Uninvited guests can be the worst—especially if they have multiple legs. Whether we’re talking an ant, a roach, or a fly, bugs are the last thing you want to deal with when you’re relaxing in your space. And with so many pieces of conflicting advice on how to get rid of them, it can be hard to know where to start.
We talked to experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute about tested ways to handle bugs in different parts of the house and how Zevo, whose products are expertly formulated to kill insects efficiently and without harsh chemicals, can help.
In the Kitchen
When shopping for, or displaying, fresh fruits and vegetables, the last thing you want is a side of fruit flies. But sometimes, says Carolyn Forte, director of the Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, it’s unavoidable. Forte says making a simple trap with vinegar and a paper funnel can catch a ton of flies—“The fruit flies go in but they can’t get out!”
Forte also says it’s important to make sure any bugs in your kitchen aren’t getting invited by unattended treats. “Make sure that you don’t leave cookies, crackers, or crumbs unwrapped and out,” she says. “Those are bug magnets.”
For even more targeted bug banishing, sprays that allow you to hit bugs directly are a great option throughout the home. This is particularly true of the kitchen, where they might show up regardless of your best efforts to keep food items up off the countertops and floors swept clean. The Good Housekeeping Institute tested Zevo’s Instant Action Sprays, a line developed by entomologists, and found that when sprayed on common pests like the German cockroach and the fruit fly, the bugs were knocked down fast. The product’s active ingredients are powered by plant-based essential oils that target nervous system receptors vital to bugs, not people or pets.
In the Bathroom
Where there’s water, bugs will thrive, so it’s key to make sure you take care of leaks in places like the bathroom, where you might not always think to find insects. If you do spy a bug under the sink, Forte has a tip for making the most out of a deep-clean.
She says the first step is taking everything out of the sink cabinet and making sure it is clean and items are sealed up. Then line the bottom of the cabinet with vinyl tiles. “Just plain vinyl tile,” she says. “Put it down so that it’s easy to wipe up and clean in the base of that cabinet.” An already easy-to-clean space will make using products like Zevo’s sprays even more effective. They are also a great choice if you’re looking for a bug killing spray with ingredients you recognize, like lemongrass oils.
In the Bedroom
When it comes to keeping bugs out of bedrooms, the best defense is a good offense. “Make sure the screens are in good shape,” says Forte—it only takes a small tear for bugs to get in, especially in the warm summer months when windows might be open more than usual.
If you’re seeing more bugs than you’d like, it might also be a good idea to try using a trap. Zevo Flying Insect Traps work without chemical insecticides—instead, they use multi-spectrum light technology and simulated body heat to lure and capture flying pests. The traps are actually more effective in the dark, confirms Birnur Aral, director of the Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, so they’re a good option to get rid of bugs while you snooze, worry-free.
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