How to Get Rid of Earwigs: The Best Home and Garden Solutions

Earwigs are those long-bodied insects with pincers that tend to show up in unexpected places—your bathroom, kitchen, basement, or even your garden. While they don’t cause direct harm to humans, they can damage plants and create an unpleasant presence in your home.

If you’re struggling with an infestation, this guide will show you exactly how to get rid of earwigs, both indoors and outdoors. You’ll also learn how to get rid of earwigs in your house fast and how to get rid of earwigs in the garden using natural and effective methods.

What Attracts Earwigs to Your Home and Garden?

Before diving into how to get rid of earwigs, it’s important to understand why they are appearing in the first place. Earwigs are drawn to:

✅ Moist environments – They thrive in humid areas like basements, bathrooms, and under kitchen sinks.
✅ Dark hiding spots – Woodpiles, leaf litter, and mulch provide the perfect shelter.
✅ Bright night lights – Outdoor lighting attracts them, leading them into your home.
✅ Decaying plant matter – In gardens, they feed on rotting leaves, flowers, and vegetables.

Once you understand what’s bringing them in, it becomes easier to implement the right solutions.

How to Get Rid of Earwigs in Your House Fast?

If you’ve seen earwigs crawling around your house, taking quick action is key to stopping their spread. Here’s how to get rid of earwigs in your house fast using simple yet effective methods:

1. Block Their Entry Points

???? Inspect windows, doors, and foundation cracks for openings.
???? Use caulk, weatherstripping, or sealants to close gaps.
???? Install door sweeps to prevent them from sneaking in under doors.

2. Reduce Indoor Moisture

Earwigs love damp spaces, so making your home less humid is essential.
✅ Use dehumidifiers in damp rooms.
✅ Fix leaky pipes and improve bathroom ventilation.
✅ Wipe down wet surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom regularly.

3. Set Up DIY Traps

???? Newspaper Trap: Roll up a damp newspaper and place it where you’ve seen earwigs. They’ll crawl inside overnight, and in the morning, you can discard the trap outside.
???? Soy Sauce & Oil Trap: Fill a shallow dish with soy sauce and vegetable oil. The strong scent lures earwigs in, and they drown in the liquid.

4. Use Natural Repellents

???? Essential Oils: Earwigs dislike lavender, peppermint, and citrus. Mix a few drops with water and spray it around entry points.
???? Diatomaceous Earth: This natural powder dehydrates and kills earwigs on contact. Sprinkle it around baseboards and damp areas.
???? Soap Spray: Mix dish soap with water and spray directly on earwigs to kill them instantly.

5. Clean and Vacuum Regularly

???? Vacuum up earwigs and empty the bag outside immediately.
???? Sweep and declutter dark corners where earwigs hide.

By following these steps, you can eliminate earwigs from your home quickly and prevent them from returning.

How to Get Rid of Earwigs in the Garden

If you’ve noticed nibbled leaves, damaged flowers, or earwigs hiding under mulch, you likely have a garden infestation. Here’s how to get rid of earwigs in the garden naturally:

1. Remove Their Hiding Spots

???? Clear away plant debris like fallen leaves and dead flowers.
???? Keep firewood and mulch away from your house foundation.
???? Trim overgrown plants to reduce shady hiding places.

2. Set Up Garden Traps

???? Oil Trap: Bury a tuna can filled with vegetable oil at soil level. Earwigs crawl in and drown.
???? Cardboard Tube Trap: Stuff a cardboard tube with straw or damp newspaper, leave it overnight, then shake the earwigs out into soapy water.

3. Encourage Natural Predators

???? Birds, toads, and frogs are natural earwig hunters.
???? Create a small pond or install bird feeders to attract these helpful creatures.

4. Use Organic Pest Control

???? Neem oil spray repels earwigs while being safe for plants.
???? Diatomaceous earth sprinkled around the garden prevents earwig infestations.

By using these methods, you can protect your plants from earwig damage without harming the environment.

Preventing Future Earwig Infestations

Once you’ve learned how to get rid of earwigs, the next step is keeping them from returning. Here’s how:

???? Keep your home and garden dry – Reduce moisture inside and outside.
???? Seal entry points – Close up cracks and gaps where they can get in.
???? Limit outdoor lighting at night – Switch to yellow or dim lighting to avoid attracting earwigs.
???? Store mulch and woodpiles properly – Keep them away from your home’s foundation.
???? Clean gutters and drains regularly – Stagnant water can create the perfect environment for earwigs.

With consistent maintenance, you can ensure earwigs stay far away from your home and garden.

Frequently Asked Questions About Earwigs

1. Are Earwigs Harmful to Humans?

No, earwigs do not bite or transmit diseases. They may pinch with their pincers, but it is harmless.

2. Why Do Earwigs Enter Houses?

Earwigs seek moisture, food, and shelter. If your home has leaks, high humidity, or open entry points, they may invade.

3. What Scents Do Earwigs Hate?

Earwigs dislike peppermint, lavender, and citrus smells. Using essential oils can help repel them.

4. Can Chemical Pesticides Kill Earwigs?

Yes, but natural methods (like diatomaceous earth and neem oil) are safer and just as effective.

5. How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Earwigs?

With consistent treatment, earwig infestations can be controlled in 1-2 weeks.

Final Thoughts on How to Get Rid of Earwigs

Earwigs may be an unwelcome sight, but you don’t have to live with them. Whether you’re dealing with an indoor infestation or garden damage, the solutions in this guide will help you eliminate earwigs quickly and naturally.

By sealing entry points, reducing moisture, setting traps, and using natural repellents, you can remove earwigs from your home and garden for good.

Now that you know how to get rid of earwigs, start applying these methods today and enjoy a pest-free environment! ????