How to get centipedes out of your house

Getting Rid of Centipedes

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How Do I Get Rid of Centipedes?

I am in the process of purchasing the home I grew up in. The only issue that I have with this house is that it always has lots of centipedes in the basement. Does anyone know how to get rid of these inexpensively and also safely? I would be forever grateful.
Cheryl L.

Getting Rid of Centipedes: Diatomaceous Earth May Help

Try Diatomaceous Earth . I am currently trying it for earwigs. Wearing a breathing mask and some sort of gloves, spread it carefully around the areas that bugs hide. Read all directions. It is non-toxic, but abrasive. I found a bag at the hardware store for about $7.50.
Susan

Getting Rid of Centipedes: Remove Their Habitat

Centipedes eat mold and live in damp dark places. Removing their "habitat" is the first step toward eliminating them. Get a dehumidifier and use bleach to kill mold and mildew.
Sue

Getting Rid of Centipedes: Sprinkle Borax Around Perimeter

Try sprinkling powered borax around the perimeter of the basement floorboards. Borax works well at eliminating roaches and fleas as well as most other bugs. Just sprinkle the borax along the wall baseboards, in cupboards, or wherever bugs are a problem. You can find powdered borax in the laundry detergent area of any well-stocked store.
Ken

Getting Rid of Centipedes: Get a Dehumidifier

Centipedes love moisture. We had a problem with them in our basement also. The addition of a dehumidifier has almost eliminated the problem.
Twyla

Getting Rid of Centipedes: Borax

When I lived at home with my parents, the house they bought was full of centipedes. They were everywhere you looked. We finally heard somewhere that if you sprinkle 20 mule team Borax (laundry aisle at store) around the edges of the rooms, it deters them from coming in the room. I did this around my bedroom and never saw another centipede in there. I would sprinkle more around the edges of the room after vacuuming.

I would also recommend those electronic plug-in pulse things. My husband and I use six of these in our house and rarely see spiders or insects. These are not recommended if you own hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc.
Sarah

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