Do you have bugs and insects in your home, such as ants, roaches and perhaps scorpions and spiders? Bees or wasps can build hives around or even inside walls of your house? Homeowners struggle with unwanted insects and bugs that invade their homes. Getting rid of bugs and insects is fairly easily. Some bugs, like spiders, are common inside and outside your home and do their share of eating other pest insects, like as flies and ants.

There are bugs that carry bacteria or leave feces lying around that can stir up allergies or contaminate food left sitting out. Some flying insects can be downright lethal for those who are allergic to bee or wasp venom, should they be stung. To keep your home pest-free as much as possible, follow a few simple tips like these to discourage bugs from moving in with you.

Use the least toxic pest controls available. You can often control pests by using traps or barriers, or by simply removing large pests and infested plant parts. These methods do not harm beneficial garden life or the environment. If pesticides are the only way to control a problem, look for the least toxic ones.

When is it a pest? Pest refers to an insect, animal, plant or microorganism that causes problems in the garden.

Beneficials are organisms in the air, on the ground or in the soil that do good things for your garden, like pollinating flowers, feeding on insect pests, or improving soil. Some pests are also beneficials. For example, yellow jackets are both predators of pests and painful to humans.When considering any controls, weigh a creature’s damage against damage to the entire community of garden life.

A variety of homemade and commercial repellents preparations can be used to keep pests away from plants. Many gardeners claim repellents work, although some are not consistently effective in scientific trials. A mixture of raw eggs blended with water produces a taste and odor that offend deer; some gardeners add garlic and hot pepper. Spraying this mix onto plant foliage can repel deer for several weeks, or until it is washed off by rain or sprinklers. Garlic oil and extracts are used to repel a variety of insect pests, and also work as fungicides. Meet The Beneficials! Spraying any pesticide may kill more beneficials than pests. Think twice before you spray. Ladybugs

Keep food and beverages covered. While a bowl of apples and oranges sitting on the dining room table might prove harmless, don't let kids toss peels on the floor or leave cores lying on tables as they easily attract ants. Their sweet scent can attract bugs from quite a distance if the windows or doors are open, albeit covered by screens. Keep lids on the butter dish and cookie jar, and put away any food that will not be eaten soon.

Clean up promptly. Don't let sugar granules sit on the kitchen counter. Pop stains need to be blotted and then cleaned with soapy water. Empty pop cans or dirty dishes should be put in their respective receptacles immediately. Chip bags or cookie pouches need to be tightly closed and clipped or folded. Remember that the scent of food, though almost indiscernible to humans in these amounts just described, may prove irresistible to lurking ants, bees, or other types of bugs who are hungrily sniffing the air.

Eliminate standing water. Fix leaky faucets, unclog drains, and clean up yard puddles. Check under the sinks or in the tubs as well as around hoses or water tanks to patch leaks. Many types of insects are drawn to damp or moist areas, especially those that are located in the dark. Get rid of these watering holes to keep bugs at bay.

Seal cracks, holes, and openings. Inspect your home's foundation outside and patch any openings where insects could get inside your home. Do the same indoors by checking around window and door frames, as well as baseboards and cupboards. Look through the basement and attic to see if you can find areas where bugs might be able to find an entrance.

Don't let pet food or snacks food sit out in the open. Ants will come immediately and invade your home, when food is left out.

Keep the yard clean. Pick up fallen fruit from apple trees or other fruit-bearing plants, especially those located near your home. Keep garbage cans tightly closed and clean outside as well as inside, as much as possible.

Lacking food, water, and a welcome, most bugs won't hang around very long. If they do, you can always resort to natural pesticides or bug traps.

Use Synthetic Pesticides Only As a Last Resort - When physical and least-toxic controls fail to control a pest, other pesticides may be used as a final resort. But first, consider your pest problem. Is it the result of poor plant placement? Is it likely to recur after pesticide treatment? Keep in mind that scientists have found 23 pesticides — including four commonly used insecticides — in local streams, some at high enough levels to harm fish and what they eat.

Don’t use services that spray insecticides or herbicides on a prescheduled plan. Bug service also claim that the spray used is safe. Preventive sprays can disrupt natural controls, and may do more harm than good. Fungicides are an exception because they only work when applied prior to the appearance of the problem — use the least toxic fungicides, only on plants which have been infected in previous years.

Look for the least toxic pesticide. Avoid products with warnings like “highly toxic,” “causes permanent eye damage,” or “may be fatal if swallowed.” Choose “ready-to-use” products, which are safer to use instead of more toxic concentrates which require mixing.

Don’t use broad-spectrum insecticides like diazinon, chlorpyrifos (Dursban), malathion and carbaryl. These are likely to kill more of the natural enemies than the pests. Pest populations may soar and become more of a problem than before they were sprayed.

Avoid “weed and feed” and other pesticides that are broadcast over the entire yard. Instead, spot apply the least toxic product, only where you have a pest or weed.

Buy only as much as you need. Unused pesticides are dangerous to store or dispose, and expensive for local governments to dispose of.

Read and follow label directions carefully. Only use pesticides on the plants and pests listed on the label, and apply exactly according to label directions. Be sure to wear specified protective clothing and equipment, and keep children and pets off application areas for the specified period of time on the label. Apply only when and where pests are present.

Dispose of unused pesticides and containers properly, which means empty containers should be disposed of in your garbage and unused pesticides at household hazardous waste disposal sites.