As kids, we were made to believe that millipedes have a thousand legs so we would sit and watch just to prove it but they are so tiny we couldn’t get a good view. Back then, they were just subjects of fascination but now that we have gardens and plants to tend, having them around could be a real nuisance especially that they make wood brittle and they compete with the nutrients of our prized plants. So how do you get rid of them?
In this article:
- Why do I have millipedes in my home?
- Are millipedes dangerous?
- How do I get rid of millipedes for good?
- 1. Keep a dry surrounding
- 2. Make their habitat inhabitable
- 3. Spraying millipede killers
- Home remedies to rid millipedes that are definitely myths
- 1. Pouring bleach in the soil
- 2. Baking soda
- 3. Detergent
- Conclusion
Why do I have millipedes in my home?
Are millipedes dangerous?
How do I get rid of millipedes for good?
1. Keep a dry surrounding
One natural way to get rid of millipedes is to dry up. This does not mean of course that you have to get rid of your garden and potted plants. This only means that you have to dry up the spaces where they have niched especially inside the house like putting a thermostat or a humidifier. As for the garden, you can dry up the mulch after spreading them out.
2. Make their habitat inhabitable
As scavengers, millipedes are drawn to food sources. Constantly removing wood sticks, leaves, mulch, and decomposing organic trash would make your vicinity inhabitable for them leaving them no other choice but to just search for a new home. And to make sure that they do not really come back again, keep a bare and clean lawn or space in the home. A 12 to 18 inches away from home walls or foundations would be good too.
3. Spraying millipede killers
There are two types of millipede killers: liquid and powder insecticides. The liquid insecticides are mostly used in the soil, plant pots, and all potential outdoor habitats. On the other hand, the powder insecticides are used for foundation walls, window sills, and entry sites in damp areas in the house.
Home remedies to rid millipedes that are definitely myths
In your pursuit to search for natural ways to get rid of millipedes for good, you might have wound up with some home remedy suggestions that surfaced the net. And before you could make the same mistakes as the others did, here are some home remedies to rid millipedes that are definitely myths.
1. Pouring bleach in the soil
Well, you can go all ballistic and spray the entire lawn with bleach and practically kill all the millipedes but nothing easy ever came without a prize. If you do this, you will call all your plants too and eventually the soil.
2. Baking soda
This is one of the biggest millipede scams ever because the baking soda won’t kill them, it will only eliminate the foul smell they excrete. Millipedes are not repelled and you won’t know they are still there because you just concealed their scent.
3. Detergent
This is quite contestable since soapy water is a potent killer of anything that crawls. While detergent makes soapy water, it will not do anything with millipedes. The right home remedy that you need is not detergent but dish soap. A 50-50 solution of dish soap and water would truly do the trick for the millipedes.