We may think our metal boxes are bug proof. Your shipping container homes just like traditional homes are sometimes also homes for bugs. Uninvited guests that seem to invade our homes without invitation to do so. Then we revert to sprays and nasty chemicals in our homes to eradicate them. Not pleasant. Can we remove them without the chaos?
As a general rule we do not want bugs inside our container home. We prefer a bug-less home environment to live in. We take many steps to remove bugs from our homes. From chemical warfare to exterminators our attempts to control bug infestation is ongoing. Perhaps there is a better way, a less chemical way. A safer way to remove them.
Bugs have their place in society, just, not inside our homes. Bugs are mostly annoying but some a not so nice. They can spread disease or poison us. We did not invite bugs into our home, they just invite themselves. Can we uninvite them? Here we look at a few ways in which we can reduce the bug impact and even keep them out for good, read on.
Why not read more of our articles here on Container Living and General Info
Remove Door and Window Gaps
Most bugs enter our homes through openings under doors. We need to seal these openings to keep the bugs at bay. There are a few ways to do this. One was is to use a drop down door seal on external hinged doors. The seal forms an airtight sealed fit on the floor when closed. Commonly smoke and fire rated these seals are ideal for keeping bugs out.
Many container homes use sliding entry doors. Ensure all door seals are doing their job. Replace any that are not. IF a seal is damaged it is not longer sealing. If you do not have sliding screen doors as well, you will need to keep your sliding door closed.
Windows are another open door for uninvited bug entry. You may find gaps around the window frame. These are ideal for small critters to get in. You can silver solder or use caulk or silicone to seal theses gaps. They are usually tiny gaps apparent between walls and window frames. If you live in an older container home, consider upgrading your windows. You’ll lock out the bugs and reduce your energy consumption bill.
Where you have fly-wire screen doors and mesh window covers, check for any damage or holes in the mesh. The screen should fit securely and cover the entire window opening without gaps. We are on the lookout for gaps. Bugs love gaps.
Fill All Exposed Cracks and Crevices
Any opening no matter how small is a potential entry point for bugs. It will take some serious searching to find all potential points of entry. Start with the obvious and keep looking.
Doors and windows are prime. Next investigate the roof for holes or openings. Electrical lines, plumbing, and kitchen or dryer vents are also prime targets. Caulk the small gaps where you can.
Bigger gaps can be stuffed with fly-wire mesh or steel wool to help keep the bugs out. Do not use paper or cloth as they will rot and are also fire hazardous.
Air Vent Openings
You container home may have air vents and exhaust extractor fans. You can cover the opening with fine mesh. Warning: exhaust fans need to work effectively. Too fine a mesh will result in less effective fan function. Test them to ensure they still function effectively.
Depending on how your container house was constructed, check perimeter walls for any sign of an opening no matter how small. Drill holes or missing bolts can be openings for bugs. Use silver solder or a spray foam product or caulk to seal these areas. Check for lose fitting screws and bolts.
Water Avenues
Water outlets are usually a good place for bugs to enter. Bugs need water to survive and a drain outlet is a good source. Any water outlet is a potential entry point for bugs. Standing water is also a breeding spot for mosquitoes. Check all drainage particularly under the refrigerator, bathrooms, and pot plants. Don’t leave pet water bowls out overnight, unless its hot. Your pet still needs a drink.
When its hot outside, bugs need a drink. Which is why you’ll often come across bugs in bathrooms, kitchens, and anywhere there is a drain outlet. To prevent them from setting up camp, clean your drains regularly and use drain cover.
Heavy rains can cause water to collect under your container home. Take care to install proper drainage to remove water but also to discourage mosquitos and bugs from coming into your home.
Standing Water Outside
Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquito. Items like ignored pet bowls, birdbaths, plant trays, baby pools, and puddles is an open invitation to bugs. Either remove them, drain them, or refresh them often.
If you have a large pond, water lilies and other water plants can help deter mosquitos and bugs. Growing lavender around ponds is also useful to deter bugs. There are other plants that will deter bugs. Seek advice from local garden suppliers.
Crumbs of Food
Cleanliness is next to good health. Keep your kitchen clean. Wipe down counters and preparation areas regularly. Vacuum, mop and sweep floors. Don’t leave food out overnight including pet food. Keep food containers well sealed.
Keep pantry items sealed in quality containers. Cover your kitchen rubbish container. Remove garbage often. Keep the rubbish bins clean. A panty cupboard is not sealed so all items need to be.
Those that eat in other rooms need cleaning. Kids rooms are prime but so are other rooms. Look under sofas, chairs, and lift sofa cushions for signs of crumbs, and candy. Its a takeout restaurant for bugs.
Boxes and Grocery Bags
Cardboard boxes, paper grocery bags, and shopping bags are a source of food and home for bugs. Don’t allow packaging items, stacks of newspapers, or cardboard to clutter up your house and provide a safe haven for bugs to settle in. Unfortunately I tend to keep the grocery bags for rubbish.
Exterior Walls
Your container home may be near trees and shrubbery. It is a good idea to trim back branches at least a foot or two from your container home. Pests also love to burrow into mulch, so be sure to keep mulch and pine straw away from walls.
Clear away leaves and organic matter from the foundation, too. If you are on raised pylons check under your home and clear away debris.
You container is metal but using feature wood on external walls are a perfect opportunity for bugs to make an entrance. Regular checks to ensure there is no unwelcome guests is recommended.
Houseplants To The Rescue
Plants can help keep bugs at bay. The scent of lavender and rosemary commonly used as fragrant scent is to bugs most unpleasant. Moths, fleas and mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender. Some mint plant varieties also can help repel mosquitoes, flies and spiders.
You can also use essential oils of these same scents to refresh your home and deter bugs. Eucalyptus oil confuses mosquitoes’ sense of direction, so they find it hard to land on your skin.
There are other plants you will find native to your region that will do the same job nicely. Ask your local nursery for advice.
My Bugs Bring Birds To My Yard.
Birds love bugs. So, it makes sense to invite them into your yard using bird feeders and water features. The sounds of chirping birds are welcome. Nature still has beauty. Too many suburbs have no trees and no birds. Which is probably why they have more bugs!
Cockroaches
Peppermint oil, cedar wood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds.
Baking soda is a cheap and effective way to get rid of roaches. A great DIY roach bait is to dice up a handful of onions and sprinkle them with baking soda. The smell of the onion will entice the cockroaches, and the baking soda will kill them.
Natures Natural Elements
Rumor has it fruit flies may drink you under the table if you leave a bowl of white wine near by. Fruit flies suddenly appear at the sight of fresh fruit in the kitchen. Leaving a bowl of white wine out overnight will see a bowl of fruit fly by morning. Be wary you don’t consume the white wine too.
White Vinegar to the Rescue
White Vinegar is used for many things not least for cleaning. However, ants will be lost if you spray a mixture of vinegar and water on their trail to the kitchen. Vinegar is also great for cleaning kitchen food preparation areas. A little spray goes a long way. Mixed half with water, use a spray bottle to help keep your home free of bugs.
The smell of Cedar has been used as a natural repellent for pests and insects for a long time. Simply grab yourself some cedar chips or cedar blocks and place them in your closet.
Other Replellents
Sliced onion in a bowl of water repels bugs. Other natural repellents include citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, and catnip oil, but others include clove oil, patchouli, peppermint, and geranium. Natural essential oils of these placed in a bowl around the home will work. Citronella candles or citronella oil burners are a great way to repel insects, but do be careful with lighted candles.
Conclusion
There are numerous ways to protect your from from bug invasion. The chemical way is costly and deadly. The natural way is preventative and Eco friendly. Bugs are apart of natures processes. We just want to keep them out of our homes. What better way than a natural way.
There a number of actions you can take to seal your home from bug infestation. Filling in gaps and making it difficult to penetrate your home with mesh are a few methods that work. You will find others as the need arises.
I regularly use my vinegar water mix to spray kitchen areas, doors and windows. It’s most effective against ants, spiders, and mosquito’s. You can keep spiders from entering your home by spraying vinegar around your property’s perimeter and entryways. Vinegar also removes household odors. Bonus!
Recent Posts
In the year 2019, I embarked on a unique and ambitious project that would forever change the way I interacted with my prized possession, the 2000 E240 Mercedes W210. Inspired by my passion for both...
Nestled on the upper slope of a picturesque farm, amid the swaying coconut trees on Ticao Island in the Philippines, three identical self-contained dwellings stood as a testament to innovation and...