Kill House Centipedes

February 4th, 2009 Posted in Centipedes & Millipedes




“Oh my goodness what was that?! I swear it had about a billion legs and antennas, and it was moving about a thousand miles an hour. It sort of looked like a big spider but it was too long; it kind of looked like a worm but it had legs. Where did it go? How do I find it? What was that?”


Well I can tell you what it was. It was a centipede. They seem like scary creatures from a movie but they aren’t that bad. They may look a little frightening but they can do you and your home a world of good if you let them. I myself have had a few encounters with centipedes so I can tell you first hand about them and what you need to do.

I’m going to inform you all about these startling, but helpful creatures and methods for keeping them out of your home.


Identification

Let’s start with identifying them properly. House centipedes tend to be 25-50mm in length. They have very delicate legs and rigid, yellowish-gray bodies. They are unlike millipedes in that millipedes have a two pairs of legs on each body segment while centipedes only have one.

Amazingly enough they have a lifespan of about six years. Maybe that doesn’t seem long to you, but an insect living six years seems like forever to me. Ants only live for 45-60 days to put it into perspective. Centipedes move about 16 inches per second (pretty fast for an insect, right?).


Now for the facts you’ve been waiting on.

You may not want to hear this but centipedes do bite. They have poison claws located under their head. These claws have evolved from walking legs, like their many others, over the past thousand years. They are able to bite with these claws and inject venom. They tend to use their claws to poison and kill their prey but they are able to bite humans also.

Don’t worry! Centipedes very rarely bite people and when they do their bite does not tend to be deep enough or inject enough venom to harm anyone. If you do happen to be bit by a centipede and have a reaction to it, stay calm. You may experience very slight swelling or itching. If your symptoms seem more severe or concern you in anyway seek professional medical advice and assistance.





How to Get Rid of House Centipedes

This is what I love about centipedes: they are helpful, not harmful insects. Centipedes are insectivores, meaning they only eat other bugs. They prey on termites, cockroaches, ants, bedbugs, spiders, and other household arthropods. So in reality they are killing the more harmful bugs that could be in your home.

Seeing a few centipedes in your home every so often is nothing to worry about and most likely doesn’t mean that you have a large infestation. If you see a large number of centipedes in your home, you may not want to worry about killing the centipede but rather about why they are there. If you have a lot of centipedes they are probably there because they are feasting on a large number of other insects.


A large number of centipedes means there are probably large numbers of other more harmful or detrimental bugs that are in your home. If you handle the other bug problem, the centipedes should go away.

Also, centipedes like damp places, so you can more easily find them in basements, garages, and bathrooms than anywhere else. You can try to remove some of the moisture in these rooms with a dehumidifier.

Finally, centipedes are able to enter your home through very tiny cracks so it would beneficial to seal up any in your walls, foundation of the house, and windows.


Kill House Centipedes

If removing other bugs from your home does not solve your centipede problem, you do have other options. You can do small things like laying down sticky traps. It would be very useful to put these in the corners or your room and along the walls.

Pesticides are always an option. You must be careful when using pesticides around people and animals, though. Organic pesticides like EcoSMART are your safest option, because they are non-toxic and safe to use everywhere in your home. Try EcoSMART natural pesticide to get rid of centipedes!

If your problem is too severe for you to handle on your own you should contact a professional exterminator for consultation and assistance.

Good luck with the centipedes!


Ashley Hill

  1. 102 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!

  2. By Joanne on Jun 10, 2009

    I live on Maui and we have centipedes. I was bit while watering my yard and it was very painful. I am interested in your product. Where can I buy this Ecosmart?

  3. By corey on Jun 11, 2009

    I hope you’re feeling better! You can purchase them online at http://www.ecosmart.com.

  4. By shantel on Jun 20, 2009

    i live in nassau,bahamas and where i live there are a lot of small, big,large and giant size centipede.

  5. By Melanie on Jun 29, 2009

    I’d never seen a centipede until I moved to my new home. I cringe at the thought of them! I know that they were created by God for a reason but I absolutely despise them! I want them to go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. By Bobbie Reynolds on Jun 30, 2009

    I have killed 3 house centipedes in my house. My grandchildren are scared to death to come in my house, I hope you can help me out with this problem.
    June 30, 2009
    Bobbie

  7. By Christina on Jul 1, 2009

    i freakin hate this little bugs! they are disgusting and SO scary looking. they make me scream but they are way too fast to catch. i heard boric acid works to kill them, but i also read that it is not effective because the bugs will not eat anything sprayed with it. it is however pet-friendly.

  8. By C. Allen Johnson on Jul 10, 2009

    I reside in The Bahamas, the Jewel of The Caribbean (technically we are not in the Caribbean or Caribbean Sea), an archipelago nation consisting of 700 (30+ inhabited) where preserving our environment is paramount to our future. I am always interested in biodegradable and sustainable methods of common and not so common practices to preserve our environment, reduce manufactured product/chemical impact that could affect our way of life. I am therefore interested in additional information on your products and its use in our conditions and know effectiveness on insects in the Caribbean.

  9. By Jamie on Jul 11, 2009

    We just moved to a new residence. We’re noticing centipedes and want to get rid of them. Ants is a problem to. We have a 16 month old daughter and I don’t want these invading my house. I was doing research and trying to find info on how to rid them. I came across this site. I’m very interested and I would love to be a tester.

  10. By Signe on Jul 12, 2009

    Me and my husband just moved into a loft. We see a centipede about once a week. They creep me out. I’m too scared to even get close enough to kill them! It’d be nice to get rid of them.

  11. By Audrey on Jul 13, 2009

    I was just startled by a centipede!! I tried to catch it but he was so darn fast!! I need to order this product…there is no way I can live with these creatures in my home even if they do take care of other bugs!!

  12. By Heidi Gates on Jul 13, 2009

    interesting

  13. By Heidi on Jul 13, 2009

    unfortunately.. i have moved into this apartment building… i was seeoing spiders and small beetles. then i was seeing these ugly HUGE house centipedes… but now i am seeing baby ones…i am more afraid of the lil ones than the big ones. i want them ere to kill spiders because i am afraid of them but i am now afraid of the centipedes!!

  14. By Susan West on Jul 15, 2009

    They are so scary looking and I cannot help still being kind of scaried of them but I was happy to hear that they are helpful in their own way!

  15. By mandy b on Jul 15, 2009

    i used ecosmart yesterday to kill an earwig and it worked! whoo!

  16. By Sankar Balu on Jul 15, 2009

    These are very scary,they crawl very fast. We’ve it in our appt Durham Woods, Edison, NJ. They come every month and come in a big way. We need to tell the appt people but they rarely inform the pest control to come and spray something. millepeads are also there in our apt. I would like to test this eco smart as it seems tobe safe for children. not sure.

  17. By Jewell on Jul 15, 2009

    Please tell me where I can purchase your product. It was until my basement flooded that I start seeing this creepy things.

  18. By Erin on Jul 21, 2009

    We have house centipedes and they mainly stayed down in the basement, which was fine for awhile since we did know they were useful for catching other bugs (particularly spiders). However, recently we have been finding more and more of them upstairs. It is very disconcerting to see a two inch house centipede walking across the ceiling or along the walls whilst tucking children into bed. I would like for my husband to spray (although I haven’t even heard of any poisons save one that actually work on house centipedes) but he doesn’t want residual poisons sinking into the carpet fibers and remaining there for years to come. I would be very interested in testing a safe product that actually worked on getting rid of the centipedes. We will also try to determine where their food source is coming from (other bugs) to take care of that problem as well.

  19. By samantha on Jul 22, 2009

    i was just frightened by a HUGE centipede it grossed me out and i completely lost my appetite i kept hitting it with a shoe and it would not die so i finally hurried and picked it up and put it outside . i really dont want to get bit by one of those disgusting things so i think im going to get some ecosmart and alot of other bug killing stuff. thanks.

  20. By AJ Jones on Jul 29, 2009

    I have just recently found out what these nasty creatures are. They have been dwelling in my house ever since I moved in.. House centipedes. I kill on average maybe 3 a day, in the basement, upstairs, these things seem to be everywhere. I also found out they kill other more harmful antropods and insects but I cant stand any bugs to be honest. PLEASE HELP! I WOULD LOVE TO BE A TESTER!

  21. By s karim on Aug 1, 2009

    I’m very weak when it comes to insects. Recently, we moved in to a new place and the one insect I fear the most has started to appear…the house centipede! The ones I spotted previously were smaller, and therefore ones I could handle seeing [ a little better than before]. Tonite however, I saw the largest one ever… And what scares me most is that if it is here, that means there’s a reason….apparently we’ve got the bugs around to feed it. I’m ready to do whatever, but I’ve got two cats, and my fiance [and I] are very worried about using chemicals that arent safe for them [or kids, which we are working to add to the family]. I need to try safe products to conquer the centipedes, but all the same, something that would conquer the source of their presence [the other bugs: spiders (little ones or daddy long legs, nothing major thank goodness], silverfish, ants, etc.] Please advise…

  22. By LH on Aug 3, 2009

    I’ve been seeing these centipedes about once a week for the past couple of months… I live in an old building which has lots of cracks in the walls for them to hide in, and they usually come out at night. I used to be scared of spiders, but after dealing with these things, spiders look cute by comparison! I’ve been killing the centipedes with Hot Shot spider killer, but you have to spray them a LONG time before they die (which means they often escape), and I hate using it because the spray itself makes me sick for hours afterward. I’d like to be an Ecosmart tester!

  23. By Stefanie Schmidt on Aug 4, 2009

    I hate killing insects in my home and polluting the planet, so I would love to try your products and make my home bug free.

  24. By Al F on Aug 8, 2009

    There is a serious problem here in our house. I’ve called two exterimantors and they have not been able to get rid of these disgusting things. I’m so terrified of these bugs I run out of the house screaming… I’ve been sleeping upstairs on the couch for the last three weeks hoping to avoid them.
    I’m almost ready to move… thats how bad this is.

  25. By P Mays on Aug 15, 2009

    I can’t stand these little creatures. I realize their not that harmful as others but I just cringe at the sight of them. I’ve tried extermination but their spray just works temporarily. I need to try something new. I’m willing to try this.

  26. By Jon L on Aug 19, 2009

    We have kids and a pet rabbit and I was concerned about home insects, but really hate using toxic insecticides in the house. The summer has been hot and humid and there are a number of insects that we have to deal with. I’m hopeful that the products will work and am interested in the science behind them and the university studies testing the products.

  27. By Rudy on Aug 26, 2009

    These things drive me nuts. I kill a house centipede every other day, and my wife has just had. I need to find something to stop this. The problem is I have 2 small kids and don’t want to harm them with bug sprays, and bombing the house I can’t see doing that. I need something.

  28. By Marsha on Aug 26, 2009

    This past month I have killed 3 centipedes in my house and found one already dead on my kitchen floor. I have two cats and I am very concerned that the quick little thousand leggers will bite them! One of my cats was playing with something on the floor in my house right in front of the garage door and I moved him just to see an ugly litle centipede that he was batting around! I just found one in my garage that was WAY quick and I couldn’t get to him before he crawled his way under some boxes. I’m not sure why they are in my house except for spiders of which I had been having before the centipedes. I do not have any damp places that I know of. How can I get rid of these pesty things? I hate bugs and now I feel itchy all over! I would love to be a tester and try to get rid of any type of bug that enters my house.

  29. By Abbey on Aug 29, 2009

    I LIVE IN AN OLD APARTMENT 4 FAMILY BUILDING. THE WINDOW’S IN THIS PLACE ARE SO OLD, THEY WERE INSTALLED IN THE 1950′S. I AM LIVING ON MY OWN NOW, LIVING WITH MY FATHER FOR 24 YEARS I TO BE HONEST I THINK I MAY HAVE SEEN 2 CENTIPEDE’S AT MY DADS THE ENTIRE 24 YEARS. THIS APARTMENT, I’VE SEEN 3 IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. ONE OF WHICH ESCAPED TONIGHT AND IS RUNNING AROUND FREELY IN MY BEDROOM..AND NOW I AM WIDE AWAKE ON MY COUCH IN THE MIDDLE OF NIGHT NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP WTIH THE THOUGHT OF THIS CENTIPEDE ATTACKING ME IN MY SLEEP :) I WOULD LOVE TO TEST THIS PRODUCT. I HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD BEAGLE, IN WHICH I WOULD ONLY LIKE TO USE SAFE PRODUCTS AROUND.

  30. By Mari Willis on Aug 29, 2009

    We’ve just started seeing centipedes in the past few weeks. I understand that they feed on spiders in the basement, but I’d really rather not have them around. We’d be happy to try this product…hopefully it will solve our problem.

  31. By Autumn on Sep 1, 2009

    I cannot express how much i HATE house centipedes. I thought that they were silverfish, but they had way too many legs. I just drowned one in raid…which I know is not a pet-friendly product…but it works. I have two cats and desperately need something that is as or more effective than Raid, but is safe for my cats (and safe for the environment would be an added benefit). The fact that these creatures are super quick requires something that will kill them virtually instantaneously. I am hoping to be able to test this out and pray that it works better than Raid. I have a huge fear of spiders, and these creatures freak me out more than spiders. I just killed a huge one a few moments ago and I can’t fall asleep b/c I can still visualize the plump, multi-legged, furry-looking creature. YUCK!!! For some reason these suckers love my bedroom. I seldom see them in the rest of the house.

    I am also wondering if this product will work to prevent their appearance…as I am able to pre-treat my room with Raid to keep them from coming back for a while. I hope this product is the same power.

  32. By Trista W on Sep 1, 2009

    I just recently moved into my apt with my bf, and the building is over a 100 years old!! The first night we moved in there was a centipede attempting to crawl onto my bed!! And since then we’ve had to deal with them daily! I’ve discovered two ways they get into my apt, which I’ve blockaded now but they still find their way in. I feel like I’m going insane having to worry about where these creatures are lurking around. I would really like to test this product out.Or where i can buy it.

  33. By Lila G. on Sep 1, 2009

    I have house centipedes and also have 2 cats, so I am worried about the kind of bug spray I use. I can’t figure out where they are coming in, but under our small complex is a damp cellar crawl space, so I am sure they come from down there. I have found most of them in my room and the bathroom which is next to my room. They terrify and repulse me and I need to get rid of them before I go insane, I am horrified of the thought of one of them on my bed or falling of the ceiling onto my head. I would love to test this product, I will try anything that will get rid of these creatures and is safe for pets.

  34. By Tashara on Sep 16, 2009

    I have 2 small children and we live in an old 2 flat. We have had centipede issues from the entire 6 months we have lived here. We had a professional come and spray which worked for about a month. THey never went away, I just stopped seeing them everyday. But now they are coming back. I am tired of waiting for the landlord to do something about it. So, I would love to be an EcoSmart tester. I hate these bugs. I can’t even relax in my own home and when I see one and have to kill it, it takes me days to get over it. I hate them.

  35. By Don Hill on Sep 17, 2009

    We just moved to New Mexico. We have had the ugliest sand spiders, huge beetles and now we have centipedes bigger than I have ever seen. I can’t find how they get in unless they are coming in through the drains. Nothing seems to prevent centipedes. We have two small dogs and can’t use anything that could hurt them. My wife can’t sleep worrying they will get in bed. I hope this product will work?

  36. By Michelle on Sep 23, 2009

    I just moved into a new place and have been having a problem with periodic centipedes. Now, these guys can live for 6-8 years, so when I spotted them and checked out their life span, I knew they had been around awhile. I had found a few bigger ones, and now that it is the end of their breeding season (you betcha…) I have found baby ones. Given they only come around when it rains, it is still not fun to wake up with one in your bedroom, especially when they bite…. I can’t sleep knowing that there is a bug which may be out for me in my room. I am an Environmental Science major, and using products which aren’t harmful to myself or the environment is very important to me, as is getting rid of the centipedes looking to get out of the rain. Thanks!

  37. By Claudia on Sep 23, 2009

    I moved into my new “palace” in June since then I have killed 20 household centipedes. I have a dehumidifier running 24/7! Feels like I’m on mission to conquer my own living space! I am constantly on the hunt! The first thing I do when I enter in the evening is do a scan for these creepy crawlers!
    I am hoping for the minnesota cold to help.
    PLEASE help me… I do have a 10 year old pug that needs to remain healthy:) I will test anything!

  38. By Matthews on Sep 28, 2009

    I’m 52 years old and I can’t stand insects. I heard they come through the drains. I don’t know, but I don’t think so. I hate them and want them gone. Period.

  39. By kate on Sep 29, 2009

    we just moved into a new OLD building. We have seen about TEN in two months. Usually VERY large ones crawling up my daughter’s bedroom wall. Our first experience killing once was HORRIBLE and lasted about twenty minutes. My daughter and I scan the rooms/walls when entering a room, it has made for some sleepless nights. We had an exterminator spray, and that lasted about a week, then they came back. I think with the number of sightings we’ve had our problem must be larger than I will like to think about. We also have two cats. I am so excited to try a earth-friendly product, ASAP!

  40. By S. Ricci on Sep 29, 2009

    I have been battling these nasty and repulsive bugs for years. At my last place they would gather on the ceiling at nite and walk around many times falling in the bed on me. you can’t get much sleep with the lites on all nite making sure they don’t come your way. If you manage to catch one of the floor, they are so nasty their legs fall off still quivering…yuk.

    Now I am in a converted barn and they are back in the bedroom again of course. Watching TV at nite I always spot one running 100 miles an hour from one side of the room to the other. I spray the area where I see them go with a noxious, smelly, and staining ant and roach killer but they must not be affected because I do not see them dead.

    Please send me the EcoSMART product to test as soon as possible before I go out of my mind and if it is as good as you say, I promise this will definately be on my must buy list and I will let every know about it.

    Even though I am a country nature girl, centipedes are the most repulsive creatures that I come across, bar none (except earwigs maybe…) HELP, I NEED A SOLUTION!

  41. By S. Ricci on Sep 29, 2009

    revision/addition to post……….

    HELP, I NEED A SOLUTION! A solution that is:

    ● Non-toxic + safe to use around the home
    ● Safe for the environment, Organic
    ● Safe to use around children
    ● Fast-acting
    ● Easy to use
    ● Effective for other types of pests
    ● Non-staining if possible
    ● Safe for the environment
    ● Part of a system of organic products that can be used for different application/situations

    This is a major problem in my home, we see several each day around the house and not all can be “handled”. It is important to get rid of these in a safe, non-toxic manner because of children in the house.

    I would love to be a product tester and provide feedback and information to EcoSMART on how this solution works for us.

  42. By heather on Oct 1, 2009

    i have house centipedes…gross.. i live on a crawl space and part slab. i have thought about bug bombing the crawl space but i dont even know if this will help. i had one last night in the nursery- sprayed bleach on it and it just ran.. please help. i would love to be a tester !!

  43. By christin on Oct 5, 2009

    I just moved into a ground floor/basement apartment. In a week I’ve killed about 20 centipedes. I don’t sleep, I don’t eat..i don’t know what to do. I’ve tried bug sprays and boric acid, but the fumes are really getting to me, and I have a cat that I need to be mindful of. I am willing to try anything, particularly if it is safe for me, and my cat, and the envoirnment.

  44. By Claire on Oct 7, 2009

    My family and I moved into our home about four years ago. The house was abandoned for several years before we arrived. In that time, many critters found this house to be a perfect place to live, including house centipedes. I kill them all the time. They are way too disgusting to be housemates! I would love to be an EcoSMART tester!

  45. By Falencia on Oct 9, 2009

    This was very helpful information for me because i was freaking out and this information was bitter sweet because I know they are there killing other anthropods but now I know they have venomous fangs and I did not know that until now. But thank you all information is helpful

  46. By Brittany on Oct 9, 2009

    We moved into an older home back in January. The den outside of my bedroom has a sliding glass door, and under that door is a hole that allows creatures to enter the home. The centipedes go directly into my bedroom. In the spring I had one to two each week. Now it is about once a month. They tend to only come out at night, most often at about 1:30 AM when I am just about ready to go to sleep. I’ll see one slithering down my door frame out of the corner of my eye. MY bed is in the floor, so I have to get up and turn the light on. When I turn the llight on, the centipedes run faster, and hide behind something or acutally crawl under my bed! My bed is on the floor, like I said, so I end up staying up for hours watching the floor and walls. I don’t always catch them. So I stay a awke until four or five in the morning. This centipede infestation in my bedroom has me losing sleep and terrified. One time I opened my closet and one slithered out of my sweater. I’d gladly test this product!

  47. By Tania on Oct 11, 2009

    I just killed another one of these 5 minutes ago… I can’t stand them and now their home invasion has now turned embarrassing.
    One came out last week a friend was visiting from the UK. So while searching the internet for a solution, I came across this..
    Please sign me up.

  48. By Cassie A on Oct 12, 2009

    My husband just got deployed so i moved in with his parents while he is over sea’s, and i keep seeing these nasty bugs!!! so i looked it up and found out its a Centipede. and that they can bite, i am now 9 months pregnant and about to have my daughter and dont want them to be around her, i always see them over her crib and it freaks me out, i try to kill them but they are so fast!!! so i would love to try this eco smart!!!

  49. By Cecilia M on Oct 14, 2009

    I had a lot of house centipedes when I first moved into my house a few months ago. I have largely controlled the problem by keeping the basement dry and putting borax in crevices and cracks. I have seen many less house centipedes. I have also seen a lot more spiders. But i don’t mind the spiders as much, I would rather have them around. So I want to be sure to continue maintaining a house centipede free house! I would like to try Eco Smart.

  50. By Liz on Oct 14, 2009

    One was hiding in my son’s cup in the bathroom and after he brushed his teeth he almost drank it! Gotta get rid of these things.

  51. By Elizabeth on Oct 15, 2009

    House centipedes are the only bad thing about my apartment. They come every spring and every fall, like gray shadows moving along the baseboards. I always drop everything to chase and kill them, because I can’t let them stay and reporoduce! But about a month ago there was one that got away, and afterwards I started noticing more and more, often little babies. UGH! This morning, one dropped from the ceiling onto my desk, just inches from my head (UGH UGH UGH!) It was a big fat thing but it moved so fast – they always do – and escaped my deadly stomping.

    Normally, I just put up with them because it’s only occasional and mostly seasonal, and I don’t like to use chemicals unless absolutely necessary. But it’s starting to get out of hand and if I could find something that might work without harming my cat, I’d LOVE to give it a try.

  52. By Jon EcoSMART on Oct 15, 2009

    Glad we could help so many people with their centipede problems.

    And Cecilia, though creepy, centipedes prey on spiders, so dropping the number of centipedes will continue to increase the number of spiders. You’ll have to find a happy medium.

    Keep an eye out for more EcoSMART articles about centipedes.

  53. By julie mchenry on Oct 19, 2009

    I just moved into a house in Las Cruces, NM. I have seen a scorpion and many centipedes since moving in! Nothing kills a centipede, but a giant boot..all the while screaming…etc. I would really like to try your product. I love my house, but not these creatures…stories about them crawling into clothes really freaks me out..yikes…

  54. By Lynn on Oct 20, 2009

    I have house centipedes and have finally begun researching them. They are so gross and I am totally embarrassed if a visitor sees one! I usually only see them in the Spring and Fall, so of course I have seen a few recently. I have a curious kitten and am now frightened about their venom if my kitten finds a “playmate” that bites. Would love to test a non-toxic, eco-friendly solution.

  55. By Kent on Oct 24, 2009

    I don’t know if this is the right place to ask about the pests we get. They are more like a worm, about 1″, and thin. They are brown and we see them going across the carpet. If you touch them the curl up into a spiral shape. I haven’t ever heard a name for them and couldn’t find anything like them on this site.

    Can anyone tell me what they are from my description?

  56. By Jo'Ann on Oct 26, 2009

    We just moved into a house built in 1964, this move has had its ups and downs. Mostly because after we signed the papers we both decided neither one of us really wanted to move out of our condo. Everytime we think we finally adjusting to the house something happens, toilets backing up first night. Major Sewer problems not disclosed by seller, along with a bad cracks in the floor of the basement shower stall (hidden by a bath mat).
    By now I have become somewhat dulled to the new and interesting finds in my home. Untill two weeks age when my husband and nephew found and killed a very lare centipede, then two days later they found and killed another. Two days ago my nephew found one enjoying the shower with him. So he drowned the thing and washed it down the drain.
    The guys knew better than to mention any of this to me untill tonight, when I witnessed one myself, from behind my brave nephews back, where it couldn’t get me. I made the guys fess-up regarding the killins. I am the BIGGEST baby when it comes to any type of insect at all. If I find a spider or anything else smaler than me but with more legs than I have, I either cover it with a plastic cup, and give it a shot at freedom by placing paper under the cup to get it out the door. Or my most favorite way of dealing with any insect is to wait ouside until my husband gets home to rescue me. Since I live in the northeast this option won’t work much longer. These creaures will not do at all and I need a way to get rid of them sooner not later, like about NOW!! And I need to do it before I take a loss with this house repack and move again. If I can’t get rid of these monsters and I keep calling my husband home from work I’ll end up divorced. Please help me!!!!

  57. By Armando Garzon on Oct 28, 2009

    I so hate centipedes with my whole being. Just seeing a picture of them creeps me out.

  58. By cristal on Nov 10, 2009

    hi help i hate centipedes them i have to kill one or two a day

  59. By nancy on Dec 30, 2009

    i have one in my apartment right now and i cant find it
    :(
    im scared sorta kinda maybe yep

  60. By Sheina on Jan 28, 2010

    My husband and I bought a home in April of 2008 and have since, seen a handful of these “house centipedes” in our 6yr old daughter’s closet.While cleaning and doing some rearranging yesterday, I saw another.Not knowing what I might find, I had to try and figure out what these bugs are and how to get rid of them.I was unable to catch the one yesterday but, in the past have been speedy enough to kill the others I have spotted.I am not a fan of sticky traps at all and we do have an indoor cat.I would love to try your product.As it stands, I have been able to keep this little secret from my daughter but, I can only imagine how she would react to see one of these herself.=0

  61. By alison on Jan 29, 2010

    We really like centipeds. Anytime we first see them, we freek out but we don’t want anyone to kill them. Then we make our parents catch them and we fall in love with them. Right now we have a centiped named Jonathan.

    Alison-10
    Emily-7
    EJ-5

  62. By Bunni on Feb 28, 2010

    I never had a centipede problem until I moved into this house. I’ve tried everything to get rid of them, and my grands hate to see them. Hel-l-l-p

  63. By Michelle Vargas-Jimenez on Mar 3, 2010

    We live in the Southwest and last summer we had centipedes coming into our house. We had an exterminator come and exterminate and we found dead roaches after that but the centipedes still came in. We are going to patch up the holes and cracks in the walls but we would like more advice on how to keep these pests out of our house.

  64. By EcoSMART Megan on Mar 4, 2010

    Dear Michelle Vargas-Jimenez,

    The last section of this article, “House Centipede Control: Don’t Let Them Control You,” has really great tips.

    - Eliminate small insects
    - Keep you house dry
    - Use an organic insecticide to kill any centipedes you see

    Good luck!

  65. By Jamie on Mar 9, 2010

    I hav’nt noticed but a couple of them since moving here 2 years ago and only downstairs, however the latest one was where my son sleeps and he no longer wants to sleep there. I like the fact that the eat other bugs but not the fact that they may bite people. I would love to test your product as I do have children and pets and am always looking for organic and enviroment friendly products.

  66. By Melynda Meroz on Mar 13, 2010

    i hate bugs! Last week I have seen silerfish so I had the place exterminated but now it seemed like it didnt even work now I have centipedes I say one crawling by my cat’s stand and worried he might get bitten but I more worried of what other kinds of bugs mightbe in my new apt. since I only lived here two weeks and this place is loaded with cracks so it seems like all the creepy crawlers are welcome here I really need your products and would like to test it out Thanks!

  67. By Nicholas on Mar 14, 2010

    I bought my home a year and a half ago. I went through last summer, killing one house centipede a week. I have a 6 year old. I just spotted my first one of the year last night. I can not go through another summer of this. I can’t stand these disdusting looking things. Help!

  68. By Ashley on Mar 28, 2010

    I hate these things I have hated them since I was young I always called my mom to kill them and, I decided to move back to my house and here they go again. This things make my toes curl I HATE CENTIPEDES they are super fast also and they come out everytime my basement floods. I have a 16 month old and I don’t want her to be scared like I am. I don’t wanna use the toxic chemicals because of the fumes either so I need to try something that is going to be beneficial.

  69. By Erin Hoffman on Apr 14, 2010

    My roommate and I have them in Minnesota. YUCK! I refuse to spry toxic chemicals in the house, so I’d love something organic and safe to try.

  70. By Jessica on May 4, 2010

    I am so scared of them, even more then spiders! I use to live in VT, and now
    I live in MA, I never seen one inside until I moved here. I have a 9 month old and would not like to spray toxic chemicals in the house, so I’d love something safe to try.

  71. By Lynn Doyscher on May 20, 2010

    I have always been terrified of centipedes!!! We recently had some shrubs removed from around the foundation of our home, and we are seeing quite a few of the creepy critters in our lower level and they are even making it upstairs!!! Please let me test your product!!

  72. By Kelly on Jun 16, 2010

    Omg! I found a centipede today…my cat was trying to play with it and eat it. I had no idea they could bite let alone that we had them. I really hope that I don’t have any more. I’d like to test your product so my cats are safe.

  73. By Stephanie on Aug 1, 2010

    OMG! I was watching television in my apartment when a NASTY house centipede came out-of-no-where! i was SO scared i just sat there panicking staring at it with my sister and mom. Thankfully my mom wasn’t panicking like me, and had the courage to get up and kill it. I live here in NY, and I’m used to seeing cockroaches, but i have NEVER seen one of those nasty creatures.

  74. By stephanie on Aug 1, 2010

    Wow, is this an epidemic or what? I had posted on facebook that we were having a problem with centipedes and the comments that followed, scared me! It’s a sudden onset problem here! Never had them before, lived here 3 1/2 years (Arkansas)! Anyway, a friend on facebook replied that in the past 24 hours many of her friends were talking about the invasion of the centipededs, too! Her theory is: something must be happening deep in the earth causing them to surface and invade our homes? I’m scared…2012 is coming…just saying! lol HELP! I also have 5 inside pets and an aquarium, so toxic chemicals are not an option!

  75. By angeltari2010 on Aug 20, 2010

    I rented apartment 3 months ago and from starting we had centipede issue but there were small and rarely we can see now a days we see big ones and i want to get rid off it soon can you please suggest me using ehich product of ecosmart it will go soon?.. it came from carpet and from heating panal and yukk…

  76. By Jeff on Aug 21, 2010

    We have lived in our house for 23 years and I have never seen as many centipedes as this year. Up until now they are mainly in the basement even while running a large dehumidifier all summer. Today I saw one on the main floor of our house in the living room. They creep me out especially when they are running. They are so fast it’s hard to catch them. I had no idea they bite or I wouldn’t attempt to catch them with just a tissue. I would love to be a able to test your EcoSMART product in my home because this situation is getting out of control.

  77. By Kevin on Sep 2, 2010

    I HAVE SEEN ABOUT 25 CENTEPEDS AND THEY CREEP ME OUT SO MUCH ONCE I RAN OUTSIDE FOR ONE WHOLE HOUR SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE A ECOSMART TESTER

  78. By Rossi on Sep 4, 2010

    Does your product kill other insects as well as the house centipedes?? I never minded that we had the cetipede until I started seeing them EVERYWHERE in the house. Of course we started seeing more and more after we flooded and are still working on the basement. But still want to know if this product works on other insects.

  79. By Natasha on Sep 9, 2010

    oh my gosh i hate these creepy freaky and speedy centipede and damn im so scared of them…even if i dream abot one i would just never think of sleeping on a particular day im too scared of them….i try to clean sweep and mop my floors with chemicals to keep them away and it works

  80. By Barbara Weltz on Sep 24, 2010

    I’m in a baseboard apt. I have used Hot shot and spray baseboards. floors..under sinks..every week..I still get skeeved when I see the buggers. They also don’t die on contact….Help me..

  81. By blue on Oct 17, 2010

    I’ve been living in my apartment for a year and a half with no bug problems, but in the past month or so I’ve seen a bunch of these house centipedes. I don’t know why they’re suddenly appearing or how they’re getting in, but I do know they’re horrible and creepy. I just killed a big one in my bedroom and am now on the internet wasting time because I don’t want to go back in. I know it’s pitiful how afraid I am but seriously. These things are sick.

  82. By Paulette Marta on Nov 21, 2010

    Help! We haven’t had a lot of them but yesterday I killed 5. 2 were 5 inches long. One bit and killed one of my fox terriers 5 years ago. I don’t want to lose another one to these creepy crawlies. Most are found on the laundry porch or just outside its door, but one showed up in my bed the other night. I hate them and need something safe to use around the pets. We live in Guam so it is always humid and damp here. No escaping it.

  83. By Mandy on Feb 16, 2011

    I don’t care what anyone says, I have know grown men who have been laid out for days due to centipede bites. We have an infestation after moving into a new home where the previous owners were very fond of rock. Due to the constant “damp” state of Hawaii, there seems to be no hope. I am trying everything I can. I have 2 small children and have been instructed by the exterminators as well as the housing company to take them to the ER emmedietly if stung or bit by a centipede. Any one who has information on how to KILL them not REPEL them, I would be most obliged. I have found a spray that will kill them on contact, but I need something to spray ro spread not he entire ear. My kids can’t play outside, and God forbid I wanted to grow anything… I can’t dig, anytime I even disrupt the ground, more pede’s come out.

  84. By EcoSMART Kait on Feb 18, 2011

    Hi Mandy,

    I’m sorry you’ve had such a bad experience with centipedes. As stated in the article, EcoSMART products will kill centipedes. We just like to offer alternatives, too. I recommend EcoSMART Home Pest Control for indoor and outdoor use. You can buy it at Walmart, Home Depot, or on EcoSMART’s website. Good luck!

  85. By deanna kalbfleisch on Apr 16, 2011

    my neighbor calls these the “bug from hell”. they are creepy! I’ll be so happy to get rid of all the bugs in my house mostly these things. My son is sensitive to bug bites and I don’t want him to get bit. Creepy, Creepy!

  86. By Patricia on Apr 19, 2011

    PLEASE PLEASE HELP!! I HATE HOUSE CENTIPEDES, THEY RUIN MY SUMMER COMFORT. I CAN’T SLEEP AT NIGHT,CANNOT WATCH TV AT NIGHT,SEE DIFFERENT SIZES CRAWLING ACROSS THE FLOOR AND I HAVE KNOCKED THEM OFF ME WHILE SITTING. THEY ARE SCARY AND NASTY LOOKING. I DON’T FEEL SAFE IN MY APARTMENT DURING THE SUMMER.I WANT TO ENJOY BEING HOME IN THE SUMMER. THEY COME THUR THE AIR CONDITIONER, UNDER THE DOOR, THUR CRACKS ALONG THE DOOR\ THUR THE WINDOWS. PLEASE HELP, I HAD TO REMOVE THE A/C. MY DAYS AND NIGHTS ARE SOO HOT FROM THE SUMMER HEAT.TRIED SOME PRODUCTS, NOTHING WORKS FAST ENOUGH.I WANT TO BE A TESTER, THANK YOU.

  87. By Beverly Greville on Apr 30, 2011

    I didn’t see any all winter, but as soon as spring came around, I find them on the bathroom floor, bathroom sink, along the shower doors & just about everywhere in there, as soon as I put the light on, to get ready for bed. I have been able to kill most that I see, but God knows how many I don’t see. This is a 4-level back-split & this bathroom is on the 3rd level down – so is our bedroom. In fact my bed is only about 2ft away from the bathroom. Yuk!! We have carpeting in the bedroom so they might be running around in there. I am terrified of these ugly things and my husband sleeps up-stairs(snoring problem) so it doesn’t bother him. I was sitting here typing on my e-mail, the other day and a big fat brown furry one ran right under my hands right to the other side, before I could even react, and disappeaared. I sprayed Raid all over the sides of the desk & under everything, but I didn’t see it again. I run my shower with hot water every night, as well as my sink, to try to keep them away. A friend told me to pour hot water down the drain in the basement every night but that hasn’t helped. I can’t sleep anymore and hate to go to bed.
    PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I GO NUTS. My husband & I are both 73yrs old & in poor health.HELP

  88. By Bambi on May 8, 2011

    I am truly disgusted and terrified of these scurrying bugs. I have been killing spiders left and right…now these have come back to haunt me too. I need a solution and this product sounds good but I would prefer a permanent one. Will this ecosmart spray work only seasonally then wear off or what? Either way im gonna assassinate any bug that thinks it can own my home! I am gonna try all the suggestions given plus this product. At least I know im not crazy for feeling itchy,paranoid,and repulsed by these scurrying nightmare bugs!

  89. By JP on May 22, 2011

    Please HELP! I found one in my freshly made bed. Haven’t slept well since, or in my bedroom. My landlord has been unable to get the problem under control. Will this product really work without all the harsh chemicals? I have a lot of allergies and don’t want something else to run me out of my house.

  90. By Mellanie Caporuscio on May 28, 2011

    I’ve been dealing with these creepy, nasty, fast-as-greased-lightning house centipedes for the last three summers and I have FINALLY HAD ENOUGH! As I sit typing this, I have my feet pulled up on the chair tucked under me for fear that one of these creepy crawlers is gonna skitter across my feet! I had to turn laundry duty over to my husband b/c while emptying the washer one day a HUGE one crawled across my hand from INSIDE MY WASHING MACHINE!!!! I screamed so loud I’m sure the neighbors heard me! I would love to test your product as I’m going insane trying to deal w/the bugs. Home no longer feels like a sanctuary knowing these things could be anywhere! Please help! If it truely works, you’ll have a customer for life! As a mom to 3, I love that it’s safe for kids & pets and environmentally friendly. Don’t want to pollute the earth my kids will grow up in!

  91. By Marie on Jun 13, 2011

    Just moved to a new apt in April of this yr, have seen at least a half dozen or more of these horrors, today was the biggest one, at least three inches running along my living room wall, what freaks me out is not the ones I see, but where are the ones i’m not seeing?? Every night I go to bed & pull down my covers doing a centipede check, I’m so freaked out by them, i’ve talked to my maintenance guy & he said he’d put something down to help stop them, i have no kids home anymore & no pets so i don’t care what it is, but apparently it didn’t work & the wee buggers are still around. I’m terrified of spiders & had honestly never seen a centipede inside before in my life, hafta wonder if i’d prefer spiders at this point, I’m so totally freaked out & if I could product test i’d love you forever. :o )

  92. By Lynn on Jul 6, 2011

    Since moving into our new home we’ve had many problems with house centipedes in our basement. I’ve bought a dehumidifier to try to eliminate any damp areas, placed sticky traps, caulked around windows and doors, and sprayed around the outside of the house, but the bugs won’t leave. Basically, I’ve tried everything the websites mention about how to remove the bugs in an environmentally friendly fashion. But, I killed FOUR yesterday night alone. We really need something that will work.

  93. By mike on Jul 19, 2011

    im not really worried about them but my wife is another story I told her they eat other bugs and when we cleaned up the yard and took their hidding spots away they followed the other bugs in the house and they will probly go away but she dose not care and we have pets so im willing to try a safe product that wont hurt my dogs and see how well it works please help my wife is going crazy and taking me with her

  94. By liz on Jul 22, 2011

    Here’s the bad news… I see at least one centipede in my home every day! The good news is it’s always in the bathroom. Hopefully, I can get rid of the problem and would be excited to try your product. I want to use a product like your that is eco friendly. HELP! HELP! HELP! Desperate in Pa.

  95. By Bernadette Dawn Jackson on Aug 3, 2011

    I have a cleaning business and I specialize in Healthy Homes. I always try my very best to help my clients keep their homes healthy. I know you said that having centipedes around help to dispose of other insects but if you don’t mind I would love to test your product on my homes and many others. It’s not Healthy to live in fear and if the product works I would love to share with others it’s results.

  96. By Jennifer on Aug 5, 2011

    help! We just moved and ive found two.they are so scary and nasty!!!we had terminex spray outside but i need something safe for inside around my kids

  97. By Jill Crawford on Aug 14, 2011

    I unfortunately live in the basement of a house that has had several flooding issues earlier this year. I am now starting to see these nasty things and I am TOTALLY creeped out. I have 3 cats so the normal, toxic type insecticides are not a viable option. Without question, if this product works, I will shout it from the rooftops to anyone & everyone who will listen. I just need to find somewhere that I can get it.

  98. By melissa hargrove on Aug 21, 2011

    I’ve lived in my apartment for 3 years. Always had these things but this year there are so many. I have 2 kids and need sommething to.get rid of them.

  99. By pinky on Sep 2, 2011

    I have seen them alot ever since we move into this 2 flat i am not a fan of bugs i will kill any bugs i see i do not tolerate any of them they are disgusting and they also bite i mean who wants that i dnt care if they eat other bugs they look creepy too i have two small children and would love to try the ecosystem product do they sell at stores?

  100. By kim on Sep 14, 2011

    I think you can make these things pretty tame its crazy. We have lived here over 2 years but hardly ever kill em. Tonight I was reaching for my shaver and one crawled out of the cabinet. She startled me so I yelled at her and tried to brush her out of my bathroom. She didn’t seem to want to leave, I kept telling her if she didn’t leave she was going to end up in the toilet. She must have thought I was trying to be her friend because she just seemed like she just wanted to come closer. Finally I put the poor mama in the toilet. I feel Bab but she was crossing the line._5

  101. By Dave M. on Sep 25, 2011

    It was great to read thru all these comments and see that I’m not the only one dealing with this. I’m a lifelong outdoorsman, fer Pete’s sake, but these damn creatures turn me into a little baby! Here I am, wide-awake at 2:07 am, I’ve seen 3 in the bedroom and the big one – it was huge! – got away, so it’s in there waiting for me to fall asleep so it can lay eggs in me arse. I’m waiting for the toxic cloud from the roach-killer I sprayed to dissipate. That takes a couple hours till I’m satisfied it’s gone and that’s only if I haven’t seen any more in there in the zillion times I’ll be getting up to check. I’d love to try this stuff. We have a baby, 2 cats, and 2 dogs so I can’t continue spraying the poison. This is madness!

  102. By nakturnal on Sep 28, 2011

    http://www.ecosmart.com/shop/store-locator

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