How to Get Rid of House Centipedes Quickly and Safely

You were probably brushing your teeth or turning on the bathroom light when, out of nowhere, something with a lot of legs dashed across the floor faster than you could blink! Next thing you know, you're trying to find out how to get rid of house centipedes, right?

You're not alone. House centipedes are one of the most common (and startling) indoor pests, so we've all had to deal with them at one point. Therefore, this guide will help you identify them, understand their behavior, and, most importantly, learn how to keep them out of your home for good.

Key Takeaways

• House centipedes help control other pests, but can become a nuisance if they appear frequently. However, they're harmless to humans and pets.
• House centipedes are attracted to moisture, clutter, and food sources. Therefore, to keep them at bay, lower humidity levels, seal entry points, declutter your house and yard, and check for other pest infestations (house centipedes eat other arthropods).
• You can also spread diatomaceous earth, use essential oils, and install properly sealed windows and high-quality bug screens like those from Magic to deter house centipedes and keep your space insect-free.

What Do House Centipedes Look Like?

House centipedes, scientifically known as Scutigera coleoptrata, have the following characteristics and habits:

• They have elongated bodies with three dark stripes running along their length. Their bodies are grayish yellow or brownish.
• They have up to 15 pairs of long legs, with a segmented body that measures approximately 1-1.4 inches long.
• House centipedes are nocturnal creatures that prefer moist environments and dark areas. This is why people often see them when they turn on the lights unexpectedly in a bathroom or basement.
• They can move incredibly fast, reaching speeds of up to 1.3 feet/s running up walls, across floors, and along ceilings.
• They are often found in basements, bathrooms, and kitchens where humidity levels are high.
• They enter houses in search of food supply, as they feed on spiders, bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, silverfish, and ants, among other small arthropods.
• They are most active in spring and in autumn. They enter houses because they are looking for food or seeking shelter during colder months.
• House centipedes do not come up through drains, but they may hide around the drains.

House centipedes can live up to seven years. In their third year, they start breeding, laying their eggs in spring in damp spaces, often in cracks or under baseboards. Female house centipedes can lay 30-60 eggs in a season (which can definitely create a centipede problem!). Newly hatched larvae undergo several molts, adding one pair of legs after each molt. You can easily identify centipedes in their nymph stage, as they look similar to adults, except that they're smaller and have fewer legs.

Are House Centipedes Dangerous?

House centipedes are not dangerous to humans or pets. They are not aggressive and tend to flee when disturbed. Some house centipedes bite (rarely), but their forcipules are small and cannot penetrate skin.

In fact, house centipedes are beneficial to have around, even though most people do not like their appearance and are unsettled by their speed. However, house centipedes can be of real help in getting rid of other pests such as cockroaches, ants, or silverfish.

On the other hand, if there are a lot of house centipedes in your house, their presence might also indicate a larger insect infestation within your home, which is something you don’t want to ignore.

How to Eliminate House Centipedes

As mentioned earlier, house centipedes are beneficial, so if you don't have chilopodophobia (the fear of centipedes) and if they're not a nuisance, you can let them be as long as it's not an infestation.

However, given that some of the most common phobias involve arthropods and that centipedes are quite disturbing visually, it's totally understandable why most homeowners want to get rid of them as soon as possible. And we're here to help! In the following sections, we'll discuss some methods you can try to get rid of centipedes!

1. Use Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a natural insecticide. It is a powdered substance that can kill various bugs because the microscopic jagged edges of the powder enter their bodies and basically dry them out, slowly killing them.

All you have to do is spread thin layers of diatomaceous earth where you've seen house centipedes and at entry points (around windows, for example).

Diatomaceous earth is considered safe for humans and pets. However, it may be harmful if inhaled, so make sure to wear a mask and keep children and pets away while spreading it. If you want to spread diatomaceous earth outside, do this on a day without wind.

2. Seal Entry Points

Centipedes actually live outside, but they occasionally enter homes in search of food or shelter during colder months. They enter through cracks, gaps, or openings around windows, doors, basements, and foundations. Therefore, your priority is to seal cracks that serve as entry points. Here's how to do this:

• Use silicone caulk or expandable foam to fill cracks and gaps in walls, floors, and around utility pipes.
• Install weather stripping on doors and windows.
• Repair torn window screens and door sweeps.
• Replace windows and doors if they don't close tightly or are old.
• Make sure to use caulk or foam in a well-ventilated area.
• Wear gloves to avoid skin contact with sealant materials.

3. Upgrade to Insect-Resistant Home Features

One of the simplest ways to prevent centipedes and other pests from getting inside is by physically blocking them. And given that their most common entry points are windows and doors, they are your priority. High-quality bug screens and properly sealed window and door systems are your first line of defense.

For example, you could install Magic windows and glass doors. Besides the fact that they form an airtight seal when closed and are properly sealed when installed (aimed to last 40 years), they also come with a fully retractable bug screen that protects your home against all kinds of insects! The bug screens are attached to the frame: when not in use, they remain hidden within their cartridge; when you want to open your windows, you simply have to pull the screens out, and they'll slide seamlessly along the window, covering it entirely.

4. Use Boric Acid

Boric acid is a tried-and-true household pest control method that works against a wide range of insects, including house centipedes. Although it's not as fast-acting as commercial insecticides, boric acid is a low-toxicity option that has a similar effect to that of diatomaceous earth.

Therefore, apply boric acid to areas where house centipedes are most common. However, keep children and pets away from areas with boric acid. Although it is considered low in toxicity, it can be harmful if ingested or inhaled in large amounts. Additionally, avoid using it in open food areas or near countertops.

5. Check for Other Pest Infestations

As mentioned earlier, centipedes feed on insects like spiders, ants, silverfish, and cockroaches. So if there are a lot of centipedes in your house, they're there for a reason! Therefore, conduct a thorough inspection of your home to check for signs of other pests. If you find something, use appropriate pest control solutions to remove the centipedes' food source.

If you use pesticides, follow all label directions and keep pets and children away from treated areas.

6. Clean Drains

Centipedes are drawn to moisture. This is why they're commonly spotted in bathrooms and kitchens, especially around drains, where small insect prey may be found.

As such, gather your supplies and remove the organic build-up that attracts insects and centipedes. You can use vinegar or bleach, for example, but make sure to avoid mixing these two (and other chemicals, for that matter), as this can cause toxic fumes. Moreover, wear gloves and eye protection if you're using strong chemical cleaners.

7. Lower Humidity Levels

If indoor moisture levels are always above 60%, house centipedes will thrive there! They love damp environments, which is why you should eliminate moisture if you want them gone or want to prevent infestations. Here's what you can do :

• Run dehumidifiers in damp areas and crawl spaces.
• Run exhaust fans when showering or cooking.
• Fix any plumbing leaks or standing water issues.

8. Use Sticky Traps

You can also use commercial sticky traps to catch centipedes as they travel along your house. You can place them in dark places that are damp and hidden, such as under the sink, behind the toilet, or in the basement.

Check and replace the traps regularly. Make sure to keep the traps out of reach of pets and children.

9. Use Essential Oils

Some essential oils are believed to repel centipedes and other insects thanks to their strong scent. These include tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, and lavender oil.

All you have to do is mix 10-15 drops of essential oil with water and spray it around baseboards, corners, and entry points.

Make sure to test the solution on a small area before spraying a larger surface. Additionally, keep in mind that essential oils are toxic to animals, so it's best to confirm with your veterinarian if this solution is safe or what measures you can take to avoid exposure.

10. Keep Your House and Yard Clean

House centipedes love to hide, and they'll find the tiniest hiding place to rest. Therefore:

• Vacuum regularly, especially in corners and under furniture.
• Remove leaf litter, grass clippings, woodpiles, tree bark, and mulch from the foundation of your home.
• Store boxes and clothes in sealed containers.
• Regularly inspect your potted plants, as common house centipedes are known to hide under them.

11. Remove Them Safely

Sometimes, the quickest way to deal with a house centipede is to remove it from your house instead. These insects do not want to harm us, after all, so it's not always necessary to kill centipedes. If you're not afraid to safely remove them, you can use the cup and paper method to trap and release the centipede outside. Just place a cup over it and then slide a piece of paper underneath to release it.

However, if you prefer not to handle it or are really afraid of centipedes, you can use a vacuum cleaner, but empty the vacuum bag immediately into a sealable plastic bag.

12. Seek Professional Pest Control Services

If you've tried multiple DIY solutions and are still seeing centipedes, it may be time to bring in the experts. Professionals can assess your home for hidden infestations (of both centipedes and their prey), excess moisture, or structural vulnerabilities that might be attracting pests.

Licensed pest control experts can offer targeted treatments, safe for humans and pets, and may also suggest structural improvements or environmental adjustments to make your home less inviting to centipede species and other insects.

Are They Really House Centipedes?

It's quite easy to mistake house centipedes for other creepy crawlies, especially if you've never actually seen a house centipede. For example, house centipedes may be mistaken for:

• Millipedes. Millipedes have rounder, dark brown or black bodies and two pairs of legs per body segment. They are rather slow and curl into a spiral when disturbed. Millipedes consume wood and decaying plant matter. They are not aggressive or venomous.
• Silverfish. Silverfish are smaller than house centipedes and other centipedes. They have shiny gray or silver bodies, being uniform in color. Silverfish have only six legs.

Final Thoughts

Living in harmony with house centipedes might sound ideal (after all, they eat other pests and prevent house centipede infestations!), but for most of us, it's impossible, given their appearance and incredible (and terrifying!) Speed! Luckily, there are plenty of solutions you can go for: using diatomaceous earth, boric acid, or sticky traps, as well as checking for other pest infestations.

Furthermore, it's equally important to design a home that bugs don't want to enter in the first place. That starts with windows, glass doors, and front doors - their main entry points. If you're serious about keeping insects (and stress) out of your life, consider upgrading to Magic's airtight windows and glass doors and our retractable screen systems. Not only do they look sleek and disappear when not in use, they also make it nearly impossible for centipedes and other bugs to find their way in!

Contact Magic today to schedule a free consultation!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have so many centipedes around my house?

You likely have many centipedes around your house because you live in a humid environment and there's an abundance of insects, which attract house centipedes seeking moisture and food.

What scent keeps house centipedes away?

Among the scents that keep house centipedes away are strong-smelling essential oils like peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, and lavender.

What do house centipedes hate the most?

House centipedes hate dry, well-ventilated spaces with no clutter or bugs to feed on. They also stay away from strong-smelling essential oils.

Are house centipedes harmful to humans?

House centipedes are generally harmless to humans, as their bites are not venomous and typically result in mild irritation or allergic reactions.

What attracts house centipedes to my home?

House centipedes are drawn to dark, damp corners in your home with high humidity and a ready supply of other household pests.

How can I naturally repel house centipedes?

To repel house centipedes, utilize natural repellents like essential oils (tea tree, lavender, peppermint), diatomaceous earth, or boric acid.