Cricket sound is quite relaxing when heard outdoors, but if the noise is coming from inside the house, then we need to act. Crickets can be noisy, and some are harmless, while others can inflict extensive turf damage. They can be tricky to get rid of, but we’ll walk you through how to get rid of crickets the natural way.
Check out a few tips to help keep crickets out of your home.
Seal Entry Points: Examine your home for holes or cracks and use caulk to seal any you find. Check window, door, and vent screens for tears and repair or replace them. Make sure to check window and doorframes as well as the brick or siding of your home.
Reduce Moisture: Crickets love moisture so minimizing it will help to prevent crickets. Check the interior and exterior of your home for leaky pipes or faucets. Use a dehumidifier in areas where moisture builds, especially in basements.
Outdoor Maintenance: Mow your lawn regularly and keep the foliage trimmed. Don’t place woodpiles next to the sides of your home. Remove yard debris including leaf litter, weeds, and grass clippings.
Once you have identified the areas where the crickets are residing, you can place traditional sticky traps to catch them. Either make your own traps with butter paper and wax (which is sweet and will attract the crickets) or buy pre-made traps to catch them. Once you have enough crickets, throw them out and replace the trap to catch more.
Molasses
The most effective DIY method is done with molasses. Crickets are attracted to the sweet smell of molasses and will immediately come out to try to feast on it. To try this method, get a bowl that is shallow enough for the bugs to jump into. Make a solution of molasses and water and fill the bowl with a few inches of it. The bugs will jump into the bowl and get stuck. Empty the bowl often and replace it with a new solution to attract the remaining crickets until you are satisfied that they are gone.
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fancy-schmancy scientific name for a white powder that is created from the skeletons of algae. When insects come in contact with DE, they become dehydrated and eventually die. Found in home improvement or garden stores, DE is safe to use around people and pets and can be sprinkled indoors and outdoors in crevices where there’s a cricket problem.
Make sure to get food-grade DE, and only use the powder in dry places. If it gets wet, it won’t be effective.
