During the hot and humid summer months flies, bugs and other insects can become a real pain in the neck, invading your home, office and other workplaces. There are several steps you can take to minimise the impact insects and bugs on your life, however.

The first step is to try and keep them out of your building and rooms from the start. Fly screens and insect screens are the ideal way to do this and can be fitted to windows and doors relatively easily.

There are several different types of fly screen to suit most installations and locations. Mesh panel, chain and roller fly screens are suitable for both doors and windows, while hinged screens are fine for doors and VELUX and framed fly screens are designed for windows exclusively.

Some, such as mesh and certain roller fly screens can be installed yourself, while others, such as the hinged and VELUX variety would require an experienced installer (unless you are REALLY handy at DIY of course!).

Other steps to take in addition to the fly screens include using bug zappers outdoors (also has the added benefit of that lovely ZZZAAAP! Sound when a bug is caught!), burning scented candles around your property and not leaving food out, especially near doors and windows. Keep your floors swept and free of food and other 'tasty' debris as well.

Bugs love large leafy plants so if your garden is full of those you could consider cutting back on them.

Don't use outdoor lights too close to your home. As bugs and insects are attracted to light, keeping a good amount of darkness between your external lights and internal lights will cut down on the number of them that 'transfer' themselves from the outside to the inside!

Keep the likes of ants out by ensuring you fill any small cracks and holes on the exterior of your home or building. You could use cement or expanding foam - whatever you decide will do the job without spoiling the look of your building.

Remove any and all weeds from the around the base of your home or building. These will attract insects that will, eventually end up inside. With no weeds to shelter in, they are more likely to stay away, finding alternative hideaways and homes.

Fly screens will keep out the majority of bugs and insects but there will always be some that get through or an occasion you forget to close a screen. What can you do once those bugs are in and annoying you?

There are several solutions to this. There are, of course, a wide range of fly, bug and insect killers in spray form on the market but over the course of a summer this could prove a very expensive way of dealing with pests. They also smell horrible and can be harmful to pets and small children, so other options are worth considering.

One easy option is to burn scented candles in your rooms - especially citronella candles. Bugs hate these and will avoid them at all costs. They are complete safe to use around pets and children too, so are a good choice.