or live bugs in known trouble spots: mattresses, furniture seams, cupboard corners, pantry shelves, and window sills.
• Look at the undersides of rugs or carpets for moth larvae or eggs, and inspect food packages for tiny holes or signs of contamination.
• If you find pests, act quickly—clean thoroughly, discard contaminated items, and use safe pest-specific methods if necessary.

 

Consider Professional Help

 

If you have a persistent problem or a large infestation, don’t hesitate to contact a licensed pest management professional. They have specialized equipment and knowledge to identify the problem and treat it in the safest and most effective way possible, especially for difficult pests like bed bugs that can spread rapidly and are tough to eliminate on your own.