Insects come in all shapes and sizes, with species varying with the seasons. Keeping them out of your home will require some initial steps and more importantly, consistent follow through afterward. Read on to learn how to keep insects out of your home.

• Always make sure all windows and doors are properly caulked.

• Do not leave food in the open, always keep it in sealed containers.

• Keep hedges and shrubs at least one foot from exterior walls.

• Fix any leaks from plumbing fixtures.

• Replace any missing or damaged window screens.

• Do not allow water to stagnate or accumulate outside.

• Sweep backyard and garage frequently.

The proper method of how to keep insects out of your home starts with eliminating those bugs that have already made themselves cozy within the confines of your house. You then need to establish a barrier to keep new pests from entering. Begin with an initial walk through of your home, inside and out, including the garage and exterior yards.

You will need: flash light, work gloves, pesticide (can be substituted with natural boric acid or white vinegar), writing pad, pencil, spray mask, eye protection

You may also need: hornet spray, window caulking, wire mesh screen, hammer, nails, steel wool, insulation tape

Estimated Duration: 1 1/2 to 6 hours (depending on size and condition of home)

Grab a flash light, pad and pencil. You will be making a walk through of every room in your house, including all closets, the attic and basement.

In each room/area you must move all items, including furniture, plants, mats, frames on walls, appliances, and decorations. Pay special attention to those which are next to walls, along baseboards and corners. Open cabinets in each room.

The purpose for this walk through is two-fold. First, it is to observe any possible insect infestations which you may already have, but perhaps were not aware of. Insects come in all shapes and sizes- some crawl others fly, hiding places are almost limitless for them. Second, it is to make note of any areas that can allow access to insects from the outside.

1. Scan all along the baseboards, corners, ceiling moldings, window frames, door frames and jams. Make note of any missing or torn window screens, worn window caulking, loose baseboards and loose floorboards.
2. If there are any cabinets, use the flashlight to scan the interior of these in their entirety. Look for any food residue that might have settled there and remove it..
3. Scan around the faceplates of electrical outlets. Make certain that they are fitted properly and free of any cracks. Cracked faceplates will need to be replaced.
4. Be especially observant in areas which are prone to higher humidity, such as near plumbing fixtures, the bathroom and kitchen areas. Make note of any wood rot or water stains around pipes.
5. In attics, basements and the garage, make note of any loose or worn insulation. Likewise, make note of any worn or missing caulking around entrance points for water and gas piping, as well as air and exhaust ducts.

Having finished the walk through of your home's interior, review your notes. Make certain that you have accounted for every window and door leading in and out of your home.

Once you've finished inside, you must now make a walk through of the exterior. Walk along all four sides of your home. Be on the look out for:

1. Cracking on exterior walls or loosened side panels. These need to be sealed and/or secured properly.
2. Pay close attention near the foundation, look for tell tale signs of termites such as hollow sounding wood studs or unusual accumulations of toiled soil around the foundation or bulging walls. (Note: If you suspect or find a termite infestation, this requires immediate attention from a professional exterminator, do not try to tackle termites yourself).
3. Look at the entire external structure of your home, especially in corners near the roof line where hornets sometimes form nests. Hornets nests must be removed at night, as this is when they are all in the nest. Use a long distance hornet spray which launches a stream of hornet killer up to 20 feet away. Use caution when doing this and wear long sleeves and pants. If you feel uncomfortable with this, you can hire a professional exterminator. After the nest has been saturated with hornet spray from a distance you can knock off the remnants of the nest. Use an enzyme or oxidizing cleaner, such as Oxy-Clean to wash the area where the nest was to remove pheromone residue that could attract other hornets.

Having finished the walk through of the external structure of your home you will now do a walk through of the rest of your property.

1. If you find any item which may collect stagnant water such as empty pots, pet dishes, toys, etc., remove these.
2. Move lawn furniture, barbecues, and flower pots. Use caution and wear protective gloves, these are favorite hiding areas for nasty creatures like black widows and even scorpions depending on what part if the country you live in. Carry a can of bug spray when doing this in case you have a nasty encounter.
3. Wood piles, rocks, and debris should be eliminated from areas around the home, especially near foundation walls.
4. Tree branches, foliage and bushes must be trimmed back, so as not to touch the exterior walls. Keep all hedges and shrubs at least one foot away from walls.
5. Make sure that the soil is sloped away from the house at least 6 inches over 10 feet. This will reduce soil dampness near your foundation, which would otherwise invite insects.
6. Replace all exterior light bulbs with yellow insect repellent bulbs to ward off moths.

Once you have finished the interior and exterior walk throughs, you must now create a barrier against future insect intrusions. Use the notes that you took to make certain that you seal every possible insect entry point that you spotted.

1. Replace any caulking around windows and doors that you found missing or defective. Check under the window sill and seal this with caulk.
2. Repair or replace any torn or missing window screens.
3. Now check under all sinks. At the pipe entry points there are usually spaces around the pipes where spiders, crickets, roaches and other insects can enter. Seal these spaces with steel wool or sheet metal.
4. If their was any moisture or wood rot present, soak these areas with white distilled vinegar and air dry.
5. Repair or replace any loose baseboards and floor boards
6. In the attic, basement and garage place some silk screening across the bottom of air vents.
7. Secure any loose insulation with insulation tape.
8. Before placing items back in cabinets, wipe these down with a solution of one part vinegar one part water and let dry.
9. Install door bottoms with vinyl seals on every door with access to the outside.
10. Place cedar strips or chips in all closets.

It is recommended that you apply a pesticide to the interior and exterior perimeter of your home before returning all of the furniture to its place. You may use a retail pesticide available at any home improvement center, or a natural based product like boric acid or white distilled vinegar.

This should be applied in a steady stream all along the baseboard, in the corners, inside cabinets, under plumbing fixtures and around window and door frames. It should also be applied along the perimeter of the foundation in the exterior of the home. This will kill any insects that remained in the home and will also reinforce your barrier against future infestations. Note: A spray mask and eye goggles should always be used when applying any pesticide, especially in an enclosed area.

You should make it a habit of repeating this entire process just before the start of spring and just before the end of summer, which is the time when insect migrations to the home are at their peak.

Remember, insects are persistent critters, so follow through is essential to remain insect free.

1. http://www.livingwithbugs.com/natural_pesticides.html

2. http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/BO/boric_acid.html

3. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/344686/five_tips_for_hornet_nest_removal.html?cat=6

4. http://www.killsbugsdead.com/

5. http://www.handyamerican.com/e-book-rp-windows-proper-caulking.asp

6. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/screenwindowrepair