How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs in Your Home

Why Do I Suddenly Have Stink Bugs?

Stink bugs don’t magically appear out of thin air (although it feels like it when they crawl out of your light fixtures). These little invaders sneak in during fall, looking for a cozy place to wait out the winter—like your attic, behind your curtains, or the weird gap behind the TV you never clean.

Once they’re in, they’re in. And if you squish them? Oh, the smell. One time I panicked and vacuumed a whole bunch—let’s just say that vacuum now lives in the garage.

What Attracts Stink Bugs to Your Home?

Before we talk about how to get rid of stink bugs in your home, it's key to know why they’re dropping by like uninvited relatives. Here’s what draws them in:

• Warmth: They love the warmth seeping out of your windows and vents.

• Light: Porch lights = stink bug nightclub.

• Cracks & gaps: Door frames, windows, chimneys—they’ll squeeze through anything.

• Vegetation near the house: They feed on plants, so if your garden is too close to the house, it’s like room service.

DIY Checklist: Kick Stink Bugs Out (and Keep Them Out)

✅ Inspect all windows, doors, and siding for cracks
✅ Seal any gaps with silicone or weatherstripping
✅ Turn off outdoor lights at night
✅ Use DIY stink bug traps
✅ Vacuum them—carefully
✅ Add natural repellents

Seal First, Fight Second (Prevention Is the Real MVP)

Before you even think about sprays or traps, do this:

🧼 Close the Buffet:

Get rid of the things they love. That means trimming vegetation, pulling plants away from windows, and cleaning up fallen fruit or leaves near the house.

🛠️ Seal Every Crack:

Use silicone caulk to close gaps around windows, pipes, and eaves. Weatherstrip your doors. Put a screen on your chimney and vents. If a ladybug could get in, a stink bug will.

💡 Cut the Lights:

At night, keep porch lights off—or use yellow bug lights that are less attractive to insects.

DIY Stink Bug Traps That Actually Work

No, you don’t need fancy gadgets. Here are traps that cost less than your average coffee:

🔥 Light & Dish Soap Trap (Night Method)

1. Fill a shallow pan with water and dish soap.

2. Shine a desk lamp right above it.

3. Place it in a dark room where bugs are active.

They’ll be drawn to the light, fall in, and the soap prevents them from escaping.

🧴 Bottle Trap (Day Method)

1. Cut off the top third of a plastic bottle.

2. Invert it to form a funnel and tape it in place.

3. Put a banana peel inside as bait.

4. Place it near windows or walls they crawl on.

Natural Stink Bug Repellents (That Won’t Stink Up Your House)

Want to get rid of stink bugs in your home without bringing in harsh chemicals? Here’s what you can use:

🌿 Essential Oils

• Peppermint oil: Mix 10 drops with water in a spray bottle. Spray windowsills and doorways.

• Clove or lemongrass oil: Also effective stink bug repellents.

🧂 Diatomaceous Earth

This powder works mechanically—bugs walk over it, it damages their exoskeleton, and they dehydrate. Use around baseboards and entry points. Just don’t breathe it in!

🧼 Vinegar Spray

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water, with a drop of dish soap. Spray directly on stink bugs or on surfaces where they hang out.

What NOT to Do

🚫 Don’t crush them.
Unless you want your house to smell like a gym sock was microwaved with old broccoli, resist the urge.

🚫 Don’t use fly swatters.
It still smears stink. Instead, use a tissue, gently scoop, and flush.

🚫 Don’t forget the attic.
It’s one of their favorite winter getaways. Out of sight, not out of mind.

Stink Bug Myth Buster 🧪

“They bite!”
Nope. Stink bugs don’t bite humans, pets, or chew on your furniture. They do feed on plants, but mostly they’re just annoying squatters with a defense mechanism that smells like despair.

My Personal Trick (Experience Speaks)

I’ve found that the dish soap trap near a sunny window works like magic. Once, I caught 12 stink bugs in a single afternoon. They fell in like lemmings. Gross? Yes. Satisfying? Absolutely.

Long-Term Stink Bug Prevention Strategy

If you’ve had them once, they’ll come back unless you take long-term steps:

• Spring Cleaning: Vacuum, mop, and dust. They love dusty, unused corners.

• Vent Screens: Dryer vents, attic vents, bathroom fans—screen them all.

• Seasonal Check-ins: Each fall, do a bug patrol. Fix caulking, patch holes, and prep your defense.

You’re Smarter Than a Stink Bug

They may be sneaky, but you’ve got opposable thumbs, duct tape, and Google. With a bit of vigilance and these stink bug DIY tricks, you can send them packing without a single chemical in sight.

So yes, you can get rid of stink bugs in your home—and you don’t even need to hold your breath while doing it.

FAQ: Stink Bug Edition

Q: What smell do stink bugs hate most?
A: Peppermint oil is at the top of their hate list. Bonus: your house will smell like a candy cane.

Q: How do stink bugs get in the house?
A: Tiny cracks around windows, doors, vents—even under siding. They’re basically little brown ninjas.

Q: Can stink bugs infest your home?
A: Technically, yes. They won’t reproduce indoors, but if enough of them overwinter in your walls, you’ll be seeing them for months.

Ready to reclaim your home from the stink squad? You've got the tools. Time to evict the bugs.