Go to the DAWN dish soap site and you will find all kinds of 'recipes' for bug deterrents. You can use them in your house and gardens safely. Also at your doorways lay down a line of table salt. For some reason most bugs won't cross over the salt. Last year was horrible for flea's -my Dad said to sprinkle table salt on all the carpets-let it sit for a couple days then vacuum.Then repeat to kill any hatchlings. It worked. I even done this on my wood and tiled floors. I put 1/4 cup salt in a spray bottle of water and sprayed it on the ant trails in my counters and they quit coming around too.