How to Get Rid of Centipedes in Your House

Q: Are house centipedes dangerous?

House centipedes have venom glands but are not dangerous to humans. Bites are extremely rare — the centipede must be trapped against skin to bite. When they do bite (almost never), it produces mild, localized pain similar to a bee sting. They are not a health hazard.

Q: Why do I have centipedes in my bathroom?

Bathrooms provide the moisture centipedes need to survive. They also harbor prey insects like silverfish and drain flies. Centipedes in bathrooms almost always indicate a moisture problem — leaking pipes, poor ventilation, or inadequate exhaust fan use.

Q: Should I kill house centipedes?

This is a personal choice. Centipedes are beneficial predators that actively reduce pest populations in your home. Many pest control professionals recommend tolerating them. If you can't stand them, focus on dehumidification and prey elimination rather than spraying — the centipedes will leave when conditions no longer support them.

Q: How many legs do house centipedes have?

Despite the name, house centipedes have 15 pairs of legs (30 total), not 100. Each pair is progressively longer from front to back, giving them their distinctive fringed appearance. The last pair is nearly twice the body length and is often mistaken for antennae.

📋 Steps

Understand what house centipedes mean about your home

House centipedes are predators — they eat cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, ants, and bed bugs. If you have centipedes, you have a prey population feeding them AND a moisture problem attracting both. Eliminating centipedes without addressing the underlying pest and moisture issues just removes a free exterminator.

Reduce moisture throughout your home

Centipedes require high humidity to survive — their exoskeleton loses water rapidly in dry conditions. Dehumidify basements (<50% RH), fix all leaks, run bathroom exhaust fans, and improve ventilation. In dry conditions, centipedes cannot survive even if prey is available.

Address the prey population that's feeding them

If you see centipedes regularly, they're eating something. Check for cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, or ants. Eliminating the prey population removes the centipedes' food source and causes them to leave or die. This is a two-for-one approach.

Seal entry points from crawl space and basement

Centipedes enter living spaces through gaps around pipes, baseboards, and floor-to-wall junctions. Seal these with caulk. Pay special attention to bathroom plumbing penetrations and basement stairway gaps.

Apply CimeXa dust in cracks and voids

CimeXa desiccant dust is highly effective against centipedes — their moisture-dependent exoskeleton makes them very susceptible to desiccation. Apply a thin film in cracks, behind baseboards, and in wall voids where centipedes travel.

💡 Tips

House centipedes are genuinely beneficial — a single centipede kills hundreds of cockroaches, spiders, and silverfish per year. Consider tolerating them in basements and crawl spaces where you don't see them
Centipedes are a stronger moisture indicator than most pests — if you see one, your humidity is too high. A dehumidifier pays for itself in pest prevention
Centipedes are venomous (they use venom to subdue prey) but their bite is extremely rare and medically insignificant to humans — comparable to a bee sting

⚖️ Educational use only. Disclaimer →

💰 Cost to Fix This Problem

Approach	Typical Cost	Best For
DIY materials only	$15–$40	Mild or early-stage infestations
Professional service (one-time)	$150–$300	Active infestations or when DIY has failed
Ongoing service contract	$300–$500/yr	Prevention and long-term management

Approach

Typical Cost

Best For

DIY materials only

$15–$40

Mild or early-stage infestations

Professional service (one-time)

$150–$300

Active infestations or when DIY has failed

Ongoing service contract

$300–$500/yr

Prevention and long-term management

Costs vary by region, property size, and severity. Get at least two quotes before hiring.

✅ How to Know It's Working

Pest control success is measured in weeks, not days. Here's what to look for:

Week 1–2: You may see increased activity as pests are flushed from hiding. This is normal.

Week 2–4: Activity should drop noticeably. Traps or monitors should show declining numbers.

Week 4–6: New activity near zero. Any resurgence means a source was missed or re-introduction occurred.

💡 Monitoring tip: Place sticky traps in corners and along walls before you start treatment. Counting catches weekly gives you objective data on whether the population is declining.

👷 When to Call a Professional

DIY is appropriate for small, contained problems caught early. Call a licensed professional when:

You've tried DIY twice with no lasting improvement

The problem involves a wall void, crawlspace, or area you can't safely access

There's a health risk involved (hantavirus, rabies, anaphylaxis risk)

The infestation covers more than one room or a large outdoor area

You have children, elderly, or immunocompromised individuals in the household

⚠️ Rule of thumb: If you've spent more on DIY materials than a professional visit would cost, it's time to call.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Are house centipedes dangerous?

House centipedes have venom glands but are not dangerous to humans. Bites are extremely rare — the centipede must be trapped against skin to bite. When they do bite (almost never), it produces mild, localized pain similar to a bee sting. They are not a health hazard.

Why do I have centipedes in my bathroom?

Bathrooms provide the moisture centipedes need to survive. They also harbor prey insects like silverfish and drain flies. Centipedes in bathrooms almost always indicate a moisture problem — leaking pipes, poor ventilation, or inadequate exhaust fan use.

Should I kill house centipedes?

This is a personal choice. Centipedes are beneficial predators that actively reduce pest populations in your home. Many pest control professionals recommend tolerating them. If you can't stand them, focus on dehumidification and prey elimination rather than spraying — the centipedes will leave when conditions no longer support them.

How many legs do house centipedes have?

Despite the name, house centipedes have 15 pairs of legs (30 total), not 100. Each pair is progressively longer from front to back, giving them their distinctive fringed appearance. The last pair is nearly twice the body length and is often mistaken for antennae.