(ARA) – The cooler weather signals squirrels to store away nuts, birds to fly south and leaves to fall from trees, but cooler weather also means that bugs will be looking for a comfy, cozy place to spend the winter. Unfortunately, your house fits that bill.

Insects start to come inside when fall arrives and their natural food sources disappear. Whether your house is the preferred winter home for crickets, boxelder bugs, spiders, silverfish or any other creepy crawlies, stay one step ahead by bug-proofing your home now. You can defend your home from unwanted insects by following a few simple steps:

Make your home less attractive:

Bugs are attracted to food and water. Store food in tightly sealed plastic, glass or metal containers, clean up crumbs from counters and floors daily, cover trash cans with snug lids, rinse out recyclables and eliminate standing water or other moisture sources. In addition, be sure to clean dishes and laundry in a timely fashion. Outside, be sure to keep plants, debris, mulch and firewood away from the foundation of your home, especially doors and windows.

Deny entry:

If there’s a hole in your screen or a crack around a window, you can be sure that bugs will find it. Repair screens and windows. Check all doors for a snug fit and use caulking or weather-stripping to fill in any gaps. Use concrete or foam filler to seal cracks and openings around the home foundation. Taking the time to make sure everything is sealed up tight won’t just keep out unwanted pests; it will also save money on energy bills too.

Control the situation:

Kill bugs indoors and keep bugs out by applying Ortho Home Defense Max Insect Killer Indoor & Perimeter around your home’s foundation, both inside and out. Spraying a band along the foundation and in areas of recurring bug infestations will control listed bugs for up to 12 months indoors. It’s a good idea to treat baseboards, doors and windows too. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the label. If you already have a lot of bugs inside, Ortho Elementals Home Insect Killer acts as a great way to stop them in their tracks. It’s safe for use around kids and pets when used as directed. Simply spray directly on insects until they are thoroughly covered. For more great tips on how to defend your home from unwanted pests, visit www.ortho.com.

Controlling insects and keeping them from invading your home is not as difficult as it seems. Just a few precautions can ensure a winterized home that’s warm and inviting for you and not for bugs.