how to get rid of earwigs

Earwigs are mostly just annoying moisture-loving insects, and you can usually get rid of them with a mix of cleanup, traps, and (if needed) targeted insecticides.

Quick Scoop

• Reduce damp hiding spots (mulch, leaf piles, leaky areas) so your yard and home are less attractive.

• Use simple DIY traps (oily cup traps, rolled newspaper/cardboard) to catch and dispose of them regularly.

• Seal cracks and gaps around the house and keep the foundation area dry and clear.

• If the problem is heavy, use labeled insecticide baits or perimeter sprays carefully and follow all safety directions.

Know Your Enemy (Earwig Basics)

• Earwigs (often called pincher bugs) are small brown insects, usually 0.25–1 inch long, with characteristic rear pincers they use for defense and competing with other earwigs.

• They love dark, moist, undisturbed spots: under mulch and leaf piles, in wood stacks, bricks, and garden debris, and inside damp rooms like basements, bathrooms, and laundry areas.

• In gardens, they chew leaves and flowers, leaving ragged edges and small holes, along with tiny black droppings (unlike snails, which leave slime trails).

“They’re creepy, but not out to get you—earwigs are mostly moisture chasers and plant nibblers, not ear invaders.”

Step 1: Clean Up Moisture & Hiding Spots

This alone can dramatically cut earwig numbers.

• Fix moisture issues: Repair leaky hoses, faucets, and irrigation; improve drainage near the house; avoid overwatering beds and lawns.

• Tidy the yard:
  • Remove or relocate: thick leaf piles, grass clippings, heavy mulch layers, stacked lumber, bricks, and other damp clutter near the house.

* Clean gutters and downspouts so water doesn’t pool near the foundation.

• Thin and aerate: Rake, dethatch, and aerate lawn areas; trim low, dense vegetation around the foundation so sunlight and air can dry the soil.

Mini story:
Imagine your yard at night as a tiny earwig resort: damp mulch “hotel,” leaky hose “spa,” wood pile “condo.” Your job is to shut that resort down—dry it out, spread things out, and take away their favorite hideouts.

Step 2: Block Their Way Indoors

You want a dry, tight perimeter so earwigs have a harder time wandering into the house.

• Inspect the exterior at night with a flashlight, paying attention to: foundation edges, door thresholds, window frames, and utility penetrations.

• Seal openings:
  • Use caulk or sealant for cracks and gaps in siding, around doors and windows, and foundation openings.

* Repair torn window and door screens and replace worn weatherstripping.

• Indoor hotspots: Check basements, garages, bathrooms, and laundry rooms; reduce humidity with ventilation or dehumidifiers and keep clutter off the floor.

Example: If you regularly find earwigs in the bathroom, look for tiny gaps around plumbing and baseboards on the outside wall, then seal them and keep that area dry and uncluttered.

Step 3: Use Safe DIY Traps

Traps are great for ongoing control, especially in gardens and around patios.

1. Oil-and-Soy-Sauce Traps

• Mix vegetable or olive oil with a bit of soy sauce in a shallow container (earwigs are attracted to the scent, and oil drowns them).

• Sink the container into the soil so the rim is at or just above ground level near affected plants or walls.

• Check and empty daily, then refill as needed.

2. Rolled Newspaper or Cardboard Hiding Traps

• Roll up damp newspaper or corrugated cardboard, secure with a rubber band, and place it in beds or along walls in the evening.

• Earwigs crawl in overnight to shelter in the moist layers.

• In the morning, collect the rolls and dump them into a bucket of soapy water, or bag and discard them sealed.

3. Other Shelter Traps

• Short sections of garden hose, bamboo, or small pierced cardboard boxes baited with bran or oatmeal can serve as hiding traps you empty daily.

These traps are handy if you prefer to avoid chemical treatments and still want to visibly see your progress.

Step 4: Targeted Insecticides (If Needed)

If cleanup and traps aren’t enough, consider carefully using products labeled for earwigs.

Outdoor perimeter sprays

• Professional guides suggest using insecticides labeled for earwig control sprayed around the foundation: about 3 feet up exterior walls and 3 feet out onto adjacent soil or hardscape.

• Always follow the label instructions, wear appropriate protective gear, and keep kids and pets away until treated areas are dry.

Granular baits

• Weather-resistant insecticide baits based on boric acid or similar actives can be scattered as spot treatments near harborage sites and around structures.

• Apply at the labeled rate (often specified as pounds per 1,000 square feet) and keep them out of reach of children and pets.

Dusts for cracks and voids

• Insecticidal dusts can be applied in small amounts into deep cracks, wall voids, and other inaccessible crevices where earwigs hide.

• These are usually applied with a hand duster; again, follow label directions exactly.

If you’re unsure or uncomfortable using insecticides, a licensed pest professional can design a targeted treatment plan that combines chemical and non-chemical methods.

Step 5: Indoors – Quick Cleanup & Short-Term Fixes

Once you’ve cut down outdoor populations and sealed entry points, indoor earwigs usually fade out quickly.

• Vacuum and discard: Vacuum up visible earwigs and immediately empty or remove the vacuum bag outdoors.

• Reduce humidity: Improve airflow, use bathroom fans, and consider a dehumidifier in damp basements or laundry areas.

• Avoid heavy indoor spraying: Many experts recommend focusing on outdoor control, sealing, and sanitation instead of broadcasting insecticides inside living areas.

Gardener’s Angle: Protecting Plants

If you’re mainly worried about earwigs eating garden plants:

• Night checks: Go out after dark with a flashlight to see which plants are getting hit and confirm earwigs are the culprit.

• Traps around beds: Use oil traps and rolled paper traps at the base of affected plants.

• Barriers:
  • Some gardeners wrap trunks or stems with plastic and coat it in a ring of petroleum jelly to create a sticky barrier earwigs avoid climbing.

• Balance: Earwigs also eat some pest insects, so the goal is to bring them down to low levels, not necessarily wipe them out completely.

Different Angles: What People Recommend

Here’s a quick view of common approaches you’ll see in pest guides and forum threads:

[6][1] [6][1] [6][1] [7][8][3][6] [7][8][3][6] [8][3][6] [5][1] [5][1] [5][1] [5][1] [5][1] [5][1] [2] [2] [2]

Approach	What it involves	Pros	Cons
Moisture & clutter cleanup	Fix leaks, reduce mulch, remove debris, improve drainage.	Long-term solution, non-toxic, helps with many pests.	Results are gradual, requires ongoing effort.
DIY traps	Oil-and-soy-sauce cups, rolled newspaper/hose traps.	Cheap, low-risk, satisfying to “see” catches.	Works best with moderate infestations; needs regular checks.
Perimeter sprays	Spraying labeled insecticides around exterior foundation.	Fast knockdown, good for severe infestations.	Chemical exposure risk; must follow labels closely.
Granular baits	Scattering insecticidal bait in harborages and around structures.	Targeted, can last longer outdoors.	Still a pesticide, must be kept away from kids/pets.
Professional help	Hiring a pest control company for inspection and treatment.	Expert diagnosis, integrated strategy, less DIY risk.	More expensive than DIY options.

Simple 7-Day Action Plan

1. Day 1–2:
   • Clear debris and damp clutter near the house.
   • Fix obvious leaks and drainage problems.
2. Day 2–3:
   • Set multiple oil traps and rolled-paper traps around beds, patios, and foundation edges.

3. Day 3–4:
   • Seal cracks and gaps where you’ve seen earwigs, repair screens, and tidy indoor hotspots.

4. Day 4–7:
   • Check traps nightly, remove catches, and reset.
   • If numbers are still high, add a labeled outdoor perimeter treatment or bait, following directions exactly.

Stick with this for a couple of weeks and you’ll usually see earwigs go from “everywhere” to “occasional straggler.”

TL;DR

To get rid of earwigs, dry out their favorite hiding spots, block entry into your home, use simple DIY traps like oil cups and rolled newspaper, and only then consider carefully applied, labeled insecticides outdoors.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.