It’s late at night and a Florida thunderstorm rolls in, so you settle on the couch for the night when you see a spider running across your freshly mopped floors. Suddenly, that relaxing feeling you had gets overridden with fear and disgust. How did a spider get into your home? How do you get rid of it and keep more pests away?

Living in Florida is beautiful, with warm weather almost all year round, but our balmy climate also raises the chances of bugs and other undesirables making their way inside to cool off. If you’re like most Floridians, you don’t want to share your home with pesky pests.

Here are five ways to protect you, your family, and your home from these unwanted intruders.

1.  Keep it clean. Always keep you home clean of food debris. Make sure you’re wiping the surfaces of your counters after making snacks, keep the garbage closed tightly, and try to empty as frequently as possible. Try to keep food in the fridge or limited to specific areas, such as the pantry. Try to limit eating on the carpet and in the bedrooms as well.

2. Keep it dry. Bugs love water. Make sure to keep as much outside water from entering your home. If you live in a LifeStyle SunSmart℠ home, it features premium-sealed wall and ceiling penetrations to better guard against leaks.

3. Keep your pet’s food organized. Be sure to feed your pets in specific places along with cleaning their bowls frequently.

4. Close doors and protect your windows. Install screens on windows and doors. These will allow for an extra barrier from the outside world. Also, be sure to make sure the doors are not left open.