How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

To get rid of stink bugs, seal entry points, vacuum or drop them in soapy water, and use a light-over-soapy-pan trap indoors.

Shield-shaped insects showing up on curtains and lamp shades aren’t a mystery visit. They’re drawn to warm, quiet spots and slip through tiny gaps. This guide gives clear steps that work inside real homes, plus prevention moves that stop the next wave.

Effective Ways To Remove Stink Bugs Indoors

Start with fast, low-risk tactics. These steps knock down numbers today without harsh residues. Then move to prevention so you don’t repeat the cycle each fall.

Quick Picks You Can Use Right Now

Pick one or two methods to start. Mix and match if you’re seeing clusters around windows, lights, or attic hatches.

Method	Best For	How It Works
Soapy Water Catch	Single bugs on walls, window sills	Knock or sweep bugs into a bucket with a few drops of dish soap; the film breaks surface tension and they sink.
Vacuum Removal	Dozens in one room or on drapes	Use a shop vac with an inch of soapy water in the canister or a bagged vac; empty or freeze the contents soon after.
Light-Over-Pan Trap	Night activity near lamps	Place a shallow foil pan with soapy water under a desk lamp in a dark room; insects fall in and drown.
Jar And Lid	Careful spot removals	Slide a card under a jar placed over the insect; cap and drop into soapy water or freeze the jar for disposal.
Sticky Entry Seals	Gaps you can’t fix today	Painter’s tape over a gap or torn screen as a short-term block while you plan permanent sealing.
Room Sweep	Clusters behind curtains or frames	Use a soft brush or dustpan to sweep them into a soapy tub; check the same spot again the next night.

Step-By-Step: The Light-Over-Pan Trap

This simple setup is backed by university testing that found a foil pan with dish soap under a lamp in a dark room can catch far more insects than store-bought traps. See the Virginia Tech summary of the trial results here: homemade light trap study.

Pick a dark room where insects gather at night (basement, spare room, or hallway).
Fill a shiny roasting pan or baking dish with 2–3 cm of warm water and a small squeeze of dish soap.
Place a desk lamp so the beam shines directly onto the water surface.
Turn off other lights. Leave the trap overnight. Check and refresh the water each evening for a few nights.

Tip: Keep pets and kids away from the setup. In the morning, pour the contents down a toilet or outside drain.

Why These Tactics Work

These insects are slow fliers and clumsy on slick surfaces. Soap breaks the “raft” effect that lets them float. Light draws them from dark corners, which makes the pan trap a solid night tool. Vacuuming collects clusters fast without the odor you get from squishing.

When You Should Not Squash

Crushing releases the scent they’re named for and can make a room smell. A jar, soapy water, or a vac avoids that problem and keeps walls clean.

Stop The Next Wave Before It Starts

Indoors, you’re catching stragglers that wandered in to overwinter. The bigger win is outside: block entry points and remove “welcome” signs near siding and eaves.

Seal The Gaps That Invite Them In

Walk the exterior on a dry day. Bring a notepad and mark fixes. Small cracks add up around utility lines, dryer vents, soffits, and attic louvers.

Where To Look First

Window and door trim with dried or cracked caulk
Loose weather-stripping that no longer springs back
Screen frames with bent corners or torn mesh
Gaps around pipes, cable, and AC lines
Openings at attic or crawl-space vents

What To Seal With And Why

Use long-lasting caulk for stationary joints and backer rod for wide gaps. Use foam for large voids that aren’t heat sources. For screens, swap in metal or heavy fiberglass mesh. A patient afternoon pays off for years.

Safe Use Of Sprays Indoors

Sprays inside the living space bring trade-offs. Most guidance directs residents to lead with non-chemical steps and only use products labeled for indoor use if you still see activity. Read the label end to end. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a clear consumer page on the insect itself and safe control options: EPA’s BMSB guidance.

Smart Rules For Products Inside

Pick ready-to-use formats that state “indoor” on the front label.
Spot treat cracks and crevices; don’t broadcast on floors or furniture.
Keep kids and pets away from treated zones until the label’s re-entry time passes.
Never mix yard concentrates inside the house.

Know Your Bug: Quick ID And Behavior

Most home invaders are the brown marmorated species. Adults are shield-shaped, mottled brown, with light-dark banding on the antennae and edges of the abdomen. They don’t feed indoors or lay eggs in the house; they’re only sheltering. That’s why trapping and sealing outperforms heavy indoor spraying.

Seasonal Pattern You’ll See

Late summer and fall bring peak invasions as nights cool. Winter sightings tend to be sporadic, often on sunny afternoons near windows. In spring, remaining adults try to get back outside. That’s the time to sweep and trap any late movers and finish sealing work.

Room-By-Room Game Plan

Use this checklist to target the spots where you actually see them. A little routine beats one big cleanup that you never repeat.

Living Room And Bedrooms

Keep a dedicated jar with a bit of soapy water on a shelf for quick captures.
Pull curtains once a day and check behind the folds and rods.
At night, run the light-over-pan trap for two or three evenings if you’re seeing steady activity.

Kitchen And Bath

Screen or seal gaps at range hoods, under-sink pipes, and bath fans.
Wipe crumbs and wipe sticky spills; while these bugs target plants, cleaner rooms draw less mixed insect activity.
Set a narrow pan trap on the counter only when the room is empty; remove it in the morning.

Attic, Basement, And Garage

Seal around attic louvers and roof soffits from inside with backer rod and caulk.
Swap missing door sweeps and weather-strip the garage door.
Store cardboard off the floor; corrugations give insects places to hide.

Outdoor Moves That Cut Indoor Visits

These insects rest on sunny walls and rooflines before slipping indoors. Trim and tidy outside and you’ll see fewer inside.

Yard And Siding Tune-Up

Trim branches that touch siding or roof edges.
Move stacked firewood and stored items away from the foundation.
Swap bright white bulbs at entry lights for warmer tones that attract fewer insects at night.
Repair loose siding or trim where daylight shows.

What Works, What Doesn’t

Plenty of internet tips get recycled. Here’s a clear take on common advice, based on extension factsheets and tested methods.

Approach	Use	Avoid
Soapy Pan + Light	Night trapping in a dark room; budget-friendly and effective	Leaving it where pets drink; running it in bright rooms
Vacuum With Soapy Water	Fast removal of clusters on drapes and window frames	Bagless vacs without a wet catch; dry vacs that hold odor
Perimeter Sealing	Long-term reduction of indoor sightings	Thin beads that crack in sun; skipping backer rod on wide gaps
Indoor Sprays	Targeted crack/crevice use on labels	Broadcast fogs and concentrates not labeled for living areas
Crushing	Rare last resort outdoors only	Pressing on walls or fabrics; it smells and can stain
Outdoor Yard Lights	Use only when needed; switch to warmer bulbs	Bright white bulbs that draw insects to doors and windows

Simple Weekly Routine That Keeps Numbers Low

Consistency beats heroics. Set a small cadence while the season runs, then scale back once sightings drop.

Night Two Or Three: Run the pan trap on the worst nights. Log catches so you see the trend.
Weekend Walk-Around: Caulk one window, one vent, or one door each week until done.
Laundry Day Sweep: Check behind curtains, frames, and blinds with a soft brush.
Trash And Storage: Tie off bagged vacuum debris and take it outside right away.

When To Call A Pro

If you keep catching dozens nightly for a week, there may be a hidden gap at a soffit, attic vent, or siding seam that needs a ladder and repairs. A licensed service can also apply labeled perimeter treatments outdoors during peak movement while you finish sealing work.

Frequently Missed Details That Matter

Bagged Vac Wins: Odor can linger in cloth vac bags. A shop vac with a little soapy water or a cheap bagged unit set aside for pests helps.
Recheck Hotspots: They love warm, high spots. Revisit curtain rods, skylights, and the top of bookcases.
Mind Spring Warmups: A sudden sunny day can bring a fresh trickle from attic voids. Keep the jar handy.

What Authorities Say About Safe Control

Consumer guidance favors non-chemical removal as the first line, with sealing and repairs for lasting relief. A major extension study found the simple light-over-pan trap far outperformed retail traps. The EPA’s overview explains the insect and points to safe control choices in plain language. You can read both sources here:

Troubleshooting Guide

Still seeing them after you seal and trap? Use these targeted fixes.

They Keep Appearing Near One Window

Pull the casing and look for a gap where the frame meets the wall. Foam or backer rod plus paintable caulk usually solves it. Check for a torn screen flap at the corner spline.

They Cluster On One Wall At Sunset

That wall likely warms last each day. Trim shrubs that touch that siding and seal the eave line. Swap the porch bulb by that wall to a warmer spectrum and set the pan trap inside that room at night.

You Smell The Odor After Vacuuming

Switch to a shop vac with a bit of soapy water in the canister or use a knee-high stocking inside a hose to catch insects, then empty into soapy water and tie off.

Supply List For A Weekend Fix

Dish soap, bucket, shallow foil pan, desk lamp
Shop vac or bagged vacuum; knee-high stocking and rubber band
Painter’s tape for stop-gap seals
Exterior-grade caulk, backer rod, foam for larger voids
Replacement screen mesh and spline roller
Door sweep and weather-strip kits

Put It All Together

Tonight, run the light-over-pan trap in the worst room. Tomorrow, fix the largest gap you can find. Keep the jar and brush handy for daytime strays. Do this for a week and you’ll see numbers drop. Finish sealing before the next cool spell and you’ll see fewer visitors next season.