How To Get Rid Of Centipedes

If someone wants to get rid of centipedes on their own, the best approach is to focus on eliminating what attracts them in the first place: moisture, food sources (other insects), and hiding spots. Centipedes don’t actually infest in large numbers like roaches or ants, but they show up where the environment is ideal for them. Here’s how to get rid of centipedes:

Reduce Moisture Indoors: Centipedes thrive in damp, humid areas such as basements, bathrooms, and crawl spaces. Run a dehumidifier, fix leaky pipes, improve ventilation, and seal foundation cracks where water might enter. Wipe down wet surfaces and avoid leaving standing water in sinks, tubs, or floor drains.
Eliminate Food Sources: Centipedes feed on other insects like spiders, silverfish, cockroaches, and ants. Reducing these pests automatically reduces centipede activity. Clean up crumbs, store food in sealed containers, and take out the trash regularly. Vacuum often to remove insects and their eggs.
Remove Hiding Places: Centipedes hide in clutter, boxes, clothing piles, and leaf debris near the foundation. Inside, declutter storage areas, especially basements and closets. Outside, clear away leaves, mulch, and woodpiles near the foundation to make the perimeter less attractive.
Seal Entry Points: Close off gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and utility lines. Replace worn weather stripping and door sweeps. Caulk foundation cracks where centipedes may slip inside.
Direct Removal & Trapping: You can catch and remove centipedes with a vacuum (dispose of the bag or contents immediately). Sticky traps placed in corners, behind furniture, or near baseboards can capture wandering centipedes.
Targeted Use of DIY Sprays or Dusts: Insecticidal sprays or diatomaceous earth can be applied lightly around baseboards, cracks, and damp areas where centipedes travel. Always follow label instructions for safety.
Outdoor Perimeter Treatment (Optional): Applying an over-the-counter residual insecticide barrier around the exterior foundation can help keep centipedes from coming inside.

The key to long-term success is reducing the moisture and insect prey that attract them. If you just kill the centipedes you see without fixing the conditions, new ones will keep moving in.

The Best Way To Get Rid Of Centipedes

Our exterminators are the best way to get rid of a centipede infestation because we go far beyond simply killing the few centipedes you see. Our professional pest control services target the underlying conditions that allow centipedes to thrive and ensures the problem is solved at its source. Here's how:

Accurate Identification and Inspection: Our exterminators don’t just confirm centipedes are present—we identify why they are there. Since centipedes are predators, their presence usually means there are other insect populations hiding in your home. Our professionals trace centipede activity back to the root cause, such as moisture issues, cracks in the foundation, or underlying infestations of ants, roaches, or spiders.
Targeted Treatment Strategies: Store-bought sprays or traps only offer temporary relief. Our exterminators use professional-grade products that are stronger, longer-lasting, and precisely applied in areas where centipedes hide and breed. We may also use insect growth regulators (IGRs) and dust treatments in wall voids or crawl spaces—places most homeowners can’t safely or effectively treat.
Comprehensive Pest Elimination: Centipedes feed on other insects. If those insects remain in your home, new centipedes will keep coming. Our exterminators take an integrated approach: we eliminate not only centipedes but also the pests that attract them, providing lasting results.
Moisture and Habitat Control: Our professionals don’t just spray and leave; we help address the conditions centipedes thrive in. This may include identifying drainage issues, sealing entry points, recommending dehumidifiers, and reducing outdoor harborage areas such as mulch, woodpiles, and leaf litter.
Safety and Precision: DIY insecticides can be misused, leading to health risks for pets, children, and adults. Our exterminators are trained in safe, targeted applications that minimize exposure while maximizing effectiveness.
Long-Term Prevention: We provide ongoing maintenance plans. This means regular inspections and preventative treatments that stop centipedes—and the insects they prey on—from returning.
Peace of Mind: Instead of constantly worrying about when and where you’ll see another centipede, our professional pest control gives you confidence that the infestation is handled and your home is protected.

Our exterminators are the best solution because we don’t just kill centipedes—we eliminate the hidden insect populations, moisture issues, and entry points that make your home attractive to them.