All the good things in life begin with a F – family, friends, and of course, food. It’s even better when they all come together for one big celebration. Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ or throwing a family reunion, you’re going to want a few of these handy tricks stored in your pocket to help keep bugs away from your food.

Cover your food with shower caps

Image from Lauren Galan 

Food covers can get expensive, and if you have a large family, chances are you’re going to have a whole lot of food. Instead, you can buy shower caps from your local dollar store to keep bugs away while everyone is mingling. Not to mention, shower caps work way better on watermelon than regular old plastic wrap!

Use dryer sheets to keep ants from climbing up table legs

Image from Yahoo Finance

Ant no way we’re letting ants ruin your food. Dryer sheets contain chemicals that repel ants. Just grab a couple of dryer sheets and place them under each leg of the table. This will keep them from climbing up the legs and onto your meal. For an added bonus, you can rub the dryer sheets on your clothes to help repel mosquitoes. 

Lather your tablecloths up with vinegar

Image from Outdoor Living Tablecloths

Vinegar may not be the most delightful smell, but it sure does keep the pests away. Put a few drops of vinegar across your tablecloth (one on each end, and one in the middle) to prevent pests from bugging your guests during their meal. 

Infuse your meat with rosemary or sage

Charcoal grills are the heart and soul of every backyard BBQ. If you’re willing to play around with different flavors, try infusing your meats with rosemary or sage. Mosquitoes hate the smell of these spices and will stay away at all costs. Just place a few sprigs of whichever you prefer (or both) on top of the smoldering coals and voila! No pests and some yummy BBQ.

Light a cardboard egg carton on fire

If you have an empty cardboard egg carton laying around, then this hack is perfect for you. Just light the corner of the carton on fire, and place it somewhere that it will be safe (like on your grill or in a fire pit). Mosquitoes hate the smell of a campfire, and a burning egg carton gives off the same odor.

Call in the pros

You know what they say – when in doubt, Bug House out (or something like that). The best way to keep your family, friends, and food protected is by knocking out the pests all at once. Whether it’s mosquitoes, ants, or roaches, we’ve got a pest control plan that’ll work for you. Reach out to us here, or give us a call to schedule your inspection today. 706-309-0881