Q&A for How to Get Rid of Centipedes

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Can I smush the centipede with my shoe?

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Sure, but then you'll have to clean up the mush! If you need to get rid of a single centipede quickly and you don't want to deal with a mess, vacuum it up with a hose attachment instead.

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Question

How can I stop centipedes from entering my house?

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Spray a chemical insecticide that contains pyrethroids around baseboards, windows, crevices, doors, and the outdoor perimeter of your home. If you prefer a natural solution, sprinkle diatomaceous earth or boric acid across your home's entry points and around the exterior.

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Will Lysol spray kill them if you spray the baseboards or directly on them?

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A direct hit of Lysol might slow a centipede down and it could possibly even poison/kill it, but it's really not an effect control measure. If you have a large infestation, try using a synthetic insecticide that contain pyrethroids instead.

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I got a dehumidifier for my small apartment and it was blowing out hot air -- is that normal?

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Yes, it's normal! Warm or hot air coming from the dehumidifier is a normal part of the dehumidification process as long as the unit is drawing moisture from the air.

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Question

Would water and vinegar mixed at equal levels work as a centipede killing spray?

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Yes. Spray it several times. Just use pure vinegar, though, no need to be gentle!

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How can I get rid of centipedes in a sink?

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Assuming they're coming up through the drain, use a stopper. Otherwise, use a spray bottle with bleach and spray your sink before going to bed.

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Question

I killed a centipede and left the body there, and it was gone the next day. What happened?

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There's a good chance other pests consumed it. Since centipedes are hunters, their presence usually indicates other pests in the home. In this case, the hunter may have become the meal.

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Question

I have a basement apartment. Is it better to keep the windows open or closed if I seem to have centipedes?

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Close the windows as these can be access points. Also, in the summertime, air conditioning removes air moisture and, combined with cooler temperatures, will deter centipedes.

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How do I know if I have a centipede infestation?

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Simple, if you see a lot of them, then there's many more. Centipedes are attracted to spiders, crickets, and moisture.

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Question

How do I kill centipedes for good?

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Windex works as an instant killer. Anything with ammonia will kill them on sight.

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How do I get rid of centipedes in my bathroom?

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Keep the light on. They don't like light. It won't kill them, but you probably won't see them around.

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Question

Are four or five inch long centipedes poisonous?

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The desert centipede, which can grow up to four or five inches, are poisonous. Their venom may not be so harmful to humans, but their bites will likely hurt.

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Question

How do I treat a centipede bite?

Community Answer

Clean the bite with wound cleaner/antiseptic solution, apply antibiotic ointment and band-aid; apply heat to help with the pain and irritation. Take some Benadryl and Ibuprofen for pain and inflammation. Keep a close eye on bite due to high rate of infection. Bite can be extremely painful. If symptoms persist or increase such as lightheaded, nausea or vomiting, or a line develops from bite moving up extremity bitten, go to the doctor/ER.

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Question

I have found a centipede everyday in my house, it's usually when the lights are out. How do I stop this?

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Seal entryways to your home, like cracks or windows that don't quite close all the way. Eliminate standing water on your property and clean every crevice to eliminate food sources. If this doesn't work, contact a professional exterminator.

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Question

What are the symptoms from the venom of a centipede?

Community Answer

Severe pain, swelling and redness, headache, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, itching and burning sensations can all indicate exposure to centipede venom.

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Question

How do you kill a centipede instantly without touching it and how do you make sure it's dead?

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A shoe stomp or a light spray of insecticide should work.

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Question

How do I kill a centipede?

Community Answer

Hit the centipede with a hard object, like a shoe, or spray it with hairspray or fabric starch.

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Question

I have a dehumidifier, but it kept getting clogged. When I looked in the pipes, there were centipedes in it. How do I stop them from clogging the system?

Community Answer

Make sure that the outside of the dehumidifier is completely sealed. I had a similar issue when I left my coffeemaker open. Since they like moisture, they will enter if the opportunity is there.

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Question

Can centipedes climb a wooden bed?

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Yes, they can climb just about anything, including a bed, regardless of the bed's material.

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Question

I am very scared of these centipedes. Even thought they hardly enter my house. But when they do, I get so scared and I don't know what to do. Is there any way to permenantly eliminate them?

Community Answer

It is best to call pest control as they have the proper equipment to kill them. Just make sure you know where they enter from. It will help pest control.

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Question

Can kerosene kill centipedes?

Community Answer

Yes. Kerosene and bleach can work. In my experience, stomping on the carpet is not very effective. One actually reared up at me!

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Question

What is the easiest way to kill them?

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You can spray them with a mixture of peppermint oil and water. They won't die immediately, but they will start to die as they scurry away from you.

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Question

If centipedes prefer moist areas, why would a centipede go in my pillows?

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Sweat and water can easily get absorbed into a pillow, especially if you go to bed after showering.

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How do I get rid a centipede infestation?

Community Answer

You should call an exterminator.

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Question

How do centipedes get into my house? Do they bite?

Community Answer

Through pipes, cracks, and crevices. They are more afraid of you than you are of them and it is unlikely they will bite you unless you are holding one.

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Question

How do I get rid of centipedes and keep them away for good?

Community Answer

You can't get rid of them for good, but you can try to simply seal the home up. Centipedes are large, and they're probably getting in through a door bottom that has an opening/gap.

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Question

Will centipedes survive in cold weather?

Community Answer

No they won't. This is why during the winter, they try to get into your home for warmth.

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Question

Is a centipede bite fatal?

Community Answer

No, centipede venom is generally not fatal to humans, although a bite can be very painful.

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Question

I only keep finding them in my tub when I wake up in the morning, should I put cayenne pepper in the drain?

Community Answer

The better idea would probably be to leave the drain plug in overnight so they don't have a way into the tub.

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Question

If I find a baby centipede, does that mean there are more of them around?

Community Answer

Not necessarily. Occasionally, centipedes will abandon their young, especially if food supply is sparse. Female centipedes are most likely to move on.

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