The garage is meant to give shelter to your car, store tools, sports equipment and anything else that needs to be packed up out of sight. It also serves as the perfect shelter for bugs and rodents. Compared to more secure parts of the house, the garage – sometimes left open for extended periods of time – provides easy access to your home for bugs and other small critters seeking protection from the outdoor elements. The first step in keeping bugs out of the garage is identifying them.
Garages provide the perfect environment for various bugs and pests to live and breed. It’s warm, sheltered, often damp, and filled with plenty of cracks, crevices and clutter for bugs to hide. Garages also tend to have a lot of leftover food particles and waste that attracts bugs looking for their next meal.
If left unchecked, garages can quickly become infested with bugs leading to an unpleasant and potentially harmful situation. The key is being proactive and implementing preventative measures before things get out of hand. Here are some of the most common garage bugs what attracts them, the risks they pose, and how to keep them out of your space.
Silverfish
Silverfish are one of the most prevalent bugs found in garages. They thrive in damp humid environments and feed on starchy foods like paper books, photos, glue, and even drywall. Silverfish can damage your possessions, but they don’t bite humans.
To deter silverfish, keep your garage as dry as possible by fixing any leaks and utilizing a dehumidifier if needed. Store paper goods in sealed plastic bins clean up any crumbs or food debris, and use sticky traps or diatomaceous earth to kill silverfish you see.
Crickets
Crickets are omnivorous scavengers attracted to the variety of food scraps present in garages. They will munch on grains, fruits, vegetables, meats, grease, dead insects and more. Crickets don’t cause structural damage, but can be a nuisance with their incessant chirping.
Remove cricket food sources like open bags of bird seed or pet food, clean up spills right away, and use cricket traps to catch these noisy buggers. You can also apply insecticidal dust in and around their hiding spots.
Spiders
Spiders routinely turn up in garages in pursuit of other insects to eat. Common garage spiders include daddy long legs, black widows, brown recluses, and hobo spiders. While most won’t harm humans, poisonous spiders like black widows can inflict painful bites.
Seal any cracks and crevices spiders may use to get inside. Sweep away their webs and nests using a broom or vacuum. Traps are an effective way to catch wandering spiders. You can also spray insecticides in corners and along baseboards to repel them.
Ants
There are many ant species, but garage infestations typically involve odorous house ants or carpenter ants. They forage for sweet and protein-rich foods and can damage wood structures. Ants themselves aren’t dangerous, though carpenter ants can weaken beams and wood over time.
Ants follow scent trails to food, so wash any spills immediately and store food in sealed containers. Use ant baits or borax/sugar mixtures to poison ants. Seal any cracks they’re using for entry, especially around doors and windows. Seek professional extermination for serious carpenter ant infestations.
Mice
Mice are constant garage invaders in search of food, water and nesting areas. They’ll eat pet food, bird seed, grains, fruits, nuts, grease, soap, cardboard and more. Mice contaminate surfaces with feces and urine and spread diseases. They also chew on insulation, wood and wires, causing property damage.
The most effective way to get rid of mice is with snap traps or live traps so you can release mice outdoors away from the home. Avoid poison which can lead to dead mice in hard to reach areas. Also store food in chew-proof containers, seal any holes, and clean up clutter mice can hide in.
Flies
Flies detect odors of food or garbage and lay eggs on decaying organic material. Garbage cans and drains serve as prime breeding grounds for flies. They spread bacteria and viruses by landing on surfaces after visiting waste. Flies themselves don’t bite, though certain varieties can indicate other pests like termites.
Sanitation is key to fly control. Take garbage out frequently, clean trash cans, and keep drains clear of gunk. Liquid larvicide down drains prevents fly eggs from maturing. Use air tight lids on cans, fly paper, and fly zapping devices to reduce adult fly populations.
Wasps
Wasps, especially yellowjackets, are aggressive stingers attracted to food debris like uneaten pet food. Open garage doors and holes in screens allow wasps inside. Their stings are painful and can cause severe allergic reactions in some. Wasps can also eat through wood if nesting inside walls.
Removing food, sealing holes, and using insecticides around entry points helps prevent wasps. It’s safest to call a professional to treat active nests. Cover sodas and foods when eating outdoors and wear shoes to avoid stings. Seek medical attention immediately if you suffer an allergic reaction.
Tips for Deterring Garage Bugs
- Seal cracks, crevices and holes where pests enter with caulk or weather stripping
- Install door sweeps and screens to close gaps beneath garage doors
- Store food in airtight plastic or glass containers
- Clean up spills, crumbs and garbage frequently
- Remove damp cardboard, piles of leaves, rotting wood, etc that provide habitat
- Use dehumidifiers to eliminate moisture bugs need to thrive
- Apply boric acid powder or diatomaceous earth in bug pathways
- Deploy insect monitors and glue boards to identify pests
- Seek professional pest control treatment for serious infestations
Implementing preventive measures is the best defense against garage bugs. With diligent sanitation and pest proofing, you can stop bugs from invading this problematic area of the home. Be proactive at the first signs of insects and use a combination of traps, insecticides and eliminating conducive conditions to get rid of any bugs that do find their way inside.
Tips to Keep Bugs Out of the Garage
Similar to other areas of the house, eliminating access points and minimizing pests’ ability to gain entry are essential to keeping both pests and their prey out of the garage. Homeowners should outfit windows and doors with effective weather stripping and seal any cracks or holes with silicone-based caulk, steel wool or a combination of both. Silverfish, camel crickets and sowbugs are attracted to moisture, so fix any leaky pipes and use a dehumidifier if necessary.
Cleanliness is key, as well, to prevent an infestation in the garage. Reduce clutter by organizing storage items and keeping them off of the floor.
Consider using resealable plastic containers rather than cardboard boxes when possible. Doing so will help get rid of any potential nesting spots for silverfish and deer mice. Be sure to routinely sweep or vacuum the garage, too, in order to remove food crumbs, spider webs and eggs. Additionally, inspect items for pests before storing them in the garage.
Sowbugs in the Garage
Sowbugs are land-dwelling crustaceans with worldwide distribution. Sowbugs are confined to areas of high moisture because they lack a closing device for their respiratory system and an outer waxy layer of their exoskeleton that would reduce water loss. For this reason, they are inactive during the day when the sun is shining and instead hide under objects to prevent moisture loss. They can be found around buildings and will occasionally enter homes via door thresholds. Homes with sliding glass doors are particularly susceptible to a sowbug infestation. If a homeowner finds multiple sowbugs inside, it likely means that there is a large population immediately outside the home.
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FAQ
Is it normal to have bugs in the garage?
Since the garage is generally used for housing cars or storing old sports equipment, it is typically not cleaned very often, allowing pests to hide and survive amongst the clutter. Additionally, house spiders can feed on smaller bugs while silverfish and deer mice will eat food being stored in the garage.
How do I get rid of bugs in my garage?
Eliminate bug hiding spots and nests by thoroughly cleaning the garage and keeping it dry. This includes sweeping or vacuuming up nests and webs and mopping up any standing water (which attracts bugs). garage storage hacks like using air-sealed containers for pet food and soil mix to help conceal strong odors.
How to seal a garage to keep bugs out?
Sealing cracks will give pests fewer ways to get into your garage. Check for gaps around the garage foundation, walls, ceilings and windows. Seal them with caulk and check them yearly to ensure they’re still in good shape.
How to get rid of mites in a garage?
Treat affected areas with Sterifab.
Once you’re reduced the clutter, disinfect the area to kill the mites and keep them away. Sterifab spray is an effective solution that can be used on most surfaces. It dries quickly, leaving no scent or residue. Unlike some products, Sterifab is a great choice for use in homes.