It's a good idea to keep bugs away from a porch light.
The warm glow of the porch light makes people want to open their front door at night.What is a homeowner to do?There are several steps you can take to reduce the number of insects around your entranceway.One of the simplest solutions is to replace your old bulbs with new ones.Setting out aromatic candles or spices, hanging an electric bug zapper or installing a dense screen are some ways to make the area less friendly to animals.If all else fails, there is always your fly swatter.
Step 1: Turn off the lights you are not using.
The easiest way to thin the ranks of bugs is to leave them in the dark because of the heat and light they get from porch lights.If there isn't enough light outside, hold off on flipping the switch.Many homeowners prefer to leave their porch lights on overnight for safety reasons, so this may not be the most practical answer.When the sun begins to rise, rigging your porch lights to a timer or light sensor will shut them off automatically.
Step 2: Try the yellow bulbs.
Bug bulbs are designed to repel insects.The color yellow makes it hard for bugs to see.Most of them will fly by.If you don't want to go to the trouble of replacing all of your porch lights, you can also try lining the fixture themselves with yellow cellophane to produce the same effect.The yellow bulbs cast your whole house in a yellow hue.If you want to win your neighborhood's most beautiful home award, this may not be ideal.
Step 3: Use the switch to light up the room.
LEDs emit less heat and their light is not as attractive to insects.You won't have to see your home awash with yellow bulbs because most of them put off a clean, white shine.At most hardware and home improvement stores, you will be able to find an array of convenient sizes for your lighting needs.Standard light bulbs cost a little more.The main entrances and exits may be more economical to reserve them for.
Step 4: Keep the candles lit.
For warding off winged invaders, aromatic candles are very effective.They serve as an elegant secondary light source, making them a win-win.If you want to get the best results, place your candles on a table or railing below the porch light.There are candles that contain oils like lavender and lemongrass.Bug-repellent lighting solutions include citronella candles.Most places where home and garden supplies are sold have them.A sea of twinkling candles may be nice to look at, but they can also present a fire hazard.Make sure the candles you put out are in jars or holders, and that they are a safe distance away from curtains, upholstery, plants and anything else that could be a fire hazard.
Step 5: Invest in a bug zapper.
There is nothing pretty about what they do, but they are a time-honored method of fighting flying pests.Their blue glow attracts insects, and their electrified core finishes the job once they get close.You can hang your bug zapper up a few feet away from your porch light, and let it do its thing.Bug zappers may not be the best solution for people who use their porch as a place of peaceful refuge because of the constant buzz of electricity and smell of burnt insects.If you don't like the idea of killing bugs all at once, you might be better off looking for a more humane solution.
Step 6: An outdoor ceiling fan is needed.
If your home has a wrap-around style porch with an overhang, one or more fans might be just what you need.They will help reduce the number of airborne creatures by blowing them away, and they will also keep your surroundings cooler during the hot summer months.The dispersal of carbon dioxide, food particles, and other human odors in the environment can be accomplished by keeping the air outside moving.
Step 7: Spices are placed around the porch.
Take a few coffee filters or pieces of cheesecloth and fill them with herbs and spices and tie them up into bundles.If you want to hide the bundles, put them under the roof or behind a potted plant.If insects are in the vicinity, they will catch a whiff and think twice about coming any closer.The spice pouches should be replaced every few days.
Step 8: The area should be sprayed with an herbal infusion.
There are other natural turn-offs for bugs.If you combine essential oils with a small amount of soapy water in out-of-the-way spots, you can get equally effective results.It's important to keep the liquid away from electric lighting components.When insects are out in full force, it may be necessary to spray your herbal solution once or twice a day.You can mix essential oils with a carrier oil and apply them to your skin to be a deterrent.
Step 9: Put something on a screen.
For larger porches and other outdoor sitting areas mesh screens can provide a full-time barrier against bugs.To prevent gnats and other small nuisances from slipping through the cracks, be sure to choose a type of screening that is small enough.For as little as a couple hundred dollars, an experienced contractor can screen-in an exposed porch.If you have a toolbelt, you can install a screen yourself using a simple system called Screen Tight.While the door is open, it is a good idea to use a yellow light, bug zapper, or scented candle on the screened-in porch.
Step 10: There is a bird or bat house nearby.
Place a small amount of fruit or seeds inside the house to make it more attractive to visitors.Most large winged creatures prey on insects.All you are doing is letting nature take its course by inviting them into the area.Home improvement centers and garden supply stores sell premade bat and bird houses.The structure should be far away from the porch to keep people from congregating around your home.When they get hungry, they will come out to hunt on their own.
Step 11: Don't leave with standing water.
There are insects around where water has collected.A surface pump can be used to drain small ponds, gulches, and low spots in your lawn.You will probably see a big difference right away.If you live in an area that gets a lot of precipitation, fill the problem areas with sand, gravel, or a mixture of both.The water will not pool on the surface.The mosquitoes that carry diseases like Stagnant water.