How to Get Rid of Earwigs in Your Home
Earwigs enter homes seeking moisture and cool shelter — they're not infesting your house, they're escaping heat and dry conditions outside. The fix is environmental, not chemical: reduce moisture around your foundation, seal entry points at ground level, and remove mulch, leaf litter, and debris within 12 inches of the house. Inside, dry out damp areas (basement dehumidifier, fix leaky pipes, ventilate bathrooms). Sticky traps near baseboards in damp rooms catch stragglers. For heavy seasonal invasions (dozens entering nightly), a perimeter insecticide treatment ($100–$200) creates a barrier that stops them at the foundation.
Cost Breakdown
| Service | Low | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional perimeter treatment | $100 | $200 | Exterior foundation barrier; lasts 60–90 days |
| Door sweep replacement | $8 | $20 | Per door; single most effective entry-point fix |
| Sticky traps (pack of 12) | $3 | $8 | For indoor monitoring and capture |
| Basement dehumidifier | $150 | $300 | One-time cost; reduces earwig survival indoors |
Why Earwigs Come Inside
Earwigs are outdoor insects that end up indoors by accident or environmental pressure. They need moisture to survive — their exoskeletons dry out quickly in low humidity. During hot, dry weather (or after heavy rain floods their outdoor hiding spots), they migrate toward foundations seeking cool, damp conditions. They enter through ground-level gaps: under doors, through cracks in the foundation, around dryer vents, and through weep holes in brick.
Key fact: earwigs don't breed indoors. There's no earwig "infestation" like you'd have with cockroaches or ants. Every earwig inside your house came from outside. This means the solution is keeping them out, not hunting them room by room.
Step 1: Reduce Moisture Around the Foundation
Earwigs aggregate in moist soil, mulch, and debris near your foundation — this is the staging area before they enter. Reducing moisture here reduces the population at your doorstep:
- Pull mulch back 6–12 inches from the foundation. Mulch holds moisture and provides ideal earwig habitat. Replace with gravel or leave bare soil next to the house.
- Remove leaf litter, ground cover plants, and debris from against the foundation. Ivy, pachysandra, and dense ground cover directly against the house create permanent earwig habitat.
- Fix drainage: Ensure downspouts discharge at least 4 feet from the foundation. Grade soil away from the house so water flows away, not toward, the foundation walls.
- Reduce irrigation near the foundation. Sprinkler heads that wet the house's perimeter nightly create earwig paradise. Redirect spray away from the foundation or water in the morning so soil dries by evening.
Step 2: Seal Entry Points
Earwigs enter at ground level. Focus sealing efforts on:
- Door sweeps: The gap under exterior doors — especially garage side doors and sliding glass doors — is the #1 earwig entry point. Install or replace door sweeps so there's no visible gap.
- Foundation cracks: Seal cracks with exterior caulk or hydraulic cement for larger gaps.
- Utility penetrations: Gaps around pipes, wires, and hose bibs where they pass through the foundation wall. Seal with expanding foam or caulk.
- Weep holes in brick: Don't seal these completely (they allow moisture to escape the wall cavity), but insert copper mesh or stainless steel wool to block insect entry while allowing drainage.
- Dryer vent and exhaust vent covers: Ensure the damper closes fully and there are no gaps around the vent housing.
Step 3: Dry Out Indoor Spaces
Earwigs that make it inside survive longest in damp areas: basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and under kitchen sinks.
- Run a dehumidifier in basements and crawl spaces — target humidity below 50%
- Fix leaky pipes and faucets promptly
- Use exhaust fans in bathrooms during and 20 minutes after showers
- Check under sinks for slow drips and condensation
Trapping and Immediate Control
For earwigs already inside:
- Sticky traps: Place along baseboards in damp rooms (bathroom, basement, kitchen). Inexpensive ($3–$5 for a pack) and effective at capturing wandering earwigs.
- DIY outdoor trap: Roll up sections of damp newspaper or stuff a short length of garden hose and leave it near the foundation in the evening. Earwigs shelter inside overnight. Dispose of the trap (and earwigs) in the morning. This reduces the outdoor population near your entry points.
- Vacuum: Vacuuming earwigs you find indoors is perfectly effective. They don't leave pheromone trails or attract more earwigs.
When to Call a Professional
Most earwig problems are manageable with moisture reduction and sealing. Consider professional treatment ($100–$200 for perimeter application) if:
- You're finding dozens of earwigs inside nightly despite sealing efforts
- The problem is seasonal and recurs every summer — an annual perimeter treatment in late spring prevents the migration
- You have a finished basement with persistent moisture that you can't fully control
Professional treatment involves applying a residual insecticide around the exterior foundation perimeter and at entry points. This barrier kills earwigs as they cross it, before they enter the house.
Related Questions
Do earwigs actually crawl into your ears?
No. This is an old myth with no scientific basis. Earwigs have no interest in human ears and are no more likely to crawl into an ear than any other small insect. They seek dark, moist crevices outdoors — under rocks, bark, and mulch. They're harmless to humans and don't bite, sting, or transmit diseases.
Are earwigs dangerous or destructive?
Earwigs don't damage homes structurally, don't contaminate food, and don't carry diseases. They can pinch with their rear pincers (cerci) if handled, but the pinch is weak and rarely breaks skin. Outdoors, they eat decaying plant matter and can damage seedlings and soft fruit in gardens. Indoors, they're simply a nuisance.
Why do I suddenly have earwigs in my house?
Sudden earwig appearances are almost always weather-driven. A stretch of hot, dry weather drives them toward your cool, moist foundation. Heavy rain can flood their outdoor harborage and push them inside. The "invasion" is temporary if you seal entry points — earwigs don't reproduce indoors and the wave subsides once outdoor conditions moderate.