Published 5 June 2025
How to keep your home insect free
Even if we don’t always see them, there are insects inside our homes. While insects like flies, ants and spiders are common, they can also carry bacteria or disease, and get into our food. Keep your home bug-free with our top tips.
- Seal up any cracks in walls, door frames and windows.
- Put food away in your fridge or cupboards and regularly wash your dishes.
- If you keep finding insects after trying home remedies, speak to a professional.
How to stop flies coming into your home
Whether it’s houseflies or bluebottles, flies carry diseases that can be dangerous. Salmonella and gastroenteritis are the most common diseases related to flies, which can breed on food left out in the house.
See our top tips on how to stop flies coming into the house.
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Wash the dishes
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Keep food covered
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Keep your bin covered & clean
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Clean the pet corner
Make sure you wash the dishes, pots and pans shortly after you’ve finished eating. Even better, consider cleaning as you go to prevent attracting flies and ants.
Store all fruit and vegetables in the fridge. Not only will it help them last, they won’t attract flies if they’re out of the way.
To prevent the build-up of residue, empty the bin regularly, always keep the lid down, and wash your bin at least once a week.
Wet food is a fly’s paradise, so. ditch the big meals for smaller, more regular dishes to avoid leftovers in the bowl, clean the bowls regularly and aim to clean out the litter box twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening), or when you’re passing by and notice it’s been used.
How to stop ants coming into your home
Similar to flies, ants can carry bacteria, contaminating your food. If not treated carefully, they can also burrow their way through woodwork, damaging the structure of your home. Keep ants at bay with these tips:
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Store food safely
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Close up entry holes
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Use ant repellent
Any food you’re not eating should be stored away and kept out of reach of unwanted insects.
If you can see ants making their way in or out of your home, follow the trail to find the hole they’re using to get in. Use a sealant to fill in the gaps and make sure you check for any open crevices around door frames or windows.
If all else fails, try using a repellent. Salt, pepper, curry powder and chalk are all fantastic natural deterrents. Use these to line your door frames and they’ll act as a barrier against oncoming ants. If your cupboards are facing an ant infestation, we recommend using either a citrus or peppermint oil.
How to stop slugs coming into your home
Knowing how to stop slugs eating plants in your garden is one thing but having them in the house takes things to a different level. Slugs usually look for damp and dark spaces.
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Block their entry
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Create a ‘salt’ barrier
Slugs leave a slimy trail behind wherever they go. Follow their trail with a torch to see where they’re coming from. You can use foam filler to block any holes or cracks they might be using to get inside.
Sometimes slugs get inside through a gap you can’t close. Salt is a toxic substance to slugs and can be used to stop them from sliding through.
At the very least, you should avoid dampness in the house where possible. See our guide on how to manage your central heating and boiler.
How to stop woodworms coming into your home
Wood-boring beetles, or woodworms, burrow their way through damp wood until it crumbles away. This can be a risk to the structure of your home if left undetected. If you spot tiny holes in the wood around your house, particularly with fine powdery dust around them, it’s likely you have an infestation. Here are our tips to keep your home woodworm free.
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Keep humidity low
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Check second-hand or upcycled wooden furniture
A ventilated, dry environment will discourage wood-boring beetles from laying eggs.
Check for signs of recent woodworm issues such as small holes, if you suspect anything, get it treated before bringing it into your home.
How to stop spiders coming into your home
Spiders are the most common types of insects to get into your home. When it’s cold and dark outside, spiders will make a beeline for your warm, well-lit home. Check out how to keep your house warm during the winter months.
While most spiders are harmless, many of us aren’t comfortable with them being there. Here’s how to stop spiders coming into the house:
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Seal up windows and doors
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Declutter regularly
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Remove spider webs
Spiders are great at creeping through small cracks. Make sure your doors and windows are tightly sealed.
Spiders are great at hiding in the clutter. Keep your home clean and tidy to make it less appealing for them.
Remove spider webs as often as possible to prevent them from building up.
