Preventing bees around your home and keeping them out
Content updated: June 1st, 2026
Key takeaways
- Bee prevention starts with reducing access to food, water, and shelter, since sweet smells, flowering plants, and standing water can attract bees.
- To help prevent bees from getting in the house, seal cracks, gaps, and other potential entry points around your home’s exterior.
- Certain scents, such as garlic and vinegar, may help deter bees naturally, although their effectiveness can vary.
- Wearing light-colored clothing and avoiding strong fragrances can help deter bees from approaching people outdoors.
- Professional bee prevention may be necessary for active nests or recurring bee activity, especially when bees are nesting in walls or other hard-to-reach areas.
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How to deter bees from yourself
Summer is the perfect time for outdoor activities, but bees can quickly become a problem when they nest near your home or gather around food and water sources. Understanding what attracts bees is the first step in effective bee prevention.
Fortunately, there are several ways to help keep bees away, including sealing entry points, removing attractants, and avoiding strong fragrances. Learning how to prevent bees from getting in the house can help reduce unwanted encounters and make your space more comfortable.
What attracts bees?
These buzzing insects are often attracted to sweet smells and bright colors that mimic their food sources in nature, which can sometimes make deterring bees difficult. Bees typically seek out homes and yards that offer them easy access to food and water sources, such as a bird bath, pooling water, or over-irrigated lawns. They are especially drawn to flowering plants, such as bee balm, lavender, and clover, which provide them with their primary food source, nectar. Additionally, they may be attracted to areas with a lot of sunlight and shelter, such as a garden or a wooded area. Now that we know what attracts bees to our homes – let's learn how to keep bees away.
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Bee-proof your home
Knowing how to keep bees away from the house starts with identifying the places where bees like to nest. Bees typically prefer to nest in wall voids, holes in trees, and other dry-sheltered spaces. To keep bees away, you can fill or seal these areas with caulk, foam, or another sealant. It’s important not to seal over an active nest within your home's façade, as the bees will be trapped and potentially migrate through to interior drywall and into your home.
If you notice a bee nest in your home, it's best to contact your local Terminix branch or a beekeeper – they know how to keep bees away and remove them safely. It's important not to try to remove the bees yourself, as this can be dangerous and may result in serious injury.
Remove food sources
Learning how to keep bees away and how to deter bees can be crucial for property owners. Keep your home and outdoor areas free of sweet and sticky substances that may attract bees. Bees are naturally attracted to sweet and sugary food, drinks, and fermented products like beer and compost, and if any are left exposed, they will likely swarm the area. Not only can this be a nuisance, but it can also be dangerous for those who are allergic to bees. Some bees are attracted to our trash as an easy alternative food source, which may spur a colony to form close to your home.
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Smells bees hate
Knowing how to deter bees naturally can help keep bees away from the house. One of the most common scents that deter bees is garlic. To use garlic as a natural bee repellent, you can crush garlic cloves and then mix with water. This mixture can then be sprayed on areas where bees are present, such as around a picnic table or near a garden. Another scent used for bee prevention is distilled vinegar. Water and vinegar can be mixed in a spray bottle and used to spray areas where bees are present. However, it's important to note that while these scents can help deter bees, they may not be effective in all situations and may also attract other pests.
How to deter bees from yourself
Bees are attracted to people for a variety of reasons, and making a few small changes can help deter bees from yourself. It is best to avoid wearing bright colors to keep bees away, as these can mimic the appearance of flowers and attract bees. Additionally, avoid using strong fragrances like perfumes, lotions, and hair products. While outdoors, wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that covers your skin. If you do encounter a bee, it's important to remain still and avoid swatting at it, as this can agitate the bee and cause it to sting.
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Call a bee expert
While these bee prevention tips can help keep those buzzing insects away from your home, sometimes they may not be enough. If you’re dealing with a bee infestation, it's best to call Terminix. Our licensed technicians know how to keep bees away from your property and how to deter bees from coming back. Don't let bees spoil your outdoor fun this summer - get a bee prevention today.