How to get rid of stink bugs
Stink bugs come inside in late summer and fall looking for somewhere warm to overwinter. The only durable fix is exclusion — sealing every gap they use to get in — combined with a vacuum (not a shoe; they smell exactly like they sound when crushed).
Tools
- ✓A wet/dry vac with a long hose pulls stink bugs out without crushing them. Empty the canister outside.
- ✓For sealing exterior cracks.
Materials
- +Seal gaps around window frames, vents, utility penetrations.
- +For door bottoms and around window sashes.
- +Treat the exterior perimeter in early fall, BEFORE they start entering.
- +For sealing larger gaps and dryer/attic vents.
Steps
-
1
Vacuum, don't crush
Use a shop vac with a hose. Suck them up and immediately empty the canister into a bag outside and seal it. Crushing releases the smell and stains surfaces.
-
2
Seal entry points before fall
Walk the exterior on a sunny October afternoon. Stink bugs cluster on the sunny side of the house — that shows you where to seal. Caulk every visible gap around window trim, soffits, utility penetrations, and dryer vents.
-
3
Treat the exterior perimeter early
Spray pyrethrin on south- and west-facing exterior walls in mid-September, before they cluster. Repeat once 3 weeks later.
-
4
Replace torn screens and weatherstripping
Stink bugs squeeze through 1/8-inch gaps. Replace any torn window screens and worn door sweeps.
-
5
Drown the indoor stragglers
A jar of soapy water under a bug becomes a one-way trip — they fall in and don't escape. Empty outside.