How to Get Rid of Crickets | 8 Effective Ways

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Many people have this common notion that crickets are harmless. And, while that might true to an extent, that isn’t entirely the case. The constant buzzing sound might seem harmless, but when you have swarms of crickets infesting your home, that’s when things take a turn for the worse. So, if you are here wondering how to get rid of crickets, we have just the ways to share with you.

Crickets primarily come around in swarms during the summertime, so you need to be cautious of them during that time of the year. If the infestation gets out of hand, there are chances that the same will end up damaging your furniture, clothes, and other household products.

Also read: How to Get Rid Of House Flies

Here, we will be discussing some of the proven and effective ways to get rid of crickets for good from your home.

What are Crickets?

House crickets are larger Orthopteran insects that are related to bush crickets and grasshoppers. They generally grow to an inch long and have a mix of yellow and brown color on their bodies. However, their primary identifying characteristic is the large and long bent leg with spotted markings on the body.

While a cricket bite doesn’t puncture the skin of a human or cause physical harm, they have been proven to carry a significant number of diseases that might be harmful to humans and cause sores, skin irritation, and other complications.

List of Ways to Get Rid of Crickets

Now that you know the basics about crickets, it will likely be a lot easier for you to spot them and get rid of them eventually. That said, there are quite a few types of natural and professional methods that you can leverage to get rid of these insects for good.

1. Set up a Cricket Bait

As tricky as it sounds, setting up cricket bait is not that challenging. This is an immediate solution that will corner all the crickets infesting your home and eventually get rid of them. The cricket bait consists of a molasses solution since crickets tend to get attracted to sweeter things.

Here’s what you can do:

  • Take a spoonful of molasses, pour it into a transparent bowl, and leave it in the corner of the house. Cover the molasses with some water and make a solution, if needed.
  • Ensure that you leave the bowl in the space where you see the maximum infestation of the crickets around your house. 
  • Do this consecutively for a few days, and you should be able to get rid of them for good. However, ensure that you keep changing the water frequently.

If this doesn’t work after a day or two, you might want to switch to chemical entrapped bait that can kill the crickets for good within a few seconds. These are effective, but you need to be aware of children and pets in the house.

2. Switch to Chemical Bait

As we introduced in the last pointer, chemical baits are a lot more effective in getting rid of swarms of crickets if they aren’t going away readily. You can seamlessly find the best quality products in both in-home supply and hardware stores without any issues. 

Much like molasses, this one works under the same principle. They attract or lure in the crickets enough to trap and perish them. The moment the crickets jump into the bowl of the chemical bait, they will die on the spot. That’s how poisonous the formula is. However, ensure that you keep it out of reach of children or pets.

3. Follow the Sound

One issue with crickets is that it’s hard finding the source of them. This means that you have to first check where they are entering and why they can multiply from there so rapidly. Once you find the source, it becomes easier for you to nip the problem from the root.

The best way to find the source is to follow the sound of the crickets and eventually treat the area chemically to get rid of their existence for good. However, when you are trying to locate the source of the crickets, it is important that you be stealthy with the approach and not makes your presence known.

4. Set Up Traps

Sticky glue traps aren’t just for rats and rodents. They work well on crickets too. If you have children or pets with a habit of getting into things and don’t want to risk toxic or chemical traps and baits, a sticky glue trap is hands down the most non-toxic option that you can consider looking into. 

However, setting up these traps is tough because if you don’t place them in areas with the maximum infestation, they won’t get trapped. Walls, windows, and doors are often common spots for such traps. But, make sure that you explain to your children about not getting into those traps or touching them with bare hands.

5. Opt for Bug Spray

This isn’t for everyone. However, if you don’t have sensitive skin and aren’t much opposed to the chemical smell of the bug spray, you can opt for it. A range of bug sprays available in the market are specifically designed and formulated for crickets. So, if you are wondering how to get rid of crickets, this is your safest bet.

They are highly convenient, and there are a few brands that create sprays without a distinct smell, so you wouldn’t even know after spraying. However, try to spray it in the most problematic areas to ensure that the crickets have the easiest access to it. Doors and windows are a good starting point.

6. Investigate Breeding Spots

Generally, crickets like staying out of the house when in small numbers. However, things do take a turn for the worse when they start multiplying and increasing in numbers. This is where you need to step in. They tend to breed and multiply in dark and damp areas, so investigate such spots around the house.

You can check along the perimeter of your backyard and patio or even behind the closed space of the appliances and the furniture. If you have a garage or basement that hasn’t been cleaned in a long time, we’d recommend giving that spot a visit too. Once you find the source or breeding spot, you can chemically treat that area to ensure no further multiplication is happening.

One thing you need to be extremely careful of is the eggs. If you find cricket eggs lying around in your home, the first thing you need to do is destroy them because that is where the problem lies. Using a vacuum with HEPA filters can help clear out that issue for good.

7. Seal Your House

If you have areas in your home with open infestation spots around them, you need to seal those immediately. Any cracks in the doors and windows are enough to let the crickets bypass and get inside the house. So, instead of letting that happen, you can seal these entry points.

  • Caulk the windows and the cracks on the walls
  • Cover the open space under the doors to prevent them from entering
  • Put a screen over your vents

It all comes down to how your house is designed and what flaws it has. Check thoroughly for infestation sites and other issues before you jump the gun.

8. Try Boric Acid

Often used as a pesticide, boric acid has potent benefits in getting rid of a potential cricket infestation inside your house. The best way to use them is in powder form, where you can make a solution out of it and then place the bowl in the corner of a room to lure in the crickets. 

The chances are that they will either drown in the water or end up dying due to the chemicals in the boric acid. However, make sure that you keep it away from the reach of children and pets since that can be a real hazard to their health.

If you were wondering how to get rid of crickets, we hope this article gives you all the details you need to be mindful of. Just ensure that you follow the steps accordingly and prevent getting yourself into risky situations. If none of the DIY methods work and the infestation gets worse, it is always best to contact a professional for it.

Also read: How to Get Rid of Ants

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to Tell if you have a Cricket Infestation in your Home?

You would generally see them around your home, or worse, you will be able to hear the constant buzzing noise that they make. 

What Kills Crickets Instantly?

If you want instant results, you must use a chemical repellent or other toxic bug sprays instead of rooting for the natural methods.

What Kinds of Smell do Crickets Hate?

If you want to prevent crickets from entering your home, try spreading smells like musk cologne, lemon juice, peppermint, etc.

By James Edwards

James Edwards is a writer & editor with almost 15 years of experience from Murphys, California. He earned his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University.

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