To get rid of crickets inside your house, you can use a combination of natural, preventive, and mechanical methods:
Natural and DIY Methods
- Essential Oils: Spray peppermint essential oil mixed with water around cricket hiding spots such as under sinks, basements, and entry points. Crickets dislike the smell and will avoid these areas
- Chili Powder Spray: Mix chili powder with water and a few drops of dish soap, then spray around entry points, plants, and soil outside your home to repel crickets
- Diatomaceous Earth: Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth along baseboards, cracks, and crevices. It dehydrates and kills crickets without harming pets or humans
- Molasses Traps: Create traps by mixing molasses with water in open jars. Crickets are attracted to the sweet smell, jump in, and drown
- Soap and Water Trap: Place shallow dishes of soapy water near cricket hiding spots; crickets attracted to the water will drown
- Sticky Traps: Use commercially available sticky traps or glue boards in areas with cricket activity to catch them
- Vacuuming: Vacuum crickets and their eggs regularly, especially in carpets and corners. Dispose of vacuum contents outdoors immediately to prevent escape
Preventive Measures
- Seal Entry Points: Close cracks and gaps around windows, doors, and foundations to prevent crickets from entering
- Reduce Moisture: Use dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces, as crickets thrive in moist environments
- Keep Outdoor Areas Tidy: Maintain a trimmed lawn, remove debris, and avoid thick vegetation near the house to reduce cricket habitat
- Adjust Lighting: Replace outdoor lights with amber or LED bulbs to reduce attraction of crickets to your home at night
- Pets and Predators: Cats, dogs, and birds naturally hunt crickets and can help reduce their numbers
When to Call Professionals
If the infestation is severe or persistent despite these efforts, consider contacting a professional pest control service for targeted treatment and advice on sealing entry points
. By combining these approaches, you can effectively eliminate crickets from your home and prevent future infestations.
