No one wants to share their home with pests. Whether ants in the kitchen, mice in the attic, or bed bugs in the bedroom. Household pests can be more than just a nuisance—they can pose serious health risks, damage your property, and even lower your home’s value. That’s why homeowners and businesses turn to trusted Orlando exterminators for homes and businesses to keep their spaces pest-free.
But here’s the good news: you can prevent pest infestations with the proper knowledge and proactive steps for effective pest control. In this guide, we’ll explore the top 10 pests that invade homes, including household insects, why they are a problem, how they get inside, and, most importantly, how to keep them out. Following these practical tips, you can make your home an unwelcome place for pests and enjoy a healthier living environment.
1. Ants
Ants are one of the most common household pests, and they are incredibly persistent. You may start by seeing a few scouting for food, but within hours, an entire trail of ants can take over your kitchen counter or pantry.
How They Enter Your Home
Ants get inside through tiny cracks in walls, floors, doors, and windows. They are drawn to food sources, especially sweet, greasy, or protein-based. Even a small spill or unsealed container can attract an entire colony.
Why You Should Be Concerned
While most ants are just an annoyance, specific species, like carpenter ants, can be destructive, tunneling through wood and weakening structures. Understanding how insects feed is crucial, as fire ants can deliver painful stings, and pharaoh ants can contaminate food and spread bacteria.
How to Keep Ants Out
The best way to prevent an ant infestation is to keep your home clean and eliminate their entry points. Wipe down countertops, sweep floors, and store food in airtight containers. Seal gaps with caulk, and use natural repellents like vinegar, peppermint oil, or cinnamon to disrupt their trails. If ants have already invaded, use bait traps to target the colony at its source. Here’s more on how to deal with an ant infestation.
2. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the most dreaded pests, and for good reason. They are dirty, fast-moving, and incredibly resilient. A single cockroach sighting can indicate a much larger problem lurking behind walls or under appliances.
How They Enter Your Home
Cockroaches can enter through cracks, plumbing, or even by hitching a ride in grocery bags and boxes. They thrive in warm, humid environments, making kitchens, bathrooms, and basements ideal hiding spots.
Why You Should Be Concerned
Cockroaches are known to spread bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, which can lead to food poisoning. They also trigger allergies and asthma, particularly in children. Worse, they reproduce rapidly, meaning ignoring a few roaches can quickly lead to a full-blown infestation.
How to Keep Cockroaches Out
To prevent cockroaches, eliminate sources of food and moisture. Store all food in sealed containers, take out the trash regularly, and fix any leaks. Decluttering is also key—roaches love to hide in stacks of newspapers and cardboard boxes.
For infestations, use a combination of boric acid, diatomaceous earth, and bait stations, or call a professional exterminator if the problem persists. Consider professional pest control services for severe cockroach infestations to ensure effective treatment and prevention.
3. Rodents (Mice & Rats)
Mice and rats are some of the most destructive household pests. Not only do they chew through food packaging, but they can also gnaw on electrical wiring, causing a serious fire hazard.
How They Enter Your Home
Rodents can squeeze through surprisingly small openings—mice can fit through holes the size of a dime! They often enter homes searching for food, warmth, and shelter, especially in colder months.
Why You Should Be Concerned
Rodents carry diseases like Hantavirus and Salmonella, contaminate food, and cause structural damage. They are also notorious for chewing on insulation, drywall, and furniture. The most significant danger comes from their habit of gnawing on electrical wires, which can lead to devastating house fires.
How to Keep Rodents Out
Seal all entry points with steel wool or metal mesh (they can chew through most other materials). Store food in rodent-proof containers, and never leave pet food out overnight. Setting traps in problem areas can help, but professional extermination may be necessary if you suspect a serious infestation.
4. Termites
Termites are another destructive pest you can have in your home. Unlike other pests that seek out food crumbs, termites feed on the very structure of your home, which can lead to thousands of dollars in damages.
How They Enter Your Home
Termites travel through underground tunnels and enter homes through cracks in the foundation, wood-to-soil contact, or even via firewood brought inside.
Why You Should Be Concerned: Termite Infestation
The worst thing about termites is that they often go unnoticed until significant damage has already been done. They can weaken wooden beams, floors, and furniture, risking your home’s integrity.
How to Keep Termites Out
Regular inspections are crucial. Keep wood and mulch away from your home’s foundation, and consider installing termite barriers. Call a pest control professional immediately if you see signs of termites—such as hollow-sounding wood, discarded wings, or mud tubes.vinegar
Additionally, implementing termite control measures, such as regular inspections, identifying signs of termites early, and using professional services or treatments like termite baits and termiticides, can effectively prevent termite infestations.
5. Spiders
While most household spiders are harmless, some species—like black widows and brown recluse spiders—can deliver venomous bites that require medical attention. Even non-venomous spiders can be unsettling to find in your home, especially if they start multiplying. These resilient pests don’t invade homes for food crumbs like ants or roaches; instead, they come inside because they follow other insects—their primary food source.
How to Keep Spiders Out
To prevent spiders, reduce clutter where they like to hide, such as storage boxes, basements, attics, and closets. Use natural deterrents like peppermint oil, vinegar, or citrus peels, which disrupt their sensory receptors and make your home less inviting. Regularly vacuuming corners, ceilings, and under furniture can also help remove any spider eggs before they hatch.
Most importantly, eliminate other household pests—spiders stay in homes with a steady supply of prey, such as flies, mosquitoes, and silverfish. By keeping your home free of other insects, you also make it less attractive to spiders.
6. Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are among the most challenging pests to eliminate because they are resistant to many insecticides and can survive for months without feeding. Unlike other pests that sneak in through cracks, bed bugs are hitchhikers—they latch onto luggage, clothing, and second-hand furniture, making them incredibly easy to bring home from hotels, public transportation, or thrift stores.
How to Keep Bed Bugs Out
Always inspect hotel rooms, second-hand furniture, and used clothing before bringing them into your home. Look for small reddish-brown stains on mattresses, furniture seams, and bedding, which indicate bed bug activity. When returning from a trip, wash all clothing in hot water and vacuum your suitcase before storing it.
Vacuuming your home frequently, particularly around beds and furniture, can help remove bed bug eggs before they hatch. If you suspect an infestation, act quickly—bed bugs spread fast, and professional heat treatment is often the most effective solution. Engaging a professional pest control service is recommended for severe or persistent infestations to ensure effective and lasting results.
7. Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are more than just an itchy nuisance—they can spread dangerous diseases such as West Nile, malaria, and Zika. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, meaning any standing puddles in your yard, clogged gutters, or even pet water bowls left outside can serve as prime breeding grounds.
How to Keep Mosquitoes Out
To minimize mosquito populations, eliminate standing water around your home. Empty birdbaths, clean gutters, and regularly refresh pet water bowls. Installing window and door screens can help keep mosquitoes from entering your home. Using outdoor citronella candles, mosquito nets, and essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus can offer additional protection.
Consider using mosquito-repelling plants such as citronella, marigolds, and basil for outdoor areas. If mosquitoes are a major problem in your area, investing in a professional mosquito treatment for your yard can provide long-term relief.
8. Flies
Flies may seem a simple annoyance, but they also contain bacteria that can contaminate food and surfaces. The most common household flies include house flies, fruit flies, and drain flies, all of which can multiply rapidly in the right conditions.
How to Keep Flies Out
The best way to control flies is to maintain strict cleanliness. Keep trash bins tightly sealed, regularly clean drains, and avoid leaving uncovered food on countertops.
Fly traps, UV light zappers, and sticky tape can help catch flies, while essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, and lemongrass are natural repellents.
If fruit flies are an issue, try using a homemade apple cider vinegar trap—fill a small dish with vinegar and a few drops of dish soap to attract and trap them.
9. Silverfish
Silverfish are nocturnal pests that thrive in humid, dark areas. While they don’t pose direct health risks, they damage books, wallpaper, clothing, and paper-based materials, making them a nightmare for libraries, collectors, and homeowners with vintage possessions. Hire a professional pest control company for persistent silverfish infestations that cannot be controlled through DIY methods.
How to Keep Silverfish Out
The key to silverfish prevention is humidity control. Use a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements, bathrooms, and attics. Store books, important documents, and clothing in sealed containers to prevent damage. Caulk and seal small cracks where silverfish may enter, and use silica gel packets in storage areas to keep moisture levels low.
10. Fleas & Ticks
Fleas and ticks are a nightmare for pet owners, but even homes without pets can experience infestations if these pests are carried inside on clothing or furniture. Fleas multiply rapidly, while ticks can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Researching and hiring reputable pest control companies to manage flea and tick infestations effectively is advisable.
How to Keep Fleas & Ticks Out
If you have pets, regular flea treatments are essential. Vacuum carpets, furniture, and pet bedding frequently, and wash your pet’s bedding in hot water. Treat your yard by keeping the grass trimmed and using flea-repellent sprays.
If you live in an area with high tick populations, wear long sleeves and pants when spending time outdoors, and always check yourself and your pets for ticks after being in wooded or grassy areas. Removing ticks as soon as possible reduces the risk of disease transmission.
Protect Your Home from Pests with Drake Pest Orlando!
Tired of battling ants, roaches, termites, or rodents? Our expert pest control solutions provide safe, effective, and long-term protection for your home, ensuring a pest-free home. We use family-friendly treatments to safeguard your home all year round. Call Drake Lawn & Pest Control today for a FREE inspection and take back your home from pests!
Brandon is the President of Drake Lawn and Pest Control in Orlando, FL . He has over 30 years experience in the Orlando Pest Control Industry. He attributes his achievements to living by these rules: continuous training and education, providing honest work and striving for the pursuit of perfect service.
