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How to Get Rid of Crickets

You may know the sound of crickets all too well - the incessant chirping that happens at night and prevents you from sleeping soundly. These insects can sure be a pain. Crickets may look harmless, but they can quickly become a big problem. The more they breed, the harder they are to control.

Crickets chew on fabric, paper, and furniture, which can cause damage. Their droppings can also stain floors and carpets. If too many crickets invade your home, they can ruin upholstery and other stored items. Besides the damage, their nonstop chirping—especially at night—can make it hard to sleep. 

Although you can take steps on your own to eliminate crickets, you should turn to the professionals to control the problem when it becomes severe. There are some DIY methods to help prevent crickets, such as sealing entry points, reducing moisture, and setting traps. However, for long-term and effective control, calling in a professional is the best course of action. 

Ehrlich knows how to get rid of crickets and is here to help. We can give you advice on how to make your home or business less attractive to these pests and administer treatment to eradicate them. We understand the habits of crickets and realize just how annoying they can be, and we will do everything within our means to ensure they are removed.

First, note that crickets have a tendency to remain at floor level. They are typically nocturnal. Here are some spots where they can hide:

  • Under fireplace inserts
  • Under couches
  • Garages
  • Holes in the wall
  • On top of your foundation

Why do I have crickets in my house?

Crickets may infest your home in their search for water, food, or shelter. These pests are drawn to homes that provide the right conditions for them to thrive, and understanding what attracts them can help you prevent an infestation. 

Crickets want to infest homes for four main reasons: warmth, food, moisture, and shelter. Since they are cold-blooded, they look for warm places when temperatures drop, often hiding in basements, garages, and heated rooms. They will eat almost anything, including fabric, paper, pet food, and even other insects, so crumbs and uncovered pet food can attract them. 

Crickets also need moisture to survive, so they are drawn to damp places like basements, leaky pipes, and humid areas. They prefer dark, hidden spaces to hide and lay eggs, such as cluttered rooms, wood piles, and cracks in walls or foundations.

Here’s a checklist of prevention steps to consider taking:

  • Trim high vegetation so crickets cannot use it as harborage.
  • Cut your lawn short.
  • Reduce the amount of standing water that’s on the ground around your home. 
  • Reduce clutter in your yard, such as lawn furniture, children’s toys, and piles of leaves.
  • Seal foundation cracks along with gaps under doors (and your garage door), so crickets cannot enter.
  • Ensure doors have weatherstripping.
  • Try to lessen the amount of lighting you use outside. During the night, it can draw in adult crickets.

Where do crickets hide in my house?

Crickets like to hide in places that are dark, damp, and warm. They are small and can squeeze through tiny cracks, making it hard to find and remove them. Some common hiding spots include:

  • Basements and crawl spaces – these moist areas are often damp and dark, making them perfect for crickets.
  • Garages – crickets can sneak in through small gaps under doors and hide in cluttered corners.
  • Behind and under furniture – they like to stay low to the ground and hide in dark spaces, such as under couches and beds.
  • Near fireplaces – the warmth from a fireplace attracts crickets, especially in colder months.
  • Inside walls and cracks – crickets can crawl through tiny openings and hide inside walls, making them harder to reach.

How to get rid of crickets in the house

While DIY methods won’t work for a large cricket infestation, you can try a few simple steps if you spot just one or two crickets in your home. Start by sealing any cracks or gaps around windows, doors, and walls to prevent their entry. Since crickets thrive in damp environments, reduce moisture by fixing leaks, improving ventilation, and using a dehumidifier. 

Keeping your home clean is also essential—regularly sweep up crumbs and remove clutter that could provide hiding spots. You might also consider sprinkling diatomaceous earth around entry points as a natural deterrent.

However, these methods are only preventative and they won’t help you get rid of an existing cricket infestation. Ehrlich is your local expert in all sorts of occasional invaders, such as crickets, and we can guide in excluding crickets from your property. If crickets have infested your home, we can apply treatment to areas where they are hiding, such as under baseboards and the attic. 

We can also administer preventive treatment around the outside of the home. It’s a good idea to receive regular preventive treatments to keep crickets from becoming a problem. Our treatment should resolve the cricket problem quickly, but if you continue to notice activity about a week after we have treated, let us know and we will return to take care of the issue. 

Depending on your area, we may also offer a pest-proofing service for your premises. Check to see if your local office provides this service. Additionally, house crickets are covered under Ehrlich’s year-round protection plan, PestFree365+.

Why do I have crickets in my basement?

Crickets are most likely to be found in your basement because it’s the perfect place for them to live. Basements are usually dark, damp, and warm, just like the environments crickets prefer. They also have plenty of hiding spots, such as cracks in the walls, gaps around pipes, and cluttered storage areas, making it easy for crickets to move around without being noticed. 

Also, as moisture may be present in a basement, it can be a welcome place for crickets, and is one of the most likely places you will find this insect around your home. Additionally, clutter such as tools and sporting goods offer these pests places to hide.

How to get rid of crickets in the basement

If you want to reduce the likelihood of crickets infesting your basement, put away clutter, seal any potential entry points and make sure there are no food sources to attract them. It’s also a good idea to try placing a dehumidifier in the basement. 

Still, if you already have a bad problem, do not worry - Ehrlich can implement treatment in the basement to get rid of crickets there. While some preventative steps may help keep crickets away, the best way to fully get rid of them is by calling a pest control professional. Crickets are tricky to eliminate in basements because of the damp, dark conditions that make it easy for them to hide. They can hide in places that are hard to reach, like cracks in the walls, behind pipes, and under floors, making it difficult to get rid of them on your own. 

Contact Ehrlich right away, and we’ll apply treatment to the basement to eliminate crickets and prevent them from coming back.

Learn more about the most common cricket species here:

The camel cricket is one type of cricket you may encounter. Camel crickets, also known as cave crickets, are usually located in a damp place.

House crickets are attracted to warmth, moisture, and food. You may find them in basements, kitchens, and laundry rooms.

Field crickets mostly live outside but sometimes come indoors when the weather gets cold. They are drawn to bright lights.

Mole crickets live underground and damage lawns by digging tunnels and feeding on plant roots.

Get rid of crickets with Ehrlich

The presence of crickets could damage the visitor experience at your home or the reputation of your business. Avoid a cricket infestation by contacting Ehrlich pest control to lend a hand with our cricket expertise. We can provide exterior applications to keep crickets out before they have a chance to get inside. 

When they have gained access, we will also provide a solution for the issue. Reach out to us at 800-837-5520 or contact us online to learn more about cricket control today.

FAQs

What will make crickets go away?

The only sure way to get rid of crickets is with professional pest control. DIY methods like removing food sources, reducing moisture, and sealing cracks may help but won’t fully eliminate an infestation. 

Crickets hide in hard-to-reach areas, making expert treatment necessary to remove them and prevent them from coming back.

 

Why am I getting crickets in my house?

Crickets enter homes searching for warmth, moisture, and food. They often come inside through cracks in doors, windows, and foundations. Basements, kitchens, and laundry rooms are common hiding spots. 

If your home provides shelter and easy access, crickets are more likely to infest your space.

What scent will keep crickets away?

No scent will make crickets go away completely — only professional exterminators can eliminate them. 

However, strong smells like peppermint, lemon, vinegar, cedar, and garlic may help repel crickets and prevent them from entering your home. While these scents may deter a few crickets, they won’t stop a full-blown infestation.

What can I spray to keep crickets away?

You can use insecticide sprays labeled for crickets around entry points, baseboards, and outdoor areas. Natural options like a vinegar-water solution or essential oil sprays may help as well. When using an insecticide, be sure to always follow the instructions on the label.

However, professional pest control treatments are the most effective way to eliminate crickets.

How to lure a cricket out of hiding?

Crickets are attracted to warmth and food. You can lure them out by placing a small dish of sugar or bread crumbs near where you hear chirping. A damp cloth on the floor may also attract them. Once out, you can capture and remove them or use pest control methods.

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