how can i keep nats and other small bugs out of my household plants?

To keep from attracting nats. Don't use potting soil. It has peat and organic fertilizers in it. Use native soil. Then use the plant food spikes. Mix Sevin dust into the soil.

Like othes have said...Mist the leaves with a weak mixture of water and dish soap.

Note: If you need a place for an old,bent,rusty nail. Instead of in your car tire. Stick them into the soil of your potted plants. The iron and zinc content is good for the plant.

I spray them with some nontoxic clove oil spray I get at the nursery. After spraying them a couple of times, they haven't come back. Which is unfortunate because that stuff smells good. :)

SPRAY WITH DAWN DISH WASHING LIQUID.

You can get traps and sprays.