Stink bugs are not only a nuisance, but can cause serious damage to your home and garden. As the weather cools down in fall, these smelly insects start looking for warm places to spend the winter, which often means invading your house. Luckily, there are some simple, natural methods to get rid of stink bugs without resorting to toxic chemicals.

What Are Stink Bugs?

Stink bugs are shield-shaped insects that emit a foul odor when crushed or disturbed. They grow up to 1/2 inch long and can be brown, gray, or even green. The most common stink bug found in the US is the brown marmorated stink bug, named for the marbled pattern on its back.

Stink bugs feed on fruits, vegetables, and plants, making them a major agricultural pest. But they also become a problem when they enter homes in fall to hibernate for winter. Once inside, they can crawl into cracks, crevices, and wall voids.

Why Get Rid of Stink Bugs?

Aside from being a nuisance, stink bugs can cause real damage if left unchecked. Reasons you'll want to evict these smelly invaders include:

• They stink! Squashing a stink bug releases a foul "stink" that can linger.
• They damage crops. Stink bugs feed on fruits and veggies, ruining harvests.
• They can bite. Though not common, stink bug bites can be painful.
• They multiply quickly. A mated female can lay up to 400 eggs at once.
• They're hard to kill. Many insecticides and natural remedies don't faze them.

The good news? There are several DIY methods to get rid of stink bugs without harmful chemicals.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

Try these simple, natural tricks to keep stink bugs away this fall:

1. Seal up cracks and crevices.

The first line of defense is sealing up any entry points on your home's exterior. Check around windows, doors, utility lines, vents, and the foundation for gaps or cracks. Seal openings wider than 1/8 inch with caulk or copper mesh. This helps block stink bugs from sneaking inside.

2. Vacuum up bugs.

For stink bugs already in your home, use a handheld vacuum to remove them. This avoids crushing the bugs and releasing their odor. Just make sure to empty the vacuum outside immediately so they don't escape!

3. Use essential oils.

Strong aromas from essential oils like lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree oil can deter and even kill stink bugs. Mix 5-10 drops into a spray bottle of water and mist problem areas indoors or outdoors. Reapply after rain.

4. Set out soapy water traps.

Fill jars halfway with soapy water, which stink bugs can't escape from once they fall in. For the best results, add a light overhead to attract them at night. Empty drowned bugs and refresh the soapy water daily.

5. Apply diatomaceous earth.

This powder made from crushed fossils pierces the exoskeleton of stink bugs when they crawl across it, causing dehydration and death. Apply a thin layer indoors along baseboards and window sills, or sprinkle around the base of outdoor plants.

6. Spray insects with soap and water.

For direct control, make a simple solution of 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap per 1 quart of warm water. Spray stink bugs directly to coat them with soap, which clogs their pores and suffocates them within a day.

7. Use neem oil spray.

Extracted from the neem tree, this natural pesticide disrupts the growth and reproduction of stink bugs. Mix according to label instructions and spray on infested plants or around doors and windows where bugs enter.

8. Apply borate powder.

Sprinkle this non-toxic mineral into wall voids, attics, and other enclosed spaces where stink bugs hide. Borate powder sticks to their bodies, causing dehydration. Apply along baseboards too.

9. Grow stink bug repelling plants.

Certain plants like mints, lavender, garlic, and chrysanthemums contain aromas and oils that naturally deter stink bugs. Plant them around your home's exterior or in your garden to help block bugs.

10. Attract natural predators.

Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs, praying mantises, and birds to your yard to feed on stink bug eggs and larvae. Use plants they like and avoid pesticides that could harm them.

When to Call a Professional

For serious stink bug infestations inside your home, contact a licensed pest management professional. They have commercial-grade products and techniques to eliminate large populations. Fumigation and thermal heat treatments are two options to kill stink bugs hiding deep inside walls and structures.

Getting rid of stink bugs takes diligence, but is definitely doable without resorting to harsh, toxic chemicals. Give these natural remedies a try and prevent stink bugs from invading your home this season. Let us know in the comments if you have any other effective solutions for these smelly pests!