With the arrival of new seasons, you can often spot small dark insects around the house – in the kitchen, on windowsills, or in the corners of rooms. These could be bedbugs, fruit flies, ants, beetles, or even woodlice. Let’s look at how to recognize and remove them safely.
How to get rid of small black insects in the house?
High Temperature
Expert Daniel Odin recommends actively using heat. Bedding and clothing should be washed at 60°C (140°F) for at least 30 minutes. Furniture can be tightly wrapped in plastic and placed in direct sunlight.
Research from the National Health Security Agency confirms that a temperature of 60°C (140°F) can kill bedbugs in less than 10 minutes.
Low Temperature
Place textiles and small items in bags and freeze at -18°C (-18°C) for at least 72 hours. Ants
Common ants often appear near windowsills. Their three-segmented body, a pair of antennae, and six quotation marks easily identify them.
What to do?
Find where they congregate – near moisture or a food source.
Treat the surface with a vinegar solution or use a mixture of baking soda and sugar.
Dust Mites
Dust mites usually inhabit areas where dust accumulates. They don’t bite, but their waste products can trigger allergies.
How to reduce their numbers?
Wash your bedding regularly.
Vacuum your mattress and use protective covers.
Monitor the room’s humidity and temperature.
Beetles
Small dark beetles in the home are most often carpet beetles or weevils. They feed on wool, feathers, natural fabrics, grains, and spices. They are most often found near baseboards, in closets, and under carpets.
How to get rid of them?
Regularly vacuum areas where they appear.
Treat carpets and furniture with vinegar.
Fruit flies
These small insects are attracted to overripe fruit, food scraps, and dirt in drains.
How to get rid of them?
Store fruit in the refrigerator.
Wash surfaces daily and take out the trash.
Clean the drain trap.
Make a trap: warm water, apple cider vinegar, and a drop of detergent.
Pseudo-lice (book lice)
They are not related to human lice and pose no danger. These light-brown insects feed on fungus and prefer moist environments, so they often nest on windowsills, shelves, or plants.
How to get rid of them?
Reduce humidity by using a dehumidifier.
In the summer, use an air conditioner.
Wipe windowsills with a bleach solution or antifungal agent.
How to prevent small insects from appearing in your home?
Clean around windows and sills.
Store food in a cool, dry place.
Vacuum and dust more regularly.
Wipe windowsills with a weak bleach solution.
Keep kitchen surfaces clean and dry.
Store food in airtight containers.
Get rid of unnecessary items that could serve as hiding places.
Check and repair mosquito nets.
Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
Take out the trash regularly.