Earwigs in the House: Why They’re Inside and How to Get Rid of Them

Key Takeaways

• Earwigs usually come inside because they’re searching for moisture and shelter, not because they want to live in your home.
• Bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces, and other damp areas are the most common places to find earwigs indoors.
• While earwigs may look intimidating, they’re not dangerous to people, don’t spread diseases, and rarely cause damage inside the home.
• The best way to keep earwigs out is by reducing moisture, sealing entry points, and removing outdoor hiding places around your foundation.
• Seeing a few earwigs occasionally is common, but repeated sightings often point to an underlying moisture issue that should be addressed.
• Professional pest control can identify why earwigs keep returning and provide long-term solutions that help keep your home comfortable and pest-free.

It’s never a great feeling to spot an earwig crawling across your bathroom floor or hiding under a pile of laundry. While they’re not dangerous to people, finding earwigs in the house usually means your home is providing exactly what they’re looking for: moisture, shelter, and an easy way inside.

The good news is that earwigs don’t typically establish large indoor populations, and with the right approach, they’re relatively easy to manage. In this guide, we’ll explain why earwigs come indoors, where they hide, how to get rid of them, and what you can do to keep them from coming back.

Why Are Earwigs in My House?

Earwigs don’t usually come indoors because they’re looking for food. Instead, they’re trying to escape environmental conditions outside.

Heavy rain, hot weather, drought, or sudden temperature changes often drive earwigs indoors in search of cool, damp places. Once inside, they’ll settle anywhere that stays dark and humid.

Common reasons earwigs enter homes include:

• Excess moisture around the foundation
• Cracks around doors, windows, and siding
• Damp basements or crawl spaces
• Leaky pipes or plumbing fixtures
• Mulch, leaf piles, or dense landscaping close to the home

Unlike ants or cockroaches, earwigs generally aren’t interested in invading your pantry. They’re simply looking for a protected place to hide.

Where Do Earwigs Hide Inside the House?

Because earwigs lose moisture easily, they prefer cool, damp environments where they can remain hidden during the day.

Some of the most common hiding spots include:

• Bathrooms
• Laundry rooms
• Basements
• Crawl spaces
• Under sinks
• Around floor drains
• Inside cardboard boxes
• Under furniture
• Near houseplants

They’re primarily nocturnal, so you may only notice them at night when they come out to search for food.

If you’re seeing earwigs regularly in the same room, there’s often a nearby moisture problem worth investigating.

Are Earwigs Dangerous?

Despite their intimidating pincers, earwigs are mostly harmless.

They do not:

• Spread diseases
• Damage your home’s structure
• Lay eggs throughout your house
• Invade food like many household pests

While an earwig may pinch if handled, the pinch is usually mild and rarely breaks the skin.

The biggest issue with earwigs is simply that homeowners don’t want them wandering through living spaces.

Why Do Earwigs Keep Coming Back?

If earwigs continue appearing, the underlying conditions likely haven’t changed.

Common reasons include:

• Ongoing moisture problems
• Hidden foundation gaps
• Damp crawl spaces
• Landscaping that stays consistently wet
• Large outdoor earwig populations migrating indoors

Seeing one earwig every now and then isn’t unusual. Seeing several every week usually means it’s time to investigate further.

Keep Your Home Comfortable with Mira Pest

Finding earwigs in the house can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to become an ongoing problem. By reducing moisture, sealing entry points, and maintaining your home’s exterior, you can make your home much less attractive to these unwanted visitors.

If earwigs keep coming back, the Mira Pest team is here to help. We’ll identify what’s attracting them, treat the problem safely, and create a prevention plan that helps keep your home comfortable year-round.

Ready for a home without unwanted pests? Request your free quote today.