Bugs and pests are horrifying and frustrating inside and outside your home. These critters, as harmless as they look, can cause massive destruction when they want to. However, regarding springtails, these small creepers can do much worse than you imagine.
The naked eye doesn’t easily see these little bugs’ gray and brown appearance, but we can say that you can do a lot to ensure that they don’t come back to infest your home more than you want. They are a right pain, mainly because they spread and multiply at an alarmingly high rate.
So, how to get rid of springtails? The good thing about these pests is that they don’t inflict any physical damage. If you are worried about bites, rashes, and unnecessary complications, we can assure you that these pests won’t cause any issues.
Also read: 10 Best Home Remedies to Get Rid of Lizards
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Why do you have a Springtail Infestation?
If you aren’t wary of Springtails and see a sudden infestation around the house, there are chances that you don’t know why they are coming around to your home. Some of the ideal living conditions for a springtail include:
- Moist soil, leaf mold, logs, water puddles, weeding, mulches, etc.
- Humid areas around the country
Springtail-feeding habitats are also a pretty common reason why the infestation is high. If the garden is dirty and filled with algae, weeds, and unwanted fungi growth, chances are that the same can lead to heavy infestation beyond your expectations.
Steps to Get Rid of Springtails
Now that you have some basic knowledge about Springtails, their appearance, and their ideal habitat, let us look into ways you can eliminate them. Ideally, the methods are pretty simple and can be managed with a few environmental adjustments.
1. Get Rid of Humid Conditions
Since Springtails prefer living in humid conditions, it is a given that you have to get rid of the same. We recommend looking for the areas in the house with a humid or damp environment and checking for infestation. If you have a Springtail infestation in the house, chances are that those are the spots they frequent the most.
Once you have found the source of the infestation, install a dehumidifier in the room or the area. This will keep the humidity levels in check and prevent further risks of infestation.
2. Check for Leaks
Besides humid areas, Springtails also prefer living in moist and damp conditions. So, ideally, those are also some of the spots you need to look out for. Sometimes, we don’t realize we have damp areas due to leakage or other alarming conditions.
So, check for leaking pipes, dripping, and loose pipelines around the house. Once you find such places, it becomes easier to mend that issue and eliminate the infestation quicker than you imagine.
3. Keep the Garden Clean
When it comes to springtail infestation outdoors, especially around the garden, be assured that the same is due to overgrown weeds and an unkempt garden. That is the last thing you need, especially if you don’t want to encourage further infestation of the pests around your home.
Check for overgrown weeds, mulch, and dirt around your house. You can mow down the grass and clean the dirt and the much that has taken over the natural growth of plants in your garden. Sometimes, all you need to do is make the place inhabitable for the pest by cleaning things up.
Also, while cleaning the garden, look for moldy logs because even those contribute to the overgrowth and multiplication of the springtails in your garden. Moldy areas can also lead to the spread of other pests, which can further complicate things.
4. Try Vinegar Solution
If you want immediate results in removing the springtails from around your home, you can try out the vinegar solution. Springtails are very minute pests, which means that the strong acidic property of the vinegar will immediately kill them.
You can directly spray concentrated vinegar on the springtails when you find them in colonies. This will address the concern immediately, ensuring there are no further complications in the process.
5. Try Bleach
If the vinegar solution or even concentrated vinegar isn’t showing favorable results, your next best choice would be to opt for bleach. Springtails can sometimes become very resilient and not respond to any treatment you spray them with. In such cases, the bleach’s properties and chemicals can show promising results.
The corrosive property of the bleach has promising effects in not just getting rid of the springtails but ensuring that they don’t make a return in the same spot. Sounds promising, doesn’t it? Also, when using bleach, take protective precautions and use a bleach solution and not pour it directly.
6. Seal Off the Entry Points
Springtails are notorious for entering houses through any opening that they can find. This includes the smaller cracks in the windows, from under the doors, and so many other inlets. Since springtails are attracted to humidity and indoor heat, don’t be surprised if one gains entry and starts dividing at an alarmingly high rate. This is where the complications arise.
So, ideally, what you want to do when it comes to getting rid of springtails is to ensure that you wipe out their existence by sealing off every entry point you see. Even the smallest crack should be filled to avoid any complications.
7. Use Diatomaceous Earth
Similar to baking soda, springtails don’t respond well to diatomaceous earth. They can suffocate the pests and draw all the moisture out of their cells and tissues, causing them to die immediately. However, when you sprinkle this chemical powder, target the larger colonies since they tend to affect those spots the most.
Once you find a larger colony, sprinkle the powder evenly around the area and wait a few minutes. You can come back and check on the status the next day. Sprinkle more to kill the remaining pests if you find any living springtails.
8. Use Steam Vacuum
Sprinkling chemicals and harsh insecticides can be harmful and toxic when you have an uncontrolled springtail infestation inside your house. These are especially not suitable if you have children or pets in your home. In that case, the best way to clean the colonies and eliminate the springtails would be by vacuuming the area. It works wonders and ensures it kills off most pests in one go.
However, when cleaning or vacuuming, use a steam vacuum for better results. Also, while you are at it, use a one-time filter bag for your vacuum. This way, you can discard the filter bag and trash it out instead of cleaning the entire vacuum separately. This can complicate things too.
9. Get Rid of Houseplants
As difficult as it might be for you, houseplants and the accumulated water in them can make it easier for the springtails to thrive and multiply in number. In such cases, you can get rid of such houseplants in your home. It shouldn’t take you a lot of time, especially when managing their growth outdoors.
Instead of keeping the plant inside, plant them outdoors where they can get optimal sunlight, and the pests won’t gain access to the insides of your house.
10. Spray Insecticides
The reason why we have kept this for the last is that it isn’t the safest choice. When using insecticides, you also use many chemicals that can harm humans and plants. So, your best bet would be to keep this as the last resort if none of the above methods works out for you.
The choices are abundant when it comes to getting rid of springtails. However, we have shared some of the best ways to help you get rid of them in no time. Always try to find their colonies or nests to attack and disintegrate first. Also, if the infestation is beyond control, get professionals to scope out the area and remove them as soon as possible.
Also read: How to Get Rid of Biscuit Beetles
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will springtails go away on their own?
Springtails won’t leave unless the area becomes inhabitable for them. So, if your home provides optimal living conditions, be assured that they won’t leave on their own that easily.
What time of the day are springtails the most active?
Springtails are the most active during the afternoons and the evening time.
Will a dehumidifier get rid of springtails?
Springtails hate dry living conditions, so a dehumidifier should help eliminate them.
