how to bug proof apartment?

Your apartment or condo location can also contribute to the number of bugs in your living area, such as if your apartment is near the woods or close to the outdoor dumpsters. Also, apartment complexes and condos often have several entrances, which increase the chances insects have to get into your home.

Cockroaches, ants, centipedes, spiders, and silverfish are among the most common pests people find in their homes, but they’re certainly not the only ones. So, exactly how do you keep bugs out of your apartment? We’ve found 10 helpful tips to keep your apartment or condo bug-free — check them out below.

Ensuring all the entrances to your apartment or condo are bugproof means checking more than just the entrances humans can fit through. Make sure all windows, walls, and pipes that bugs use as highways are sealed and have no cracks. This is especially important if your apartment or condo is older. If the window frames are old, they often start to separate and crack, leaving tiny access points for insects. Old doors tend to have a weatherstrip that is warped or broken, which leaves space for bugs to enter. Even if your doors and windows have screens, if the screens are old, they will likely have tears in them that allow bugs access to your house.

Fixing cracks in window frames, walls, or pipes can be done with clear caulk or silicone. Replacing old weatherstripping is relatively simple and will work wonders for keeping bugs, and cold air, out of your apartment or condo. Screens can be replaced at most local hardware stores and help reduce the number of bugs in your home significantly.

There is nothing bugs love more than free human food, especially sugar. Often, bug infestations come about because there is food around for bugs to feast on. Keeping your appliances like the refrigerator, sink, and stove clean is crucial for bug abatement. Cleaning mold from your kitchen can reduce their number, too, as mold attracts bugs and other pests.

Dirty dishes should not be left in the sink or on the countertops. Even something as small as the spoon you use to stir your morning coffee left on the kitchen counter can alert an insect and all of his friends to your kitchen. Fruits and vegetables often attract fruit flies, so keeping them in the fridge, especially during the hotter months, is a good idea.

Bugs like trash just as much as they like fresh food. If you let your trash cans overflow, bugs are more likely to try to get at the goods. Any trash that lands on the floor of the cupboard you keep your trash bin in and isn’t cleaned thoroughly quickly becomes a bug magnet. Even if you take out the trash regularly, your trash cans can still get sticky and dirty. Clean out your trash receptacles every few weeks to get rid of any garbage left behind and keep bugs away.

Even if your house is relatively clean, cluttered rooms and areas are perfect places for bugs to hide. So organize your bathroom, your bedroom, your kitchen, your guest rooms, and your laundry area. The more clutter in your home, the more likely you will have insects stashed away in those tiny places. Piles of laundry on the floor, cluttered countertops in both the kitchen and bathrooms, and piles of toys in kids’ rooms are all places bugs love to hang out. Keeping your home clean and clutter-free should help keep bugs away.

Many people like to have live plants in their living area because they bring life to their homes. All plants attract bugs, no matter the type, but some do so more than others. When choosing houseplants, do a little research, and make sure the varieties you like aren’t insect magnets. In particular, avoid any type of shrubbery because they attract tons of bugs. You can also use a garden insecticide to be extra sure insects don’t invade your home due to your plants.

Even if you keep a relatively clean apartment or condo, there are still tiny specs of food and debris on the floor that you can’t see, but bugs love. Be sure to sweep and mop all hard floors and vacuum all carpet often to reduce the chances of bugs moving in to eat the microscopic debris. Pay special attention to corners, baseboards, and behind areas like the couch or bed. Bugs like these small, dark places and will often nest in such sites. If you’re disrupting the area frequently with the vacuum or broom, they won’t have time to make themselves at home.

Bugs like damp areas. Don’t leave standing water anywhere — your bathtub, sink, shower, and under cupboards, if left wet, are places bugs will flock to. Many insects can go for weeks without eating but must have water to survive. Be sure to wipe any excess water from sinks and bathrooms and check pipes under your sinks to make sure they don’t leak. Water leaks in dark cupboards are the perfect place for bugs to survive and multiply.

Even if you live in an apartment or condo, you likely have some space outside that belongs to you. Make sure there aren’t piles of leaves or mulch close to your doors and windows. Bugs live in piles of brush, and if those piles are close to the entrances of your house, those little pests will find their way inside. Check the exterior of your windowsills to ensure there isn’t debris built up on them for bugs to hide in. A quick wipe down or clear away of any cluttered outside area will deter bugs from getting inside.

If you’ve done all the above things and are still seeing critters inside your apartment or condo and don’t want to use chemicals, peppermint oil could help. Mix 15 drops of essential peppermint oil with about a cup of water in a spray bottle and spray anywhere bugs are found. Focus on the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, along baseboards, inside cabinets, and along windowsills. You can also soak cotton balls in the oil and place them in highly infested areas. Insects are repulsed by the smell of peppermint and will stay away.

If all else fails, you will have little choice but to purchase some insecticides. Spraying the insecticide in the same areas you would peppermint oil will surely deter any small pests from entering your home. Insecticides keep them from entering by creating a barrier, and they kill any bugs that dare to cross. Some insecticides are safer than others, so if you have pets or children, be sure to get a kid-safe or pet-safe product. You should also conduct a small test on an area of baseboard or cupboard out of sight to be sure the product won’t stain or discolor the wood or other surfaces in your home.

Also, you can consider bug catchers as an option; with them, you can keep in the insects you want and keep out the ones you don’t.

If your apartment complex is run by a property management company, be sure to ask about their pest control policy. Responsible companies will have a set schedule for pest prevention (and if they don’t, that’s a warning sign that this company might not be the best). Still, you don’t always need an exterminator to keep your apartment or condo bug-free. Using these tips, your abode will be safe from these pesky critters.

While it’s easy to go into full-panic mode when you see a bug scurrying across your floor or counter, you can get rid of these unwanted roommates and prevent them from being drawn to your apartment with a few simple tricks and bug spray for apartment use.

Gnats, stink bugs, beetles, fruit flies, spiders. The list of common household bugs goes on and on. And those are just the ones you can see.

In fact, there are around 100 different species of arthropods (a.k.a. bugs) in the average American home, according to a study published in the PeerJ journal. Here are the five most common:

The first step, of course, is regular pest prevention, and that responsibility falls on the property management team.

When you’re doing your apartment walkthrough, ask about the property’s pest control policy. Ideally, the apartment community has a preventive pest control schedule to address common apartment bugs inside and outside the building. Lack of a pest control plan is a major apartment hunting red flag.

When bugs come inside, it’s usually because they’re looking for something to eat. Even tiny crumbs, a drop of jam, or a bowl of pet food can attract ants, flies, and roaches. Wash dirty dishes right away. Disinfect any food prep areas including the stove, microwave, and countertops. Vacuum, sweep, and mop regularly. Check out our ultimate apartment cleaning checklist for more tips.

Store dry goods—including grains, cereals, bread, seeds, flour, nuts—in airtight containers, preferably glass or heavy plastic. Keep all fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator – not in a bowl on the countertop where it might provide an easy buffet for ants or fruit flies.

Another reason bugs come inside is to find water. Don’t give them a drinking source. Check under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to make sure you don’t have any leaky pipes or drips. Use a plant saucer under any container plants and empty frequently to avoid standing water. Pick up and launder damp towels, rugs, and washcloths right away.

Arm yourself with some caulk and tackle any cracks or crevices that might provide an entry point for creepy crawlies. Pay special attention to where baseboards and walls meet as well as the space behind cabinets. Check with your property manager if you’re unsure of whether you should proceed.

There are a number of insect control products on the market. Raid, Ortho, Zevo, and a host of companies offer ant and roach traps, aerosols, and bug spray for apartment use. In addition, there are natural alternatives by Wondercide, Safer Brand, and EcoSmart that are safe for use around little ones and pets. Some people even swear by peppermint oil. Try filling an empty spray bottle with 10-15 drops of peppermint oil and a cup of water and apply anywhere you’ve seen apartment bugs.

Important note: taking pest control into your own hands can make it more difficult for professional extermination treatments to work properly. Before you take action, make sure there are no planned treatments in your home for at least seven days.

While it’s easy to go into full-panic mode when you see a bug scurrying across your floor or counter, you can get rid of these unwanted roommates and prevent them from being drawn to your apartment with a few simple tricks and bug spray for apartment use.

Gnats, stink bugs, beetles, fruit flies, spiders. The list of common household bugs goes on and on. And those are just the ones you can see.

In fact, there are around 100 different species of arthropods (a.k.a. bugs) in the average American home, according to a study published in the PeerJ journal. Here are the five most common:

The first step, of course, is regular pest prevention, and that responsibility falls on the property management team.

When you’re doing your apartment walkthrough, ask about the property’s pest control policy. Ideally, the apartment community has a preventive pest control schedule to address common apartment bugs inside and outside the building. Lack of a pest control plan is a major apartment hunting red flag.

When bugs come inside, it’s usually because they’re looking for something to eat. Even tiny crumbs, a drop of jam, or a bowl of pet food can attract ants, flies, and roaches. Wash dirty dishes right away. Disinfect any food prep areas including the stove, microwave, and countertops. Vacuum, sweep, and mop regularly. Check out our ultimate apartment cleaning checklist for more tips.

Store dry goods—including grains, cereals, bread, seeds, flour, nuts—in airtight containers, preferably glass or heavy plastic. Keep all fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator – not in a bowl on the countertop where it might provide an easy buffet for ants or fruit flies.

Another reason bugs come inside is to find water. Don’t give them a drinking source. Check under your kitchen and bathroom sinks to make sure you don’t have any leaky pipes or drips. Use a plant saucer under any container plants and empty frequently to avoid standing water. Pick up and launder damp towels, rugs, and washcloths right away.

Arm yourself with some caulk and tackle any cracks or crevices that might provide an entry point for creepy crawlies. Pay special attention to where baseboards and walls meet as well as the space behind cabinets. Check with your property manager if you’re unsure of whether you should proceed.

There are a number of insect control products on the market. Raid, Ortho, Zevo, and a host of companies offer ant and roach traps, aerosols, and bug spray for apartment use. In addition, there are natural alternatives by Wondercide, Safer Brand, and EcoSmart that are safe for use around little ones and pets. Some people even swear by peppermint oil. Try filling an empty spray bottle with 10-15 drops of peppermint oil and a cup of water and apply anywhere you’ve seen apartment bugs.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Seeing a mouse or a cockroach in your apartment, or suspecting you have bedbugs, is no fun. Your feelings may range from added stress and annoyance to abject fear or disgust. You may be panicking trying to determine how this could have happened, or what you can possibly do as a next step. Fortunately, we’re here to help.

First, it’s important to know all the facts about a pest problem. While a rodent, roach, or bedbug infestation is not necessarily likely to occur with a furnished apartment rental, it’s certainly not uncommon. In 2013, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted around 95,000 inspections based on rodent complaints in areas throughout the five boroughs. In New York City, the most common apartment pests are:

The good news is, you don’t need to panic if you see rodents or insects in your apartment. Bedbug infestations are irritating and upsetting, but not known to spread disease, and while roaches and rodents can pose health risks if left unmanaged, immediate risks are generally low and can be managed before becoming a large-scale infestation.

I saw a pest—now what?

Fortunately, if you find unwelcome creatures in your apartment, there are simple steps you can take to remedy the problem as soon as possible.

1. First, send an email or make a phone call to your apartment’s owner or landlord and let them know what you saw and where. Try to include as much detail as possible!

2. Get in touch with your New York Habitat agent next and alert them to the issue. We’ll coordinate with our Quality Assurance department to follow up with the owner.

3. Keep in touch with your apartment’s owner for full instructions about when and what you can expect from the exterminator.

4. If you have trouble reaching the owner, we can act as a liaison on your behalf.

In the meantime, there are also steps you can take to protect your belongings and living space and aid professional exterminators in effectively cleaning your apartment.

In the case of bedbugs, a few extra steps should be taken right away: Wash and dry clothing on the highest possible heat and a double cycle, and store in a sealed plastic bag until extermination is complete. Wash and dry all bedding on highest possible heat/double cycle as well. Ask your landlord if they can send bedbug-proof mattress and pillow covers for your protection until extermination is complete, and bedbug spray for sofas and window treatments. Vacuum floors, and seal and throw away the vacuum’s dust bag when complete. Do not reuse the vacuum bag. After vacuuming, floors should be cleaned with bleach.

An exterminator can also provide you with extra information about what preventative steps you can take in relation to your specific situation.

What should my landlord do?

It is New York Habitat policy to only list apartments that are maintained to a minimum standard of quality and cleanliness. Landlords are also expected to be responsive and take care of pest control issues as soon as possible. It is the mission of our Quality Assurance department to respond to tenant complaints and inform landlords of best practices, and we are happy to act as a liaison on the request of a tenant if any issue arises. Therefore, we contact and encourage landlords to act quickly in providing pest control services in the event of an infestation.

According to New York law, landlords must keep a dwelling free of rodents or vermin. Tenants also have a right to a bedbug-free environment, and landlords have a 30-day period to get rid of bedbugs after a complaint from a tenant. While your agent and New York Habitat can’t provide legal services for you, if an owner fails to follow up on your request for extermination, you can contact us and we will try to get in touch with the owner. You can also always call New York City’s 311 Citizen’s Service Center line to file an official complaint with the city.

New York Habitat renting tips for keeping your apartment pest-free

Of course, almost everyone would prefer to avoid the problem of mice, roaches, or bedbugs altogether! While there’s never any guarantee that anti-pest measures will be 100% effective, there are preventative steps you can take to stop roaches, mice and bedbugs from entering your apartment:

• 1.) Wipe Down All Surfaces — Especially In The Kitchen. When bugs come inside, it's usually because they're looking for something to eat.
• 2.) Put Food Away.
• 3.) Don't Leave Damp Items Around.
• 4.) Seal Up All Cracks.
• 5.) Take Action.