Get Rid of Centipedes with These Simple Tips

If you’ve spotted a centipede darting across your floor, you’re not alone. These fast, many-legged hunters often sneak inside looking for moisture and food. The good news: you can make your home far less inviting to them. This guide explains how to identify what attracts centipedes, practical steps to get rid of them, and when to call a pro. By the end, you’ll have a simple, step-by-step plan to keep centipedes out for good.

What Attracts Centipedes (and Why They Stick Around)

Centipedes thrive where there’s:

• Moisture: basements, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and under sinks.
• Food: other pests like spiders, roaches, silverfish, and ants.
• Shelter: clutter, cardboard piles, and gaps in walls or around doors.

House centipedes are actually predators that help control other insects. But if you’re seeing them often, that signals an underlying moisture or pest issue worth fixing.

Step 1: Reduce Moisture and Improve Ventilation

Moisture control is the most effective long-term fix because it removes the centipede’s preferred habitat.

• Run dehumidifiers: Keep relative humidity under 50% in basements and bathrooms.
• Increase airflow: Use exhaust fans during and after showers, and keep bathroom doors slightly open to vent humidity.
• Fix leaks fast: Repair dripping faucets, sweating pipes, and loose P-traps. Insulate cold-water lines to reduce condensation.
• Address drainage: Extend downspouts 6–10 feet from the foundation, regrade soil to slope away, and clear gutters.
• Dry damp zones: Avoid storing items directly on basement floors. Use shelving and vapor barriers in crawl spaces if needed.

Result: Drier rooms mean fewer centipedes and fewer insects for them to eat.

Step 2: Seal Cracks and Entry Points

Blocking access keeps outdoor centipedes from moving indoors.

• Caulk gaps: Seal cracks around baseboards, window frames, plumbing penetrations, and where utilities enter walls.
• Weatherstrip doors and windows: Replace worn door sweeps and seals to close gaps at thresholds.
• Repair screens: Patch tears in window and vent screens. Use fine mesh where possible.
• Foundation and siding: Fill foundation cracks with mortar or polyurethane sealant; repair loose siding and gaps around cable/AC lines.

Tip: Do a nighttime flashlight test—turn off indoor lights, shine a flashlight along door and window edges from outside. If light leaks through, so can pests.

Step 3: Remove Food Sources (Other Insects)

A centipede problem often means an insect problem. Cut off their food supply.

• Sanitation: Promptly clean crumbs, grease, and spills. Store food in sealed containers. Take out trash regularly.
• Limit clutter: Cardboard and paper stacks harbor silverfish and roaches. Switch to plastic bins with tight lids.
• Target hotspots: Under sinks, behind refrigerators, utility rooms, and laundry areas. Use sticky monitoring traps to see what’s active.
• Outdoor lighting: Bright white bulbs draw insects (which attract centipedes). Switch to warm, yellow “bug” bulbs and move fixtures away from doors.

Step 4: Try Natural Repellents and Low-Risk Controls

While no repellent is perfect, these options can help reduce centipede activity when combined with moisture control and sealing.

• Diatomaceous earth (DE): A fine, natural powder that damages insect exoskeletons. Lightly dust along baseboards, behind appliances, and under sinks. Avoid breathing dust and keep away from pets’ bowls.
• Essential oils: Peppermint, tea tree, and eucalyptus oils may deter centipedes and other insects. Mix 10–15 drops in water with a bit of dish soap, then spray baseboards and entry points. Reapply weekly.
• Sticky traps: Place along walls where you’ve seen centipedes. These help with early detection and reduce numbers.
• Vacuuming: If you see a centipede, vacuum it up and empty the canister outside. Then inspect that area for moisture and gaps.

Note: Natural methods work best as part of an integrated approach. They won’t solve a heavy infestation alone.

Step 5: Consider Targeted Insecticides (Use Carefully)

If activity remains high, targeted insecticides can help, especially against the other insects that centipedes hunt.

• Perimeter treatment: A residual spray labeled for crawling insects around the foundation, door thresholds, and window frames can reduce entry. Follow label directions exactly.
• Crack-and-crevice applications: Use ready-to-use formulations designed for baseboards and gaps where insects hide.
• Baits for other pests: If roaches, ants, or silverfish are present, use species-appropriate baits to cut the centipede food supply.

Safety first: Keep products away from kids and pets, avoid over-application, and ventilate the area.

Step 6: Yard and Exterior Fixes

Stop centipedes before they reach the house.

• Trim vegetation: Keep shrubs and mulch a few inches away from the foundation to reduce damp harborage.
• Manage mulch: Use a thin layer (2 inches) and consider stone or rubber mulch close to the home.
• Firewood and storage: Stack wood off the ground and far from exterior walls. Use sealed storage bins outdoors.
• Drainage check: After heavy rain, walk the perimeter to spot pooling water and correct it.

How to Know If You’ve Won

• Fewer sightings: Seeing fewer centipedes and insects over 2–4 weeks is a good sign.
• Drier readings: Hygrometers showing <50% relative humidity in problem rooms.
• Empty traps: Sticky traps stay clear for a month.
• No new damage: Caulk remains intact; no fresh gaps.

If you’re still seeing multiple centipede sightings per week after these steps, there’s likely a hidden moisture source or persistent insect issue.

When to Call a Professional

Professional pest control can:

• Identify hidden moisture problems with thermal or moisture meters.
• Pinpoint entry points you might miss.
• Use targeted, lower-risk treatments and an integrated pest management (IPM) plan.
• Provide follow-up monitoring to confirm the centipede issue is resolved.

Centipede infestations tied to chronic leaks, damp crawl spaces, or complex multi-unit buildings are best handled by pros.

Quick Checklist

• Reduce indoor humidity and fix leaks.
• Seal cracks, repair screens, and add weatherstripping.
• Remove clutter and store food properly.
• Use natural deterrents like DE and essential oils.
• Treat the perimeter and other insects, if needed.
• Improve drainage and landscaping outside.

By combining these steps, you’ll make your home unwelcome to every centipede that tries to move in.

Ready for Fast Relief?Still seeing centipedes after trying these steps? Schedule a professional inspection today. Our licensed technicians will find the source, seal entry points, and build a custom plan to keep your home centipede-free—backed by a satisfaction guarantee. Call us now or book online for same-week service.