The rainy season is a time when reptiles and venomous creatures such as centipedes often seek shelter from water and moisture inside dark, enclosed areas within homes, such as bathrooms, cabinet corners, or near drains. Knowing safe ways to manage them is important to protect family members from harm.
How to repel centipedes from your house? You can handle centipedes using natural ingredients and household items that effectively repel and control venomous creatures as follows.
Centipedes have a highly sensitive sense of smell. Spraying a mixture of vinegar and water or essential oils with eucalyptus and peppermint scents in gaps or dark corners creates a pungent odor that disrupts their senses, making them avoid these areas.
Lime powder and alum have drying properties. When sprinkled around the house base, drains, or entrances, they irritate the centipedes’ skin, deterring them from crossing those areas.
Pouring a solution of detergent or dish soap mixed with water into drains or damp areas breaks surface tension and reduces suitable hiding environments for centipedes.
If centipedes are found inside the home, spraying insecticides containing pyrethroid compounds directly on them can promptly control the situation.
Mixing liquid soap with clove essential oil and applying or spraying it on door frames and window edges creates a protective scent barrier that centipedes dislike.
Vulnerable areas inside and outside the home | Solutions and preventive measures |
| Drains | Install insect screens (floor drain covers) or tightly close drain covers when not in use. |
| Door/window gaps | Install rubber seals to close gaps under door edges. |
| Area around the house | Trim tree branches, clear dry leaf piles, and regularly remove damp trash to maintain cleanliness. |
According to the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health, centipede venom causes pain, muscle cramps, swelling, and redness at the bite site. Follow these initial steps if bitten.
Immediately clean the wound with clean water and mild soap.
Apply a cold compress on the bite area for 10-15 minutes at a time to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
If severe allergic symptoms occur, such as chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or swelling around the face and neck, promptly take the patient to a hospital for medical treatment.