How To Get Rid Of Stink Bugs With A Simple But Overlooked DIY Solution

Although you may think that stink bugs are some of the grossest bugs in your house, the truth is they're harmless indoors. They aren't contagious and won't harm you or your pets. They also won't damage your food, furniture, or upholstery. Plus, they won't breed while they remain inside. The reason why stink bugs love your home in the winter is simply that they need to seek shelter as the temperature starts falling around September and October. They're a nuisance at best during these months. However, they can wreak havoc on your yard and plants once the weather starts warming up and they come out of their resting phase (or diapause). Considering this, it's best to take preventative measures and get rid of them as soon as possible. An easy DIY solution is to add a little water and dish soap to a foil roasting pan and place it under a lamp in a dark room.

Though it seems almost too simple to work, researchers from Virginia Tech published a 2014 study in the Journal of Extension which found this method to be more effective than mass-produced traps. In the study, the foil pan caught up to 19 times more stink bugs compared to a commercial offering with a price tag of roughly $30. The reason this solution works is because overwintering stink bugs will be drawn to a light source in an otherwise dark room. As the foil pan reflects light from the lamp, the bugs will be attracted to it and drown in their watery grave. The best part, though? It'll take mere minutes to set everything up, and you probably won't have to spend a single penny to eliminate these pesky pests from your home.

Take a large foil roasting pan (or a shallow baking tray; anything with a reflective surface works) and fill it with about 2 inches of water. Now, add a few drops of dish soap inside and mix it well. This will break the surface tension of water and ensure the trapped bugs don't fly away. Then place your pan on the floor of a room and position a table lamp directly over it prior to turning it on. When you're done, turn off the overhead lights in the room and move out. Give your trap about 12 hours to work its magic. The stink bugs in your home should automatically come out of their hiding spot and meet their death.

In the morning, pluck out their corpses with a gloved hand and put them in a plastic bag. Once done, seal it before trashing. Alternatively, if you have a yard and a home compost heap, deposit them there. Resist the temptation to squish or use them as target practice to vent your frustrations. This is because their bodies emit a foul odor (hence the name) similar to cilantro or stinking feet (gross!), and it's difficult to get rid of it.

Remember, this pesticide-free DIY solution will only work at night. This is because sunlight leaking in through the windows or doors will divide the bugs' attention and defeat the purpose of your experiment. Use these traps indoors before the bugs become active again (around April) and migrate outside. In warm weather, you might have to resort to repellents to keep them from eating your plants, or try pheromone traps.