Just about anywhere you go, you’ll encounter bees. These insects may leave you alone and not be a problem at all. However, when they come into your home or invade your backyard in droves, they can turn into real pests. Large bee colonies can make their homes under the eaves of your house, under your deck, or in the siding of any structure on your property. The good news is there are ways to successfully eliminate bees from inside and around your home. You can even keep them away for good.

Call a Professional

You may ask, is it worth getting a bee exterminator to rid the area of this nuisance? One of the challenges of hiring a professional is the financial commitment you will have to make. Certainly, your costs will be higher when a trained technician comes to your home. But there are advantages to choosing this method, too.

A professional has experience ridding your home and yard of bees. Exterminators are accustomed to handling the most widespread infestations of bees. They also have the right equipment for the job. Exterminators may use a combination of efforts to find and successfully destroy the bees’ hives and will also have the necessary protective equipment to stay safe from stings.

Keep Your Yard Clean

Like any pest, bees love food. They won’t hang around your home or yard if you don’t give them a reason to. However, if you don’t tie up and secure garbage bags, you’ll likely have no shortage of these hungry insects buzzing around. Also, after outdoor picnics and barbecues, make sure you pick up the plates, cups, and utensils that you use and dispose of them. Clean your grill thoroughly, and spray off picnic tables, sidewalks, and porches.

The same goes for your home. Your kitchen can be a favorite landing spot of bees, so make sure you wipe up any remnants of the day’s meals. Tie up garbage bags or make sure they are in a cupboard or closet.

Close Off the Entry Points

If bees are getting into your home, you may feel distressed. This is especially true if you or anyone in your home is allergic to bee stings. It doesn’t take a large opening for a bee to find its way inside. Re-caulking around windows and doors can help to prevent bees from coming in. Seal any cracks you find in the exterior of your home. Make sure that you have covers over vents and pipes coming out of and into your house.

Try the Water and Vinegar Method

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a bee-killer product, there are some do-it-yourself solutions. Mixing half-part of vinegar and half-part of water makes a deadly concoction for these insects. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and fire away at the bees you see outside your home. You can spray nests that you see as well as the bees directly.

Take caution, however, to wear long clothes and cover any other areas of exposed skin. For even more effective results, you can wait until night when the bees are asleep to spray their nests and plants where they spend time.

Store-bought Products

Another option is to head to your local home improvement store and purchase a bee-killer spray. However, you must get close to the bees for the product to work. Again, it may make more sense to spray nests at night when the bees are not active. You can also find citronella candles that will chase bees away. This product is helpful during outdoor get-togethers.

Get Bee-repelling Plants

You don’t necessarily need to go on an assault to kill bees to put an end to these pests on your property. You can simply keep them away with various plants. Varieties such as mint, eucalyptus, and citronella can repel bees that make their way into your yard. These plants grow well and are easy to maintain.

Bees are important to the ecosystem. These insects serve a vital purpose, but that does not mean you want them infiltrating your home or taking over your yard. The threat of getting stung can be fearful and nerve-racking. If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to have a bee-free home and yard this year.