How to Get Rid of Crickets in the House Without Harsh Chemicals

Crickets often find their way indoors by squeezing through small openings, especially in cluttered areas like garages, attics, and basements. Once inside, you will likely spot them near heat sources, behind appliances, or tucked into dark, warm, and humid spaces such as laundry rooms and bathrooms. No matter the time of year, crickets can make their way inside—whether to escape heavy rain or to seek out warmth and food.

While it's best to avoid harsh chemicals for pest removal, these insects don't belong in your home. We spoke with pest control experts to find safe, effective ways to get rid of crickets indoors and prevent them from coming back. Ahead, they share practical methods you can try at home.

Use a Simple Soap-and-Water Solution

Entomologist and pest expert Isaac Rockwell recommends starting with a simple, chemical-free method: Fill a shallow dish with soapy water, place it near areas where crickets tend to hide, and leave it out overnight. Crickets are naturally drawn to moisture, especially in dark, humid spaces. But the dish soap breaks the water's surface tension, making it difficult for them to escape once they go in, and they will eventually drown, he says. This approach offers an effective way to reduce their presence without needing to catch them or act on the spot.

Vacuum and Release Crickets Safely

Another common method for dealing with indoor pests that doesn't harm them is to vacuum and release them. If you spot a cricket, simply vacuum it up, then empty the vacuum bag or canister outside to release it back into its natural habitat and prevent it from escaping indoors, suggest Rockwell and Jim McHale, president of JP McHale Pest Management. Using a vacuum with a hose attachment can make it easier to reach corners and tight spaces where crickets tend to hide. However, this approach can be tricky, as it relies on catching the cricket in the moment.

Apply Essential Oils at Entry Points

Essential oils such as lavender, citrus, peppermint, and eucalyptus irritate crickets' sensory organs, McHale says. Apply these oils with a spray bottle near potential entry points to help keep crickets out of your home. Target areas like door frames, windowsills, baseboards, and cracks or gaps where crickets can easily get inside.

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Prevent Crickets From Returning Indoors

Crickets often enter the home through small cracks and crevices, so prevention starts with sealing those entry points. Repair damaged window screens, and install door sweeps on exterior doors to help keep them out, Rockwell says.

You can also make your home less inviting by adjusting your outdoor environment. "Minimize outdoor lighting that attracts crickets, or switch to yellow 'bug lights' that are less appealing to insects," he adds. Keeping grass trimmed, removing tall weeds, and maintaining a vegetation-free border—such as gravel—around your home's foundation can also help. Woodpiles, dense ground cover, and compost bins tend to attract crickets, so it's best to keep them at a distance.

Finally, reduce moisture in basements and crawl spaces with dehumidifiers or improved ventilation, as crickets are naturally drawn to damp environments, according to Rockwell and McHale.

Know When to Call a Professional

If DIY methods haven't worked and crickets keep reappearing, it may be time to call a professional. While at-home solutions can be effective for mild infestations, persistent activity often signals a larger issue. A pest control professional can identify the source of the infestation and use targeted treatments to manage it more effectively, Rockwell says.