How to Get Rid of Earwigs: 7 Practical Ways to Keep Them Out of Your Home

Earwigs, often called pincher bugs because of the forceps at the end of their abdomen, can look intimidating. Fortunately, they are mainly nuisance pests indoors rather than a threat to people. Outdoors, they can even be useful, feeding on decaying plant material and sometimes preying on pests such as aphids. Problems start when large numbers gather around your home or begin damaging tender plants.

If you want to get rid of earwigs, concentrate on the conditions that allow them to thrive: moisture, protected hiding places, and easy access to your house. University extension pest-management guidance recommends reducing damp areas and outdoor shelter, trapping earwigs where necessary, sealing entry points, and physically removing insects that wander indoors.

Why Are Earwigs Coming Into Your House?

Earwigs are primarily outdoor insects. They are active at night and spend daylight hours hidden in cool, dark, protected locations such as mulch, leaf litter, cracks, beneath flowerpots, and under boards or other debris.

They may enter buildings when outdoor conditions become unusually hot, cold, or dry. Homes surrounded by damp mulch, vegetation, irrigation, clogged gutters, or other sheltered areas can also provide plenty of places for earwigs to gather close to the foundation.

Moisture deserves particular attention. Earwigs favor damp environments, so routinely finding them in a basement, crawl space, laundry area, or near plumbing is a good reason to check for excess humidity or water problems. Their presence does not automatically prove that you have a leak or serious moisture defect, but correcting unnecessary dampness makes the environment less hospitable to them.

Do Earwigs Really Crawl Into People’s Ears?

No. The frightening story that earwigs deliberately crawl into people’s ears, burrow into the brain, or lay eggs there is an old superstition rather than normal earwig behavior.

Penn State Extension specifically notes that despite their name, earwigs do not crawl into the human ear. Their forceps are principally associated with defense and other normal insect behaviors, not attacking sleeping people.

Like many small insects, an earwig could conceivably end up somewhere unusual by accident, but there is no reason to treat these insects as creatures that seek out human ears.

Are Earwigs Dangerous to People or Pets?

Earwigs are not considered a significant health hazard in homes. Their rear forceps can look formidable, but earwigs are not venomous and do not have a stinger.

If handled or trapped against the skin, an earwig may use its forceps defensively. For most people, however, the much bigger issue is simply having unwanted insects crawling through the house.

The University of California’s Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program describes large indoor populations as annoying rather than a health hazard and recommends sweeping or vacuuming them instead of relying on indoor insecticides.

What Kind of Damage Can Earwigs Cause?

Earwigs are omnivores, so their role in the garden is complicated. They consume decaying organic material and can prey on insects such as aphids, but some species also feed on living plants.

When populations become large, earwigs may chew seedlings, flowers, leafy vegetables, herbs, soft fruit, and other tender growth. Damage often appears as irregular holes, shredded-looking foliage, or feeding marks on fruit.

Corn can also be affected. Earwigs may feed on corn silks, potentially interfering with pollination and resulting in poorly developed kernels when damage is significant.

Do not automatically blame every hole in a plant on earwigs. Slugs, snails, caterpillars, beetles, and other pests can leave similar damage. One practical way to confirm earwig activity is to inspect affected plants after dark with a flashlight, when the insects are actively feeding.

How Do You Know If You Have an Earwig Problem?

One earwig in a bathtub, basement, or entryway does not necessarily indicate an infestation. Individual insects frequently wander indoors and may not survive for long in a dry house.

A larger problem is more likely when you repeatedly find numerous earwigs, capture many of them in traps around the foundation, or see confirmed feeding damage on nearby plants.

Check areas that provide the dark, sheltered conditions earwigs prefer, including:

• beneath outdoor flowerpots and containers;
• under boards, stones, cardboard, and garden debris;
• inside thick mulch and dense groundcover;
• around damp foundation areas;
• near poorly draining irrigation zones;
• beneath leaves and other organic material;
• around door thresholds, vents, and foundation gaps.

Once you know where they are gathering, control becomes considerably easier.

7 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Earwigs

1. Reduce Excess Moisture

Moisture management is one of the most useful long-term measures for earwig control. Start outdoors, because that is where most earwig populations originate.

Check whether irrigation is leaving soil against the foundation constantly wet. Water plants deeply when appropriate rather than keeping the surface continuously damp, and repair irrigation leaks or drainage problems.

Clean gutters and make sure downspouts discharge water away from the building. In damp crawl spaces or basements, improving ventilation or using a dehumidifier may help where humidity is persistently high.

The goal is not to make your entire garden dry. It is to eliminate unnecessarily wet, sheltered zones where earwigs can spend the day immediately beside your home.

2. Vacuum or Sweep Up Earwigs Indoors

For earwigs that have already entered the house, physical removal is usually the simplest solution.

Vacuum insects from baseboards, corners, floors, window areas, and other accessible locations. A broom and dustpan work just as well for small numbers.

Dispose of captured insects promptly. There is generally little benefit to spraying indoor rooms simply because several earwigs have wandered inside. UC IPM notes that indoor insecticide treatments do little to prevent new earwigs from entering.

3. Trap Earwigs Overnight

Trapping is one of the best-supported nonchemical approaches for reducing outdoor earwig populations.

One simple option is rolled newspaper or corrugated cardboard. Place traps near affected plants or other hiding areas in the evening. Earwigs seeking shelter may crawl inside before daylight. In the morning, shake the insects into a container of soapy water and reset the traps.

You can also use a shallow, low-sided container with vegetable oil. University of Minnesota and UC IPM guidance describes oil traps, with fish oil or another odor-producing bait sometimes used to increase attraction.

For significant garden populations, trapping works better as a routine than as a one-night treatment. Check and empty traps regularly until captures fall substantially.

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4. Remove Their Outdoor Hiding Places

If earwigs are constantly appearing around your home, examine the landscape immediately surrounding the foundation.

Remove unnecessary piles of leaves, lumber, cardboard, weeds, and other debris. Avoid allowing dense groundcover to create a permanently cool, damp hiding zone directly against exterior walls.

Mulch is useful in gardens, so you do not necessarily need to eliminate it everywhere. However, very thick or persistently damp mulch can shelter earwigs. Thin excessive layers and consider maintaining a cleaner, drier strip immediately next to the foundation where recurring invasions occur.

Also inspect flowerpots, planters, stored garden materials, and other objects that sit undisturbed on damp ground. These often provide ideal daytime hiding places.

5. Use Diatomaceous Earth Carefully When Appropriate

Diatomaceous earth is one nonchemical product sometimes used as part of earwig management. Utah State University Extension includes diatomaceous earth among mineral options for European earwig control.

However, it should be treated as a pest-control product rather than an all-purpose powder to scatter throughout the house. Follow the label carefully and use only a product labeled for the location and purpose you intend.

Diatomaceous earth generally performs best when dry. Avoid creating airborne dust and take particular care to prevent inhalation or exposure to eyes. Keep products away from children and pets according to label directions.

It is best considered a supplementary measure. Moisture management, exclusion, sanitation, and trapping address the conditions that are allowing earwigs to become a problem in the first place.

6. Seal the Gaps Earwigs Use to Get Inside

Once outdoor conditions are under control, make it physically harder for wandering earwigs to enter.

Inspect the lower exterior of the building and pay particular attention to:

• gaps around doors;
• damaged door sweeps;
• window-frame cracks;
• utility and cable penetrations;
• vents;
• openings where siding meets the foundation;
• damaged screens and weather stripping.

Seal suitable cracks with the appropriate caulk or building material and replace damaged weather stripping or screens.

This approach works best when combined with outdoor habitat management. Sealing a door gap helps, but it will be less effective if hundreds of earwigs are still sheltering in damp debris immediately outside it.

7. Adjust Outdoor Lighting and Landscaping

Outdoor lighting can influence where insects gather. UC IPM recommends replacing white outdoor lights with yellow lighting where earwigs are being attracted near a building.

You can also position unnecessary lights farther from frequently opened doors and turn exterior lights off when they are not needed.

At ground level, create less favorable habitat beside the building by clearing accumulated leaves, improving drainage, and reducing dense vegetation touching the structure.

A clean, relatively dry perimeter is particularly useful because it tackles both shelter and moisture while making it easier to spot areas where insects are entering.

What About Neem Oil, Essential Oils, and Cinnamon?

Home pest-control advice often recommends cinnamon, peppermint, rosemary, neem, vinegar, and numerous other household mixtures for earwigs. Evidence for many of these remedies is much weaker than the evidence supporting habitat modification, exclusion, trapping, and physical removal.

Neem-derived insecticides containing azadirachtin are used for some pest-management purposes, and Utah State University lists azadirachtin among products that may be labeled for European earwig control. That does not mean homemade neem mixtures are automatically effective or appropriate for every plant or indoor application.

Cinnamon and essential-oil recipes are even less reliable as primary control methods. If you have a recurring earwig problem, you are more likely to get lasting results by eliminating damp hiding places and blocking entry than by repeatedly spraying scented mixtures.

Should You Use Insecticide for Earwigs?

Most household earwig problems can be handled without routine indoor spraying. Start with trapping, moisture reduction, outdoor cleanup, and exclusion.

If earwigs are causing unacceptable garden damage or overwhelming nonchemical controls, a pesticide labeled for earwigs and the intended treatment area may be an option. Product registrations and permitted uses vary by location and can change, especially when food crops are involved.

Always read and follow the current product label. Never assume that a pesticide labeled for ornamental plants can also be applied to vegetables, fruit, indoor surfaces, or other locations.

How to Keep Earwigs From Coming Back

Long-term prevention is largely about making the area around your house less attractive to earwigs.

• Keep gutters clear and downspouts functioning properly.
• Repair outdoor irrigation leaks.
• Avoid keeping mulch excessively wet against the foundation.
• Remove leaf piles, boards, weeds, and other unnecessary shelter.
• Use door sweeps and repair damaged screens.
• Seal accessible cracks around ground-level openings.
• Check damp flowerpots and outdoor containers regularly.
• Use traps when populations begin building instead of waiting for large numbers to enter the house.

These changes usually provide better long-term control than repeatedly killing individual earwigs after they get inside.

Frequently Asked Questions About Earwigs

What is the best homemade earwig trap?

A shallow container containing vegetable oil is a well-established earwig trap. Extension recommendations also describe adding fish oil or another strong-smelling oily bait. Rolled newspaper and corrugated cardboard are effective shelter traps as well. Place traps in problem areas during the evening and inspect them the following morning.

Will earwigs damage the structure of a house?

Earwigs are not structural pests like termites. They do not normally infest a building to consume structural wood. If they repeatedly appear in a damp part of the house, however, investigate the moisture conditions themselves because prolonged moisture can create unrelated building problems.

Do earwigs mean my house is dirty?

No. Earwigs can enter well-maintained homes, particularly when outdoor conditions drive them toward shelter. Landscape moisture, exterior hiding places, seasonal weather, and gaps around the building are generally more relevant than ordinary household cleanliness.

Does cinnamon get rid of earwigs?

Cinnamon is frequently promoted online as an earwig repellent, but it is not among the main control techniques recommended by major university integrated pest-management resources. Trapping, reducing moisture and shelter, sealing entry points, and vacuuming indoor insects provide a more evidence-based approach.

Why do I find earwigs in the bathroom or basement?

These areas can provide the cool, dark, humid conditions earwigs prefer. Check for unnecessary humidity, plumbing leaks, poor ventilation, or accessible exterior gaps. Finding an occasional insect does not necessarily mean there is an indoor breeding population.

Are earwigs good for the garden?

They can be. Earwigs consume decaying material and may prey on aphids and other small insects. They become pests when their feeding damages seedlings, vegetables, flowers, fruit, or other plants you are trying to protect. For that reason, integrated pest-management programs generally recommend controlling them only when their numbers or damage become unacceptable.

The Most Effective Earwig Control Starts Outside

You usually do not need an aggressive indoor treatment to get rid of earwigs. Remove the insects you find, then turn your attention outdoors. Reduce moisture, eliminate unnecessary hiding places, trap problem populations, seal openings, and keep the foundation area relatively clean and dry.

Earwigs are much less alarming once you understand their behavior. They are not interested in crawling into your ears, and a few outdoors can be beneficial. The goal is simply to keep their numbers manageable in the garden and prevent them from turning your home into their next hiding place.