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How do I get Rid of Basement Bugs?

Patti Kate
Patti Kate

If you have an infestation of bugs in a basement, the best way to get rid of them is through the use of insecticides or bug sprays. Keeping the basement clean and free of debris and food particles may be a deterrent as well. Depending upon which bugs have invaded the area, there are certain sprays or even natural deterrents such as eucalyptus, cinnamon, or mint that can help keep insects out of your basement. Forming some type of barrier by caulking or other means may help as well.

A good idea is to first do a thorough assessment of your basement to learn which insects are inhabiting the area and how you can keep your basement clutter-free. In many cases, spiders, centipedes, and other creepy crawlies like to hide in dark corners and behind boxes, cartons, and other bulky items. Moisture and dampness may also attract certain basement bugs. Try running a dehumidifier in your basement to see if that can improve your situation.

A person using bug spray.
A person using bug spray.

It's a good idea not to store certain food items in your basement. This is especially true for foods that can easily be detected by insects. Syrups or preserves that are not in airtight jars, and any particles of food that can draw ants or other tiny bugs should not be stored in a basement.

If you have a lot of items stored in the basement, such as unused pieces of furniture, you might want to store them in another area of your home. Spiderwebs can easily accumulate around furniture and termites will be attracted to wood. If you must keep furniture in the basement, consider covering it with plastic.

Ants surrounding a piece of food.
Ants surrounding a piece of food.

Keep floors as clean as possible to deter bugs, especially if your basement is carpeted. Give the area a thorough cleaning regularly, using steam and a commercial carpet shampoo. Vacuum the area after steam cleaning. If you have area rugs in the basement, shake them out weekly, and vacuum them as well.

If you are concerned about using chemicals or insecticides in your home, yet are determined to eradicate basement bugs and prevent them from returning, there are natural alternatives. Try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, or vinegar by itself. This works well as a natural ant repellent. Alternately, dishwashing liquid mixed with an equal part of warm water can be poured into a spray bottle. Spray the solution directly on small insects to kill them.

A dehumidifier can help rid a basement of bugs because many insects like a damp environment.
A dehumidifier can help rid a basement of bugs because many insects like a damp environment.

You can also repel bugs and freshen the area at the same time. Place a pot of potpourri with fresh cinnamon anywhere you've seen the insects, since ants, in particular, dislike the scent of cinnamon. Another idea is lemon juice and water, which can be used as a spray. Peppermint oil works well and does not need to be diluted.

Discussion Comments

anon995994

I'm very surprised this article doesn't mention moisture. A dry basement is almost guaranteed to be bug free.

SZapper

@JessicaLynn - Sounds like your family has the right idea about maintaining the basement so they don't get bugs. A friend of mine had bugs in her basement, and it was a really long and difficult process to get rid of them. I definitely wouldn't want to have to go through that!

JessicaLynn

My mom and stepfather have a finished basement, and they have a ton of stuff stored down there. When they got married, they basically combined two households into one! So a lot of the stuff they have down there is furniture and other household stuff.

They've never had a bug problem, but I think it's because they're pretty meticulous with taking care of their basement. They have a pretty heavy duty dehumidifier down there that they run all the time, and my mom cleans down there regularly.

dautsun

@ceilingcat - I usually ignore my basement when I'm cleaning too. Pretty much the only time I go down there is when I need to get something out or put something in. After reading this article, I'm going to pay a little more attention to my basement. I'm almost scared to go down and give the basement a thorough cleaning now though. I'm afraid I might find something!

ceilingcat

I tell you, having a house is a lot of work. There are so many things that can go wrong, including getting house bugs. As the article said, basements present a special challenge. I know my first impulse is to clean the rest of the house and forget about the basement.

However, a couple of years ago I had an infestation of basement bugs. It was a huge pain to get rid of them, so now I try to take care and clean the basement the same way I clean the rest of the house. Prevention definitely pays off because I haven't had any problems since!

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    • A person using bug spray.
      By: TMAX
      A person using bug spray.
    • Ants surrounding a piece of food.
      By: Sapsiwai
      Ants surrounding a piece of food.
    • A dehumidifier can help rid a basement of bugs because many insects like a damp environment.
      By: Kellis
      A dehumidifier can help rid a basement of bugs because many insects like a damp environment.
    • Centipedes and other bugs hide in dark corners behind boxes and other bulky items.
      By: evegenesis
      Centipedes and other bugs hide in dark corners behind boxes and other bulky items.
    • A moist basement can attract bugs.
      By: Steven Baines
      A moist basement can attract bugs.
    • A spray bottle filled with a solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water can be used to kill insects.
      By: Sven Hoppe
      A spray bottle filled with a solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water can be used to kill insects.