Although centipedes are essentially harmless, they’re creepy and no one wants them in their home. Unfortunately, centipede infestation is a common problem facing many homeowners. The good news is that you can take care of them with some natural methods.
What kills centipedes naturally?
Borax and diatomaceous earth work well to kill centipedes, and sticky traps will catch them. Tea Tree oil will kill them or keep them away, but the best solution is to seal the cracks to prevent them from coming in.
In this article, I will discuss various ways you can get rid of centipedes naturally.Â
What Kills Centipedes Naturally?
The following are some of the measures you can take to get rid of these annoying pests.Â
1. Use Sticky Traps
Homemade sticky traps contain different ingredients, and you need to put them in corners and other areas where the centipedes often hunt. The trap also captures other insects. Once the centipede is stuck in the trap, it will not be able to move, allowing you to terminate it manually.Â
Once the centipede is stuck in the trap, it will not be able to move, allowing you to terminate it manually.
If you leave the trapped pest on the board for an extended time, it can gradually succumb to death due to starvation and exhaustion as it tries to free itself.
However, huge centipedes can sometimes escape, leaving only a few legs behind. They are sometimes capable of freeing themselves. Thus, a sticky trap might not always be an effective solution to kill these creatures.Â
2. Tea Tree Oil or Peppermint Oil
Tea tree oil is one of the most effective natural remedies that can kill centipedes. You can buy this essential oil from any grocery store and add about 25 drops to a spray bottle containing 6 ounces of water.
Peppermint oil works the same way.
Mix the contents thoroughly and spray the solution around windows, frames, small cracks, bathroom floors, sink drains, and other areas where centipedes frequent.
This remedy is not instant, it will take some time for the pests to die.
If you spray the mixture directly onto the centipedes, they are severely harmed, a quick death.Â
Another option is to soak an old piece of cloth in peppermint oil, then wring it and placing it in a strategic position. When a centipede gets in touch with this rug, it is burned. However, the pests can manage to crawl away, and you may not see where they die.
3. Seal the Cracks
Sealing cracks in your home not only keeps the centipedes out, but it can also be an effective death trap. During the day, these pests usually hide, and you rarely see them. If you seal the crack while they are inside, they will naturally die due to suffocation. There will be no escape route.  Â
4. Apply Boric Acid
Applying boric acid is another natural way of killing centipedes in your home. The good thing about borax is that you can easily access it from any hardware store.Â
Boric acid is another natural way of killing centipedes.
Sprinkle the acid around your yard, and it will kill the troublesome centipedes by slow poisoning, which can take some time. It will also take care of other pests.
Boric acid is non-toxic at typical quantities, which means it does not pose any danger to the health of your family and pets. You can sprinkle the acid inside your home without any fear of poisoning.
When the centipede comes into contact with borax, it involuntarily ingests it. The acid causes dehydration in the pest, ultimately leading to its death.   Â
5. Use an Insect Catcher
You can use an insect catcher to capture the centipedes that may be hanging on the ceiling. Put the catcher in a strategic position below the ceiling. When the pests fall into the trap, you can collect them and put them in a sealable plastic bag.
Seal the bag and dispose of it with the centipedes inside. They will die due to lack of air.Â
Alternatively, you can manually kill the centipedes, but who wants to do that? You can use solid objects like shoes, cardboard, books, or anything hard that can instantly kill them.
When you choose this option, you do not need to apply any solution consisting of toxic ingredients.Â
6. Use Diatomaceous Earth
Applying diatomaceous earth (DE) is another natural method to kill centipedes. This protective powder does not cause any harm to humans. It consists of several small fossilized sea shells, killing centipedes by desiccating or scorching their exoskeleton.Â
Once this sensitive cover gets damaged, the moisture inside the pest’s body escapes, leading to death. To apply diatomaceous earth, choose a food-grade bag of DE and sprinkle the powder in different areas across your home.
If a centipede walks across the treated area, it gets poisoned over time.Â
DE might not be 100% effective, but it slowly eliminates the centipedes. It is also essentially to be harmless to people, but make sure you wear a protective mask or respirator to avoid breathing it in.
Keep the container out of reach of children.Â
7. Cedar Oil
Cedar oil is another natural remedy you can use to get rid of centipedes. You can apply this oil in areas where you often see these creatures. The oil coats the bug and leads to suffocation.
Additionally, cedar oil also causes osmotic dehydration, which leads to the death of centipedes. When the pest loses body fluids, it will not live for an extended period. The oil also kills centipedes by homogenizing their body fats.
This process results in the merging of fats, which affects other body functions, leading to the death of the centipede. Â
Final Thoughts
Centipedes can be frustrating, especially when they invade your home. Many people are frightened by these creatures, although they are harmless. If you want to eliminate these pests, there are several natural options you can choose.Â
Most of the natural remedies I’ve listed above can kill or remove centipedes from your home, and some may be in your cupboard already. More importantly, these methods are safe for your family and the pets in your home.
