I’ll be using this article to give you tips on how to get rid of springtails in bedrooms, bathrooms, and other areas in your home.

Springtails do not cause us humans any harm, as they don’t bite, sting, or transmit diseases. Nonetheless, they can gather up in large numbers and make themselves at home, right in your home!

They are such an unpleasant sight that needs to be taken care of, especially when they are still few. If left unattended, they will breed and their numbers will increase significantly.

Not to worry, there are several means by which you can get rid of these pests.

Springtail Extermination

Springtails are very tiny insects. They are so small, you may not even notice them if they crawled alone.

If you see tiny jumping bugs in your bathroom and sink, they are likely to be springtails.

Springtails are huge lovers of damp and moist areas, and they feed off the fungi that these damp areas produce.

Luckily, they do not bite humans, they are only out to secure their food source and living environments. Also, they do not do damage to garden plants. They are just nuisance pests that are an eyesore when they occur in large numbers.

How To Get Rid Of Springtails Completely

Having some understanding of their behaviors, likes, and dislikes will help in the fight against them.

Using the knowledge available, here are a few things you can do to get rid of them.

  • Call On A Professional Pest Control Expert

As you notice the activities of springtails in your home, immediate action has to be taken. Not everyone is the DIY type, many would just rather have someone else take care of the job for them.

Calling on a professional exterminator is the most effective means by which you can handle a springtail infestation, especially when they are in large, almost uncontrollable numbers.

Have the experts come over to your place to assess the situation. In some cases, you and your family may be required to leave the house for a few days until the infestation is completely taken care of.

Keep in mind that this will cost you a significant amount of money, as pest control services aren’t cheap. If you have the budget for it, then I suggest you call the pros and save yourself the stress.

On the flip side, if you don’t mind the stress and think you can handle the infestation yourself, then use the tips below.

  • Use Diatomaceous Earth

You can take the fight straight to them without wasting any time by applying diatomaceous earth to areas where they are most active.  Such areas should be moist or damp spots such as under the kitchen sink, any leaking pipes, or a damp or wet rug.

Sprinkle some D.E around those areas and they will be gone. Besides killing them, this substance can also repel them and keep their friends at bay.

  • Use A Garlic Based Solution

Garlic has a very strong smell and is one of the most potent foods in the world. It has many health benefits to humans, but it also has pest control benefits too!

Garlic, when crushed and turned into a spray, can be a lethal weapon in the fight against springtails.

Here’s what to do.

Get about 4 cloves of garlic and a quart of water. Crush the garlic as much as you can, if possible into powdery form.

Mix it with the water and let it sit overnight. By the following day, the water would’ve extracted all the essential elements of the garlic, meaning it is now ready to use.

Go to the areas where springtail infestation is high and begin to spray the garlic-based insecticide on the affected parts.

You should spray under the kitchen sink, over the rug, inside cracks and crevices, and any other place you catch them spending time.

To you things up, you can mix the garlic spray with some crushed cayenne pepper. This combination will severely irritate the bugs and they will die.

  • Use Neem Oil

Springtails cannot withstand the effects of neem oil. This is an organic means by which you can get rid of them. Buy a neem oil insecticide from a pest control store. They are common so you should find one easily.

Sprinkle the neem oil all over your surfaces at home, especially the areas that are infested. This oil will kill the springtails in a few minutes after contact.

Reduce The Moisture And Dampness In Your Home

Since we know springtails love moisture, then you should expect them to hang around areas in your home that provide adequate amounts of it.

That being said, one of the rational things to do in the fight against springtail infestation is to reduce or eliminate the moisture and dampness in your home.

You can start by fixing as many leaking pipes as you can find. Check the areas most likely to have pipe problems and fix them. These should be the kitchen and bathroom.

A leaking roof could also be a source of moisture and dampness in the home.

For the pipes, all you will need is the services of a plumber. Hire one to come and inspect your plumbing and fix as many leakages he/she finds.

Leaking pipes aside, you can also reduce moisture and dampness in your home by improving ventilation.

Keep your windows open for longer hours and keep your ceiling fans on. The better the ventilation, the less dampness you will have, hence lesser springtails.

The idea here is to make your home unappealing to them.

  • Remove Their Food Source

Springtails feed on fungi, which is produced around damp or moist areas. I just spoke about reducing or eliminating moisture to chase the springtails away.

If the moisture and dampness are eliminated, it will mean the springtails will go hungry, as their source of fungi has been removed.

This is a simple tactic that will work if properly executed.

  • Vacuum

If you find a bunch of springtails crawling along your carpet, couch, or mattress, then a quick remedy is to get a vacuum cleaner and suck them up.

This of course won’t kill them, it’ll only suck them into the vacuum bag which has to be emptied after cleaning is done.

Picking the right spot to dispose of them could be a challenge too. Dumping them in areas close to your house would mean a short trip back into your home.

You should find a place to dispose of them where it would be hard or impossible for them to get back.

  • Keep Tiny Spaces Sealed

Springtails can make their way into your home through small cracks in your door, wall, or window. If you have any open spaces around your home, be sure to see them up tightly.

You can use caulk, or a simple cement, sand, and water mixture to patch up the cracks in the walls.

Also, use a seal to shut out the spaces in-between the windows and doors. These pests make very good use of tiny spaces, so you would want to keep it as tight as you possibly can.

  • Wash Your Rug Or Carpet

Springtails can be found crawling on damp carpets. If you discover a few of them on your carpet, then I advise you to inspect the carpet further. They may be hiding and laying eggs beneath it, so if they aren’t handled quickly, they would multiply significantly later.

Remove the infested carpet and take it out for a thorough steam wash. All sides should be sprayed with warm water and detergent. Doing this will get all the bugs off the carpet.

After the wash, set it out to dry, then return it to your living room.

Keep in mind, you will need a few days of sunshine for this, so be sure to check the weather forecast before you steam wash your carpet.

How To Keep Springtails Out Of Your Home

There are many ways through which springtails can gain access into your home. One of the most common means is with a flower pot.

Springtails are commonly found in the soil of potted plants, and you can unconsciously bring them into your home as you step in with your new flower in the pot.

To make sure this doesn’t happen, check the flower pot before you bring it into the house. If you find springtails in there, then you have to get rid of them first before you bring the pot into your home.

You can also keep the springtails away from your home by removing all the grass and leaves that are close to your home. As long as these are kept away from your home, then you will find little or no springtails in your home.

Diatomaceous Earth sprinkled around the house can also be used to keep them from entering. D.E is a strong insect repellent and it works well against springtails.

Conclusion on Springtail Control

Springtails are not harmful to humans, neither do they cause any major damage to plants. They are simply nuisance pests.

Follow the tips above to get rid of them.

I trust this article on how to get rid of springtails has been helpful.

Good luck!

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