How To Get Rid of Centipedes At Home: 23 Ultimate Guide on Banish Centipedes

Homekitchenmagazine.com | How To Get Rid of Centipedes At Home – Centipedes can be a startling sight in any home. Their quick movements and many legs can send shivers down the spine of even the bravest homeowner. However, fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will share effective methods to rid your home of these unwanted guests.

Understanding the Centipede Menace

Centipedes are nocturnal creatures that thrive in dark, damp environments. They are often found in basements, crawl spaces, and bathrooms. While they are generally harmless to humans, their presence can be unsettling. To effectively eliminate them, it’s crucial to first understand their behavior and habitat preferences.

Centipedes are one of the terrible insects for many people, especially those with insect phobia. Its appearance in the house certainly makes us worried, especially its scary shape with its long, hairy, and many-legged body.

Even so, centipedes are predators of insect pests such as cockroaches, flies, and termites. Which means, its appearance indicates that the condition of the house is dirty which attracts insects to nest.

Although not deadly, centipede bites can leave pain and prolonged pain. Moreover, some centipede stings contain poison.

Centipedes often appear during the rainy season and settle in damp and dirty places.

Now no need to worry! There are several ways How To Get Rid of Centipedes At Home. What are they? Come on, read to the end!

Identifying Centipede Species

Understanding the specific centipede species in your area is crucial for effective eradication. Different species may have varying habits, habitats, and vulnerabilities. Here’s how you can identify them:

1. Physical Characteristics:
   Note the color, size, and shape of the centipede. Some common species include the house centipede (pale with long legs) and the stone centipede (darker with shorter legs).
2. Number of Legs:
   Contrary to their name, centipedes do not have exactly 100 legs. They can have anywhere from 15 to 177 pairs of legs, depending on the species.
3. Habitat:
   Different species prefer different environments. House centipedes, for example, thrive in damp areas like basements and bathrooms, while stone centipedes prefer gardens and wooded areas.
4. Behavior:
   Observe their movements. Some species are quick and agile, while others move more slowly.
5. Elongated Bodies:
   Centipedes have elongated, segmented bodies. Each segment typically has one pair of legs attached.
6. Antennae:
   They have long, thread-like antennae on their heads.
7. Eyes:
   Most centipedes have poor eyesight and rely on their antennae to navigate.
8. Venomous Claws:
   Centipedes possess venomous claws (forcipules) which they use to subdue prey.
9. Consult Experts:
   If you’re unsure about the species, consider reaching out to a pest control professional or an entomologist for accurate identification.

Identifying the specific centipede species in your area will help you tailor your eradication efforts. For example, if you’re dealing with house centipedes, focusing on areas with high moisture levels will be crucial. Always exercise caution when handling centipedes, as some species can deliver painful bites.

Common Entry Points for Centipedes

Centipedes can find their way into homes through various entry points. Identifying and sealing these openings is crucial in preventing future infestations. Here are common entry points to be aware of:

1. Cracks and Crevices:
   Small gaps in the foundation, walls, or window frames can serve as entry points for centipedes. Seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.
2. Doors and Windows:
   Improperly sealed doors and windows provide easy access for centipedes. Ensure there are no gaps or openings around frames.
3. Vents and Ducts:
   Centipedes may enter through vents, especially those with damaged or missing screens. Install fine-mesh screens to prevent their entry.
4. Utility Openings:
   Pipes, cables, and utility lines entering the house can have gaps around them. Seal these with appropriate materials.
5. Crawl Spaces and Basements:
   These areas are particularly susceptible to centipede entry. Inspect for any openings and use sealant or mesh to block them.
6. Cracked Foundation:
   If your home’s foundation has cracks, it can be an entry point for centipedes. Have any cracks repaired promptly.
7. Attic Access Points:
   Centipedes can climb and find their way into the attic. Ensure attic access points are well-sealed.
8. Garage and Exterior Storage:
   Check for openings in these areas, as centipedes can enter through gaps around garage doors or storage sheds.
9. Poorly Sealed Plumbing:
   Where plumbing enters the home, ensure there are no gaps around pipes.
10. Pet Doors:
    While convenient for pets, poorly sealed pet doors can be an entry point for centipedes. Use weather stripping or a sealant.

Regularly inspecting and maintaining these potential entry points will go a long way in keeping centipedes out of your home. It’s an essential step in effective pest control.

How To Get Rid of Centipedes At Home

Now that we have insight into their habits, let’s delve into the strategies to combat them. From sealing entry points to using natural repellents, we will cover it all. These methods are not only efficient but also considerate of the environment and the safety of your household members.

1. Eliminating the centipede habitat

The first step that must be taken to eradicate the centipede is destroying its favorite habitat. Just like other insect pests, centipedes love very humid places, dark spots, such as bathrooms, basements and around pumps, gardens, even kitchens.

Therefore, clean these places regularly with disinfectant liquid and remove the remnants of garbage that has accumulated. Don’t forget to make good air circulation, such as windows or exhaust fan in bathrooms and kitchens to reduce stuffiness and humidity, due to less exposure to sunlight.

2. Cleaning drainage

The next step, you need to pay attention to the drainage and water pipes in the house periodically. Poor drainage problems and leaky pipes can certainly add to the humidity in your home, which will certainly attract the attention of centipedes in the house.

Repairing leaky pipes and maintaining drainage will certainly eradicate other insect populations, such as cockroaches, flies, and moths, thus making centipedes flee because there is no food source.

Also, don’t forget to make simple structural repairs, such as using a dehumidifier to dry out areas of the house and sealing house gaps and insect entry points with cement.

3. Using natural ingredients

Natural repellents can be an effective way to deter centipedes from your home. Here are some safe and natural substances you can use:

1. Peppermint Oil: Centipedes dislike the strong scent of peppermint oil. Mix a few drops with water and spray it around potential entry points.
2. Tea Tree Oil: This essential oil has natural insect-repelling properties. Dilute it with water and use it as a spray.
3. Rosemary Oil: Another essential oil that centipedes find unpleasant. Mix it with water and spray it around your home.
4. Clove Oil: Clove oil has a potent scent that can deter centipedes. Mix it with water and apply it in areas where centipedes are likely to enter.
5. Thyme Oil: Similar to clove oil, thyme oil can be an effective natural repellent. Dilute it with water and use it as a spray.
6. Lavender Oil: While humans find the scent pleasant, centipedes do not. Use lavender oil mixed with water as a spray.
7. Diatomaceous Earth: This natural substance is abrasive to centipedes, causing them to dehydrate and die. Apply it in areas where centipedes are active.
8. Boric Acid: While this is a chemical compound, it is naturally occurring and considered safe when used appropriately. It can be an effective natural pesticide against centipedes. The trick is to use a protective mask first so you don’t inhale the boric acid powder particles. Then fill the spray bottle with equal amounts of boric acid (borax) and water, shake until well blended. Finally, spray the solution into several areas where centipedes often pass, such as toilet holes, kitchen holes, and even small crevices in the house.

You can take advantage of natural ingredients to get rid of centipedes at home, like essential oils and tea tree oil. Both of these oils contain toxins that are harmful to centipedes and are quite effective at making centipedes weaken, and even die.

The method is quite easy. Just dilute a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Then, spray it on windows, doors, and baseboards to block out unwanted centipedes.

To prevent centipedes from nesting in the yard, diatomaceous earth and boric acid can be alternative materials as natural pesticides that are safe for plants and soil.

When using these natural repellents, it’s important to reapply them periodically, especially after rain or if the scent fades. Additionally, always exercise caution and keep these substances out of reach of children and pets. These natural methods provide an eco-friendly and safe approach to deterring centipedes from your home.

4. Maintaining Optimal Humidity Levels

Controlling humidity levels in your home is a crucial step in making it less appealing to centipedes. These creatures thrive in damp environments, so maintaining optimal humidity levels can help deter them.

Here are some effective strategies to control humidity:

1. Use Dehumidifiers: Installing dehumidifiers in areas prone to moisture, like basements and bathrooms, can help regulate humidity levels.
2. Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation in your home. Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove excess moisture.
3. Fix Leaks: Promptly address any leaks in pipes, roofs, or windows. These can lead to moisture buildup and create an attractive environment for centipedes.
4. Seal Cracks and Gaps: Seal any cracks or gaps in walls, floors, and foundations. This not only helps with humidity control but also serves as a barrier to prevent centipedes from entering.
5. Monitor Indoor Plants: Overwatering indoor plants can contribute to high humidity levels. Be mindful of your watering routine.
6. Proper Insulation: Ensure your home is properly insulated. This can help regulate temperature and humidity.

By implementing these measures, you can create an environment that is less conducive to centipedes, ultimately reducing the likelihood of an infestation.

5. Effective Chemical Treatments

When dealing with a centipede infestation, effective chemical treatments can be a valuable tool. Here are steps to consider:

1. Identify the Problem Areas: Determine where centipedes are most active. Common areas include basements, crawl spaces, and bathrooms.
2. Choose the Right Chemical: Opt for insecticides specifically formulated for centipedes. Look for products containing pyrethroids, which are effective against these pests.
3. Follow Safety Precautions: Always read and follow the instructions on the label. Wear protective gear, ensure good ventilation, and keep children and pets away from treated areas.
4. Apply in Targeted Areas: Focus on applying the chemical treatment in areas where centipedes are likely to hide or travel. This includes cracks, crevices, and dark, damp spaces.
5. Monitor and Reapply if Necessary: Keep an eye on centipede activity. If the problem persists, consider reapplying the treatment or trying a different product.
6. Consider Professional Help: If the infestation is severe or persistent, consulting a pest control professional may be the best course of action.

Remember, while chemical treatments can be effective, they should be used judiciously and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure safety for both occupants and the environment.

6. The Role of Predators: Centipede-Eating Creatures

Natural predators play a significant role in controlling centipede populations. Creatures such as birds, amphibians, and certain insects feed on centipedes, helping to keep their numbers in check.

Encouraging a diverse ecosystem around your home can attract these predators. Here are some strategies:

1. Provide Shelter: Create habitats like birdhouses, insect hotels, or small ponds to attract beneficial creatures.
2. Plant Native Vegetation: Native plants can attract a variety of insects, which in turn can be prey for centipede predators.
3. Minimize Chemical Use: Avoid using harsh chemicals in your garden or yard, as they can harm beneficial insects.
4. Maintain a Clean Yard: Removing debris and maintaining a tidy yard can discourage centipede populations.
5. Consider Professional Advice: Consult with local experts or wildlife organizations to learn more about attracting natural centipede predators in your specific area.

By fostering a balanced ecosystem, you can help control centipede populations in a natural and sustainable way.

7. Clean drains with bleach and vinegar

Centipedes are often seen near a bathroom drains, kitchens, and even laundry areas. Therefore, you need to clean these drains regularly with some ingredients, such as bleach and vinegar.

The method is quite easy. If you’re using vinegar, pour one and a half cups of vinegar down the drain in your home and wait about 1 hour. This reaction can erode the moss and leave an unpleasant odor for the centipedes. After that, rinse again with half a cup of vinegar.

If you use bleach, you just need to mix the bleach with water in a 50:50 ratio and then flush it down the drain.

Also avoid mixing vinegar with bleach as it can form toxic chlorine gas.

8. Dispose of organic waste regularly

In addition to damp places, centipedes also like organic waste such as leaves, dirt, grass clippings, or weeds. This is because organic waste can make the house damp, so the centipedes live there and lay their eggs.

Therefore, clean up organic waste regularly so that the centipede habitat does not run rampant.

9. Put the chili powder and pepper

Another effective way How To Get Rid of Centipedes At Home is to use chili powder and pepper which has a strong spicy aroma. Thus, it is very effective to eradicate centipedes from the house.

Sprinkling chili powder and pepper on a centipede’s body can cause the animal to scald and die because the powder produces an intense heat sensation. You can also sprinkle the chili and pepper in places where centipedes usually pass.

10. Cayenne Chili Slices

Cayenne pepper is often used to add a spicy flavor to cooking.

Its fresh, piercing, and painful aroma turned out to be disliked by centipedes.

That is why this material can be used as a way to repel centipedes that are quite powerful.

Just thinly slice cayenne pepper, then sprinkle it on the area allegedly where the centipede hides.

Remember, cayenne pepper can give a hot and spicy effect when exposed to the skin.

Therefore, be careful when sprinkling it.

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11. Catch centipedes using jars

Centipedes are not animals that have fast movements.

That’s why you can catch them and throw them out of the house right away.

In order not to come into direct contact with centipedes, you should use jars to catch them.

Make sure that the jar has a yes cover so that it can immediately confine the centipede after being caught.

Pick the centipede that appears in front, close it, and then throw the centipede to a place far from home.

In addition to jars, you can also use large used plastic bottles.

How to get rid of centipedes is easy, right?

12. Watering the Centipede with Hot Water

You can expel centipedes that enter the bathroom with hot water.

Relax, you don’t need to water this multi-legged animal directly, really.

You can simply turn on the shower or hot water faucet and run it to the floor.

Let the water continue to run for 10 to 20 seconds, then turn off and close the door.

Make sure the temperature on the water heater engine shows the maximum number.

If you don’t have a water heater, just boil the water to a boil and then pour it on the bathroom floor.

The centipede is guaranteed not to appear again in the bathroom for some time.

When the centipede appears again, just do the same.

13. Using Insect-repellent chalk

Now so many insect repellent limes can be bought on the market.

One of them also includes anti-centipede lime.

How to get rid of this centipede is considered very powerful, cheap, and practical.

You just need to grind the chalk or scribble on the area passed by the centipede in the house.

The centipede is guaranteed not to dare to pass.

14. Using Camphor

Camphor is one chemical that is relatively safe to use.

In addition, it can be used to repel insects in the house and prevent the growth of mold.

Another benefit of camphor can also be one way to drive centipedes into the house.

Just put a few grains of camphor in a damp place in the house, including the bathroom.

If camphor has finished expanding, just replace it periodically.

15. Pandan Leaf

If you do not want to use insecticides that contain a lot of toxic substances, use pesticides made from natural ingredients such as diatomite sand and boric acid.

This insecticide is safer for the environment and also the residents of the house, but it is very effective to make centipedes drunk and eventually die.

You can also use other environmentally friendly ingredients such as pandan leaves, cayenne pepper, vinegar, caustic soda, and salt.

You just need to put one of the ingredients above and then place it in a place that passes or becomes a hiding place for centipedes.

16. Sprinkling table salt

Just as simple as pepper, table salt can also be used to eradicate centipedes.

The method used is the same, just sprinkle a certain amount of salt into the centipede nest.

17. Caustic soda

The benefits of salt to repel centipedes will be even more powerful when other ingredients are added.

These ingredients are caustic soda and vinegar.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• 6 tablespoons table salt
• 6 tablespoons white vinegar/cooking vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons caustic soda

Put all the ingredients in a plastic container and mix thoroughly.

After forming a paste, apply it to parts of the house that centipedes often pass.

You can also mix these ingredients with a bucket of water to be used to mop the floor of the house.

It should be noted that these three ingredients will produce a paste with a hot sensation in the skin.

Therefore, use rubber or plastic gloves to avoid direct contact.

18. Using glue traps

Just like other annoying animals in the house, centipedes can also be caught using traps covered with glue.

You can find this trap easily in the market.

The shape is in the form of sheets of paper such as for catching flies or small boxes of plastic.

Keep these traps in points that centipedes often pass in the house.

After some time, check the centipede trap that has been placed.

If caught, immediately throw it in the trash and replace it with a new trap.

If the trap doesn’t work, it means you’ll have to move it somewhere else.

19. Eliminate centipede food sources

Living things certainly cannot live if they are not near their food sources.

Well, one other way to make centipedes run away from the house is to eradicate insects and other pests that become their food.

Some insects that you can remove from the house are those that are smaller than centipedes such as fruit flies and ants.

20. Pay Attention to Air Circulation in the Bathroom

The room that needs to be considered when going to drive away centipedes is the bathroom.

As already mentioned, this animal is very pleased with the humid environment.

Therefore, in addition to keeping the floor dry, you also need to pay attention to air circulation in the bathroom.

Make sure that the bathroom is exposed to sunlight and heat of the sun or lights.

You can also install a blower fan, so that the bathroom area stays dry and avoids moisture.

21. Monitoring for Recurrence

To prevent the recurrence of centipedes in your home after eradication efforts, follow these steps:

1. Maintain a Clean Environment: Regularly clean and declutter your home, eliminating potential hiding spots and food sources for centipedes.
2. Seal Entry Points: Ensure that all cracks, gaps, and openings around doors, windows, and foundations are sealed to prevent centipedes from entering.
3. Address Moisture Issues: Repair any leaks or moisture problems in your home, as centipedes are attracted to damp environments.
4. Regular Inspections: Periodically check areas where centipedes are likely to hide, such as basements, crawl spaces, and dark corners.
5. Natural Repellents: Consider using natural substances like diatomaceous earth, which can deter centipedes without resorting to chemicals.
6. Professional Pest Control: If the infestation persists, consider seeking help from a professional pest control service for targeted eradication and prevention strategies.

By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of centipedes returning to your home.

22. Protecting Your Garden from Centipede Infestations

To protect your garden from centipede infestations and prevent them from entering your home, consider the following steps:

1. Remove Organic Debris: Clear away dead leaves, grass clippings, and other organic material from your garden. Centipedes are attracted to decaying plant matter.
2. Trim Overgrown Vegetation: Ensure that bushes, shrubs, and plants are well-maintained and not touching the exterior of your home. This creates a barrier that centipedes find more difficult to cross.
3. Proper Drainage: Ensure that your garden has proper drainage to prevent water from pooling. Centipedes are attracted to moist environments.
4. Natural Predators: Encourage natural predators of centipedes, such as birds, to inhabit your garden. They can help keep the centipede population in check.
5. Use Beneficial Nematodes: These microscopic worms can be introduced to your garden soil. They prey on centipede larvae and can help control their population.
6. Apply Diatomaceous Earth: This natural powder can be sprinkled around the perimeter of your garden. It acts as a physical barrier and can deter centipedes.
7. Avoid Overwatering: Be mindful of watering your garden. Overly damp soil can attract centipedes.

By implementing these measures, you can create an environment that is less hospitable to centipedes, reducing the likelihood of them entering your home.

23. Creating a Centipede-Resistant Environment

Creating a centipede-resistant environment involves implementing long-term strategies to keep these creatures away from your home. Here are effective methods:

1. Seal Entry Points: Identify and seal any cracks, gaps, or openings in the foundation, walls, and windows to prevent centipedes from entering.
2. Reduce Moisture: Address any moisture issues in your home. Use a dehumidifier, fix leaks promptly, and ensure proper ventilation in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces.
3. Regular Cleaning: Keep your home clean and clutter-free. Vacuum regularly to remove potential hiding spots and food sources for centipedes.
4. Proper Drainage: Ensure that water drains away from your home’s foundation. This prevents excess moisture buildup, which centipedes are attracted to.
5. Landscaping: Maintain a clear space around the perimeter of your home. Avoid dense vegetation or mulch directly against the foundation.
6. Natural Predators: Encourage natural predators like birds, toads, and ground beetles in your garden. They can help control centipede populations.
7. Use Diatomaceous Earth: Apply this natural powder around the exterior of your home. It acts as a physical barrier that centipedes find difficult to cross.

By implementing these strategies, you can create an environment that is less attractive to centipedes, reducing the likelihood of them entering your home.

FAQs About Centipedes and Their Removal

Those are some ways How To Get Rid of Centipedes At Home that can be applied. Hopefully the tips above can be useful.