How to Get Rid of Earwigs

How to Get Rid of Earwigs: Key Insights

• Moisture is the common thread: nearly every effective control method, indoors or in the garden, targets damp hiding spots rather than the insects themselves.
• Earwigs are not a home safety issue: they do not bite, sting, or damage a home's structure, so the goal is comfort, not urgent pest removal.
• Diatomaceous earth and boric acid work slower than sprays: expect several days before you notice a real drop in numbers.
• A rainy summer means more earwigs, not a worse infestation: population spikes after wet weather are normal and usually ease once things dry out.
• Natural repellents deter, they do not eliminate: scent-based methods keep earwigs out of specific areas but will not reduce an existing population on their own.

In this guide, you'll read about:

1. How to Get Rid of Earwigs: Overview
2. How to Get Rid of Earwigs in the House
3. How to Get Rid of Earwigs in the Garden
4. How to Exterminate Earwigs
5. How to Repel Earwigs Naturally
6. When to Call a Pest Control Pro
7. Find a Pest Control Pro on HomeStars
8. Frequently Asked Questions

How to Get Rid of Earwigs: Overview

The earwig you're most likely to see in a Canadian yard is the European earwig, a reddish-brown insect around 1.5 to 2 centimetres long with a pair of pincers at the tail end. They're most active at night and spend the day tucked into cool, damp spots: under mulch, inside cracks in siding, or beneath stones and garden debris.

If you can, work out whether you're dealing with a house problem, a garden problem, or both, since the fix looks a bit different in each case. Earwigs don't breed indoors, so an ongoing indoor problem almost always traces back to an outdoor population getting in through gaps or on items brought inside, like firewood or potted plants.

How to Get Rid of Earwigs in the House

Indoor earwigs are usually stragglers from an outdoor population, so removal is about closing entry points and removing what attracted them in the first place.

• Seal gaps: caulk cracks around the foundation, and check weatherstripping on doors and windows for tears or gaps.
• Fix leaks: repair dripping taps and check under sinks, since earwigs are drawn to damp spots indoors just as much as outside.
• Run a dehumidifier: basements and crawl spaces are common indoor hiding spots, and cutting the humidity makes them less appealing.
• Clear food sources: wipe up crumbs and spills, and store pantry items in sealed containers.
• Vacuum or sweep stragglers: a few earwigs wandering indoors don't need chemical treatment. Vacuum them up and check for the entry point they used.

If you're finding earwigs indoors repeatedly rather than the occasional one, the entry point is worth tracking down before you treat, since sealing it will do more than any spray.

How to Get Rid of Earwigs in the Garden

In the garden, earwigs mostly eat decaying plant material, but they'll also chew on seedlings, soft fruit, and tender leaves when numbers are high. Managing them outdoors means making the yard less hospitable and trapping the ones already there.

• Keep a dry perimeter: leave a strip of bare soil or use stone mulch instead of wood mulch within 15 to 30 centimetres of your foundation.
• Clear hiding spots: remove piles of leaves, boards, and garden debris where earwigs shelter during the day.
• Set simple traps: roll up a section of corrugated cardboard or a length of garden hose and leave it in the garden overnight, then shake the contents into soapy water each morning.
• Space out ground cover: dense plantings like ivy next to vegetable beds give earwigs cover right beside the plants they'll damage.
• Welcome natural predators: birds and toads both feed on earwigs, and a birdbath or shaded corner can encourage them to stick around.

Trapping works best as an ongoing routine rather than a one-time fix. Check traps every morning for a week or two to bring numbers down meaningfully.

How to Exterminate Earwigs

If prevention and trapping haven't done enough, these methods actively kill earwigs rather than just deterring them.

• Diatomaceous earth: a powder made from fossilized aquatic organisms that damages an earwig's exoskeleton on contact. Sprinkle a thin layer along foundations, under mulch, or wherever you've spotted activity. Use food-grade product and wear a mask when applying it, since the fine dust can irritate lungs.
• Boric acid: dust this along baseboards, dark corners, and other indoor hiding spots. It disrupts an earwig's digestive system over a few days. Keep it away from areas pets or kids can reach.
• Insecticidal sprays or granules: products formulated for crawling insects can create a barrier around a foundation or be applied directly to an active hiding spot. Always follow the label instructions on application rate and re-entry time.

None of these methods work instantly. Give diatomaceous earth or boric acid several days before judging results, and reapply after rain if you're using them outdoors.

How to Repel Earwigs Naturally

Repelling earwigs is a different goal from exterminating them: instead of killing the population, you're making certain areas or plants unappealing so they stay away. This works well as a preventive layer alongside the removal steps above.

• Essential oil sprays: mix a few drops of peppermint, eucalyptus, or citrus oil with water in a spray bottle and apply around doorways, windowsills, or directly on plants earwigs have been damaging. Reapply every few days, since the scent fades.
• Repellent plants: herbs like basil and mint, and flowers like marigold, are disliked by earwigs and can be planted along garden borders as a soft barrier.
• Vinegar solution: a mix of equal parts water and white vinegar on cotton balls placed near affected plants can help keep earwigs from approaching.

Repellents are best used on plants or entry points you want to protect specifically, not as a stand-in for reducing moisture and hiding spots across the whole property.

When to Call a Pest Control Pro

Most earwig problems respond to the steps above within a couple of weeks. It's worth bringing in a pro if you're seeing large numbers indoors despite sealing entry points, if garden damage is spreading across multiple beds, or if you'd rather skip the DIY process altogether. A pro can also identify entry points you may have missed and apply treatments not available over the counter.

Exterminator costs in Canada vary depending on the pest, the size of the property, and the treatment method, so it's worth getting a few quotes before committing to a service.

Find a Pest Control Pro on HomeStars

Trying to fully clear an earwig problem on your own can take weeks of trial and error with traps, powders, and sprays, especially if you're not sure where they're getting in. HomeStars makes it easy to skip the guesswork: post your project for free and describe what you're seeing, and pest control pros near you will respond with their assessment and a quote. From there, you can compare approaches and reviews from other homeowners before deciding who to hire.

Find pest control pros on HomeStars

If earwigs aren't the only pest you're dealing with, our guide on how to get rid of silverfish covers another common damp-loving household insect.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Get Rid of Earwigs

Do earwigs bite or sting people?

Earwigs can pinch with their forceps if handled roughly, but it rarely breaks the skin and isn't dangerous. The old story about them crawling into ears or burrowing into the brain is a myth with no basis in how the insect actually behaves.

Why do earwig numbers spike after it rains?

Earwigs need moisture to survive, so a stretch of wet weather creates ideal conditions for them to breed and forage. A visible increase in numbers after rain is a normal seasonal pattern rather than a sign that an infestation has gotten worse.

Can earwigs damage the structure of my home?

No. Earwigs don't chew through wood, wiring, or building materials the way some other pests do. Any damage they cause is limited to soft plant material in the garden, not the home itself.

Does seeing earwigs indoors mean there's a moisture problem elsewhere in the house?

Not always, but it's worth checking. Since earwigs are drawn to damp conditions, repeated indoor sightings, especially in a basement or crawl space, can be a useful early signal of a leak or ventilation issue you hadn't noticed yet. A HomeStars pro doing an inspection can flag this while treating the pest problem.

Are earwigs actually harmful to my garden, or mostly a nuisance?

It depends on the scale. In small numbers, earwigs are largely beneficial, since they feed on aphids and other soft-bodied pests. Large populations are the ones that start chewing seedlings, soft fruit, and flower petals, which is when garden control steps are worth prioritizing.

Will earwig control methods also help with other household pests?

Often, yes. Diatomaceous earth and boric acid aren't earwig-specific and will also affect other crawling insects like ants and silverfish that hide in similar spots. If you're dealing with more than one pest at once, a HomeStars pro can recommend a treatment plan that addresses several issues in one visit.