Content Updated: February 18, 2026
How to get rid of cricket Insect around your home and Lawn
While crickets are considered a sign of prosperity and good fortune in Chinese folklore, they are also among the most frequently encountered household pests in Australia.
These insects are mainly active at night. You can recognise them by their long antennae, sudden jumping movements, and most noticeably, their constant high-pitched chirping sound that often keeps people awake. They usually live outdoors in gardens, lawns, and areas with dense vegetation. However, when temperatures drop or weather conditions become harsh, they move indoors searching for warmth, moisture, and safe shelter.
Homes with cracks, gaps around doors, damp storage areas, or cluttered spaces become easy entry points and hiding spots. Once inside, they may damage fabrics, paper products, and stored food while continuing to produce irritating noise throughout the night.
The presence of a cricket insect increases during cooler months, making prevention essential. Understanding why they enter your property is the first step toward control. By sealing openings, reducing moisture, maintaining cleanliness, and adjusting outdoor lighting, you can significantly reduce their attraction to your home.
Below are practical and effective methods you can follow to discourage them and safely remove them from your living space.
1. Seal and conceal the interior of your home
Ensure every window and door is fitted with properly secured, tight-mesh screens, and carefully seal any cracks or openings around frames, walls, and foundations. Even small gaps can act as easy entry points for unwanted pests. For a fast and simple solution, you can apply weatherstripping adhesive-backed foam that fills spaces around doors and windows. Besides improving insulation and keeping indoor temperatures comfortable, it also works as a barrier against insects.
Installing quality insect screens wherever possible adds another layer of protection and significantly reduces the chances of pests entering your living space. Regularly inspect screens for tears and repair them promptly to maintain effectiveness.
These simple preventive steps can greatly limit indoor access for a cricket insect, helping you maintain a quieter and more comfortable home environment without relying heavily on chemical treatments.
2. Remove bright lights
Crickets are strongly attracted to bright lights, which is why you’ll often notice them gathering near doorways and windows at night. One simple way to reduce their presence is to limit unnecessary outdoor lighting. If you still need exterior lights for safety, switching from standard white bulbs to warm yellow bug lights can make a noticeable difference, as these are less appealing to insects.
You can also position lights a little further away from entrances and aim them toward pathways or garden areas instead. This encourages pests to stay around the light source rather than near your doors.
Inside the house, keep blinds or curtains closed after dark. Light shining through windows acts like a beacon and draws unwanted visitors closer. Following these small habits regularly helps prevent a cricket insect from hanging around your entry points and lowers the chance of them getting indoors.
3. Maintain your garden
Keeping your garden tidy goes a long way in stopping crickets from settling in. Regularly mow the lawn, remove weeds, and trim thick bushes or ground cover close to the walls of your home. Overgrown vegetation creates cool, shaded hiding spots and provides food, making the area comfortable for pests to live and breed. By reducing these sheltered areas, your garden becomes far less inviting.
You can also use natural planting methods to discourage them. Growing nitrogen-fixing plants such as peas, beans, and other legumes helps improve soil health while making the environment less appealing to many insects. These plants release compounds around their roots that can irritate pests and encourage them to move elsewhere.
Maintaining a clean yard combined with strategic planting can significantly reduce the presence of a cricket insect without relying heavily on chemical treatments, helping you protect both your home and garden naturally.
4. Make a DIY deterrent
If you notice groups of crickets gathering around your plants, you can try a simple homemade repellent before turning to stronger treatments. A mild natural spray can help make the area less inviting and encourage them to move elsewhere.
Mix crushed garlic, a pinch of chilli powder, a few drops of dish soap, and water in a spray bottle. Shake it well and lightly mist the soil and surrounding surfaces where activity is common. The strong smell and taste act as a deterrent and can reduce repeat visits from a cricket insect.
Before applying it across the whole garden, test the mixture on a small section of leaves. Wait a day to check for any discoloration or burning. If the plant shows signs of stress, dilute the mixture with more water and test again. Using a gentle concentration keeps your plants safe while still helping protect them from unwanted pests naturally.
5. Reduce clutter and moisture inside your house
Cluttered spaces and stored junk create perfect hiding spots for crickets, so keeping your home organised makes a big difference. Remove piles of boxes, paper, and unused items so they don’t have sheltered places to nest or stay unnoticed.
Once the clutter is cleared, thoroughly vacuum carpets and rugs and sweep hard floors, especially along walls, corners, and under furniture. Female crickets may leave eggs in quiet, undisturbed areas, so cleaning low-traffic spots regularly helps eliminate them before they hatch. After cleaning, empty the vacuum bag or dispose of debris promptly to avoid reinfestation.
Moisture control is just as important. Crickets prefer dark, damp conditions, and even stacked newspapers or magazines can collect humidity and mold over time. Improving airflow, fixing leaks, and using a dehumidifier can make your home less inviting.
If certain items are damp or damaged beyond use, it’s better to discard them. These habits greatly reduce the chances of a cricket insect settling indoors and multiplying.
6. Clean your gutters regularly
Gutters often provide the perfect hiding place for crickets. They are shaded, slightly damp, and deep enough to offer protection, while also collecting leaves and plant debris that act as a food source. Because of this, they can quickly become a comfortable nesting area if left unattended.
Cleaning your gutters at least once a year not only prepares your home for heavy rain but also removes the buildup that attracts pests. Clearing out organic matter eliminates both shelter and food, making the space far less appealing.
If you’ve already noticed activity around your roofline or walls, consider cleaning them more frequently for a while. Regular maintenance helps disrupt breeding areas and gradually reduces their numbers.
By keeping gutters clear and dry, you can greatly lower the chances of a cricket insect settling near your home and eventually making its way indoors
7. Catch and release them
Some people prefer not to harm crickets and instead remove them gently. Catching and releasing is a simple option that clears them from your home without using chemicals or traps.
To collect several at once, place a small container in an area where you often notice activity. Add a few lettuce leaves inside and position a small battery-powered light nearby. Leave the lid slightly open overnight. The light and food will attract them, and by morning you’ll usually find a group gathered inside.
Carefully cover the container and take it outdoors. Choose a location well away from your house, ideally an area with grass, plants, or natural cover so they can survive comfortably. Releasing them far from entry points prevents them from returning.
This gentle approach allows you to relocate a cricket insect while keeping your indoor space quiet and undisturbed.
Final Thoughts
Keeping crickets under control comes down to prevention, cleanliness, and timely action. Sealing entry points, reducing outdoor lighting attraction, maintaining your garden, removing moisture, and clearing clutter all help make your home less inviting. Natural repellents and humane removal methods can manage minor activity, while regular maintenance stops future problems from developing. Staying consistent with these habits protects your comfort and prevents repeated disturbances, especially during cooler seasons when they seek shelter indoors. If the issue becomes persistent or difficult to manage, professional assistance ensures a safe and long-term solution.
Contact EMK Termite & Pest Control Sydney for reliable and effective pest control solutions tailored to your property and peace of mind.
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