How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs in Your Home

Stink bugs get their name from the foul odor they emit when they feel threatened or are squashed. Despite their small size, the stink they produce is big and will cling to whatever surface the bug lands on, whether a wall, a drapery, a rug, or something else. Prevention is the key to keeping these bugs out of your house, but even with the best measures, stink bugs can find their way indoors, particularly during the cold season when they're looking for a warm place to spend the winter.

What Are Stink Bugs?

Unlike cockroaches or ants, stink bugs aren't interested in your food. Instead, these insects feed on plants. They don't bite either. In fact, their only offensive indoor behavior is their odor. 

Ranging in color from green to brown, stink bugs are about the size of a dime, with shield-shaped bodies perched up on stick legs. Though stink bugs can fly, they prefer to crawl very slowly, which makes them easy to kill. Before you opt to squash, however, consider some less smelly ways to rid them from your home.

You'll typically find stink bugs trying to come inside during the fall. Like many other fall pests, stink bugs look for a warm, snug place to hide out during winter. Once the weather warms up in spring, they'll come out and start trying to make their way back outdoors.

How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs in Your Home

If you already have a stink bug problem, the good news is they move slowly and are easy to catch. If you notice stink bugs inside your home, here's what to do:

• Avoid touching or squashing them, as they will produce that pungent smell for which they're famous.
• Grab them gently with a plastic baggy, then take them outside to finish the job. Alternatively, you can flush them or drop them into a jar of soapy water.
• Vacuum them if you have a vacuum cleaner that uses bags. Once you've sucked up the bugs, remove the bag and put it in the outdoor trash.
• To trap stink bugs that have come indoors, fill a foil/aluminum roasting pan with some water and a few drops of dish soap. Point a light into the pan and leave in a dark room. Stink bugs are attracted to the light and will fall into the trap and drown.

How to Prevent Stink Bugs From Getting Indoors

If you're concerned about stink bugs getting into your house, you can take steps to prevent them from getting inside in the first place:

• In late summer, seal up any cracks around the house where stink bugs can enter. Pay close attention to doors, windows, and other potential entry points. Check for broken screens, too.
• In early fall, before stink bugs begin to look for a place to over-winter, apply fast-drying, fume- and stain-free Ortho® Home Defense Max® Indoor Insect Barrier with Extended Reach Comfort Wand® around windows, doorways, and other entry points to your home (such as dryer vents).

Even with their horrible smell, stink bugs aren't the worst bug to find inside your home. Like many other fall pests, preventing them is easy with a little preparation and know-how.