Stink bugs invading your home this fall? Get rid of them for good with these remedies

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Where stink bugs can be found, they will usually be one of two species: 1) the European stink bug (Nezara viridula), which is bright green in color and endemic to southern and central Europe, or; 2) the brown, marmorated (veined) stink bug, (Halyomorpha halys), which is larger and arrived in Europe and the USA from Asia with merchant ships in the early 2000s.

Commonly found outdoors when fall arrives, stink bugs also often take refuge in our homes, becoming a significant (and smelly!) inconvenience.

So, why do stink bugs enter our homes in the fall and how can we get rid of them in an eco-friendly way? Well, check out this short guide:

Why do stink bugs enter your home in the fall?

In the summer, stink bugs live almost exclusive outdoors and in gardens, where they damage plants by feeding on them.

However, with the drop in temperatures that accompanies the arrival of fall, stink bugs seek shelter and light inside our homes.

Stink bugs can hide away almost anywhere in a house and, although harmless to humans, they can be a real nuisance due to their the noise they make and the malodorous smell they give off (as a defense mechanism) when they feel threatened.

If you do not want to resort to using aggressive, commercial insecticides to get rid of stink bugs in your home, there are several all-natural remedies you can consider using for this purpose, and we detail these below.

Aromatic plants to keep stink bugs away from your home

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"Prevention is better than cure" the saying goes, and the first step to preventing stink bugs entering your home is to carefully seal every possible entrance they could use and to remove any stagnant water/humid sources near your home.

Aromatic plants are also an excellent "ally" to help keep stink bugs at bay: these plants (like mint or basil, for example) have very strong, natural scents which most insects cannot tolerate and when placed near the entryway to your house and/or on the windowsills, they will help keep stink bugs away from your abode.

Essential oils as an alternative to plants

If you don't have the time, skills or inclination to cultivate the above-described plants, you can use essential oils instead.

The most effective essential oils used to keep stink bugs at bay are neem oil and tea tree oil, also well known for their anti-microbial and antiseptic properties. Of course, you can also use the essential oils from the plants detailed above (ie. mint and basil essential oils).

Spray these oils around the entry points that stink bugs could use to keep them from entering your home.

Eliminate stink bugs with Marseille soap

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So, what can you do if stink bugs have already "invaded" your home?

To eliminate stink bugs without running the risk of them triggering their "stinky" defenses, there is no need to resort to using aggressive, commercial insecticides.

You can prepare a solution of water and Marseille soap in a spray bottle to spray directly onto stink bugs and on the leaves of the plants they frequent. When this mixture gets onto stink bugs, it eliminates them by drying them out.

How do you deal with stink bugs in your home?