The most effective ways to prevent cricket infestations are to seal gaps around the foundation, doors and windows, cut back outdoor lighting, fix moisture problems, and clear weeds, debris and firewood away from the house. Crickets usually wander in from outdoors in late summer and fall, and University of Minnesota Extension notes that they rarely reproduce indoors, so prevention focuses on keeping them out. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company that provides the best cricket control for homes and businesses, with protocols developed by Board Certified Entomologist Dennis Weiss. The 10 tips below draw on university extension guidance, and Saela’s cricket control page covers professional treatment.
1. Seal Entry Points
Sealing gaps keeps crickets from getting inside in the first place. University of Maryland Extension advises making sure doors fit tightly, repairing weather-stripping and thresholds, and sealing around basement window frames, dryer vents and the entrances for plumbing and wiring. Pay closest attention to the foundation and ground-level doors and windows, where crickets crawl in. Every Saela plan includes a 50+ point property inspection that covers entry points and structural gaps.
2. Reduce Outdoor Lighting
Field and house crickets are strongly attracted to light, according to UMN Extension, so bright porch and window lights draw them toward your doors at night. Turn off lights you don’t need and close shades on brightly lit windows; where you need a porch light, UMD suggests a non-attracting yellow bug light. Camel crickets are the exception: they aren’t attracted to light, and they usually point to a moisture problem instead.
3. Remove Moisture Sources
Damp basements and crawl spaces favor camel crickets in particular. UMD notes that solving high moisture problems in a basement will greatly reduce camel crickets, so fix leaks, run a dehumidifier and use sticky traps, and UMN also suggests drying damp areas with a fan or dehumidifier. Keep downspouts and irrigation draining away from the foundation so the soil next to the house stays drier. Saela’s cricket pest control guide explains how to tell the common species apart.
4. Maintain Your Lawn
Tall grass and dense groundcover next to the house give crickets shelter close to your doors. UMN recommends cutting weeds and tall grass growing near the foundation, and UMD suggests trimming groundcover back to 18 inches from the home and mowing regularly. Bag or remove clippings and fallen leaves instead of leaving them piled against the house.
5. Skip Unproven Repellents and Home Remedies
Strong-smelling plants and homemade repellents are not a substitute for sealing gaps and removing shelter. Never burn or scatter mothballs to drive crickets away: the National Pesticide Information Center says mothballs should not be used to repel insects or animals unless the label describes that use, and that they have little or no effect as repellents. UMN Extension adds that pesticides are generally not effective or necessary indoors for crickets.
6. Store Firewood Properly
Firewood, bricks, lumber and brush stacked near the house give crickets shelter right next to the foundation. UMN recommends removing firewood, brush, bricks and other debris close to the house, and UMD advises storing firewood away from the foundation. UMD also notes that crickets often gather under garbage cans in large numbers, so raise cans off the ground.
7. Protect Food, Fabrics and Paper
Indoors, crickets chew on more than food: UMN notes that house crickets can feed on fabrics such as silk and wool and can cause severe damage, while camel crickets sometimes feed on paper products. Keep pet food in sealed containers, clean up spills promptly, and keep stored clothing, linens and paper off basement and garage floors.
8. Use Sticky Traps
Sticky traps catch crickets that are already inside and show where they’re getting in. UMN recommends sticky traps for indoor crickets, and UMD suggests placing them near the spots where crickets are singing, such as baseboards, corners and doorways. UMD also calls the vacuum cleaner one of the most effective and least toxic ways to remove crickets that get into the house.
9. Implement a Regular Cleaning Routine
Regular vacuuming and decluttering leave crickets fewer places to hide indoors. Vacuum along the edges where floors meet walls, and keep boxes, laundry and stored items off the floor in basements and garages. In Minnesota, UMN notes, crickets that get inside usually don’t lay eggs there and normally die by autumn or early winter, so steady cleanup plus exclusion often handles occasional invaders.
10. Consider Professional Cricket Control
Call a professional when crickets keep getting in after you’ve sealed gaps and fixed moisture, or when large numbers gather around the foundation. Saela’s integrated pest management cycle starts with identifying the pest and monitoring activity before targeted treatment, and its protocols come from Dennis Weiss, Saela’s board-certified entomologist.
Putting the Cricket Prevention Tips Together
Most cricket problems come down to three things: gaps that let them in, lights that draw them close, and moisture and debris that give them shelter. In a February 2024 Google review, Alexander Dove wrote, “They always do a great job keeping pests out of our house.” Saela’s Denver, Colorado location is rated 4.8 out of 5 from 495 Google reviews as of October 2026.
Saela quotes each property on pest type, location, property size, visit frequency and treatment products, so compare plan options first. If crickets keep finding their way inside, book a call with Saela to schedule an inspection.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
