A Guide to Centipedes for Seattle Homeowners

DIY Earwig Treatment

Earwigs found indoors can be swept up and thrown away. While this resolves the immediate issue, it does not address hidden eggs and nymphs. Do-it-yourself insecticide treatments can be used both inside and out, but if not administered properly, they have the potential to drive earwigs into untreated areas in your home. The most effective and safe way to eliminate earwigs is to work with a pest control professional.

Earwig Prevention Tips

Earwigs are nuisance pests that can invade your home and yard. These preventative techniques may help avoid or reduce the presence of earwigs:

• Keep debris, piles of leaves, grass cuttings, compost, and other vegetation away from your house.
• Seal cracks that may provide entry points into your home.
• Replace white light bulbs with yellow ones that don’t attract insects.
• Address pooling water and moisture issues in and around your home.
• Install bird feeders to attract birds that feed on earwigs.
• Treat your home with insecticides designed to prevent or kill earwigs.

DIY Flea Treatment

Once you’ve spotted a flea, act quickly! The presence of a live flea means there are likely eggs and pupae nearby. Most do-it-yourself solutions target adult fleas but do not prevent those in earlier stages from developing. To minimize the spread of fleas, follow the preventative steps we’ve outlined. However, a flea problem can be difficult to control, so your best bet is to hire a professional exterminator.

Flea Prevention Tips

Fleas multiply quickly, so the best way to manage an infestation is to stop it before it happens. These guidelines can help keep your family, pets, and home free of fleas:

• Apply a monthly topical flea-repelling treatment to your pet, as prescribed by a veterinarian.
• Regularly vacuum your home, especially areas where fleas may be hiding.
• Wash pet bedding in hot water.
• Keep animals away from areas suspected or known to be flea-infested.
• Bathe pets as directed by your veterinarian.
• Treat your yard with insecticides designed to kill fleas. (Better yet, hire a pest control professional to do this for you!)

DIY Flea Treatment

Once you’ve spotted a flea, act quickly! The presence of a live flea means there are likely eggs and pupae nearby. Most do-it-yourself solutions target adult fleas but do not prevent those in earlier stages from developing. To minimize the spread of fleas, follow the preventative steps we’ve outlined. However, a flea problem can be difficult to control, so your best bet is to hire a professional exterminator.

Flea Prevention Tips

Fleas multiply quickly, so the best way to manage an infestation is to stop it before it happens. These guidelines can help keep your family, pets, and home free of fleas:

• Apply a monthly topical flea-repelling treatment to your pet, as prescribed by a veterinarian.
• Regularly vacuum your home, especially areas where fleas may be hiding.
• Wash pet bedding in hot water.
• Keep animals away from areas suspected or known to be flea-infested.
• Bathe pets as directed by your veterinarian.
• Treat your yard with insecticides designed to kill fleas. (Better yet, hire a pest control professional to do this for you!)

DIY Silverfish Treatments

Should you identify the presence of silverfish in your home, these do-it-yourself solutions may give you some relief:

• Trap silverfish using a glass jar. Place a starchy food like bread inside the jar to attract the silverfish. Wrap the outside of the jar with masking tape to give the pest traction to climb. Once inside, the silverfish cannot climb back out of the slick glass walls. This approach will remove silverfish, but not their eggs or those insects who don’t climb into the jar.
• Use purchased baits. Baits attract silverfish to a sticky surface which prevents them from moving. Like traps, baits do not treat the cause of a silverfish infestation.
• Apply diatomaceous earth. This desiccant removes moisture, ultimately drying up the silverfish. While not toxic, diatomaceous earth is a lung irritant and should be handled very carefully.
• Use chemical treatments. Powders and sprays containing boric acid, pyrethrins, or pyrethroids are effective at repelling silverfish. However, these compounds should not be used in areas where pets or children are likely to come into contact with them.

Often, destruction done by silverfish is attributed to moths or other insects, allowing the real culprit to continue to reproduce until discovered. A professional pest control service can discern the source of damage and treat appropriately and effectively.

How to Prevent Silverfish

Like most insects, silverfish seek out a comfortable environment with plentiful food sources. The following measures can help to decrease the likelihood of a silverfish infestation:

• Reduce the humidity in your home by repairing water leaks, ventilating moist areas, or using a dehumidifier.
• Clean, vacuum, and mop regularly to remove food scraps, mold, paper, and silverfish eggs. Don’t overlook the interiors of cabinets, baseboards, and areas behind the stove and refrigerator.
• Store food in air-tight containers.
• Avoid leaving out uneaten pet food.
• Fill cracks that could serve as potential entry points with caulk or sealant.
• Repair wallpaper that has pulled away from the wall. 
• Place important papers and photographs in sealed containers.
• Avoid creating stacks of newspapers or magazines.

DIY methods

Do-it-yourself spider treatments can be ineffective and potentially toxic to people and pets if not administered correctly. With so many varieties, it can be difficult to determine whether a spider is potentially harmful or helpful. The best way to prevent or address a spider infestation is to contact a pest control professional who can identify the type of spider and the most effective approach to treat them.

Spider prevention

Spiders are ubiquitous and hard to eliminate completely. However, preventative measures can be taken to minimize spiders in and around your home:

• Eliminate or reduce clutter.
• Exterminate insects that might attract spiders.
• Seal off possible points of entry.
• Turn off outdoor lights.
• Minimize outdoor debris and other potential hiding areas.
• Use natural spider-repellent oils like peppermint, citrus, eucalyptus, cinnamon, cloves, or tea-tree.
• Plant herbs — including basil, lemongrass, mint, rosemary, and lavender — that keep spiders away.

DIY Methods

Insecticide sprays designed for bees, wasps, and hornets can be effective when they make contact with the insect. However, they can also irritate a nest, causing it to become more active. Also, bees are important pollinators that help our crops grow, but they are on the decline worldwide. It is advisable not to kill the bees if possible. Because of the high degree of danger associated with stings, the best way to handle a bee, wasp, or hornet issue is to contact a licensed pest professional who can remove or relocate the nest.

Stinging Insect Prevention

Bees, wasps, and hornets can be good for the environment but, in large numbers, they may introduce risk to your family and property. The simple guidelines below can help you avoid a bee or wasp infestation or sting:

• Do not wear yellow or white outdoors as these colors attract insects.
• Ensure screens on windows are secure and tight.
• Inspect your property regularly for hives or nests.
• Do not engage with bees, wasps, or hornets.