What to do about crickets in your home

Crickets are a common nuisance for homeowners throughout the Miami Valley, especially during late summer and fall. While they usually start outdoors, they often move inside when temperatures drop or during long stretches of wet weather. Once indoors, crickets create noise, damage fabrics and stored items, and attract other pests that feed on them. Homes in southwestern Ohio see regular cricket activity every year, and understanding their behavior, the risks they bring, and the signs of an emerging problem helps you know when to take action.

The damage and risk crickets cause indoors

Crickets are not known for spreading diseases, but they cause several problems that make living conditions uncomfortable. Their constant chirping can disrupt sleep and add stress, particularly when they hide in wall voids, basements, or closets. The noise itself is a major reason homeowners seek help.

Crickets also feed on fabrics, cardboard, and stored belongings. Clothing, blankets, carpet fibers, and paper-based items can all be damaged when crickets chew on them. In basements and storage areas, they often hide among boxes and stored goods, leading to damage that goes unnoticed until the items are used again. Crickets also attract spiders and centipedes because they serve as a food source, which brings even more unwanted pests into the home.

Another concern is sanitation. While crickets are not harmful in the same way cockroaches are, their droppings accumulate in hidden spots and create unpleasant odors, especially in damp environments. Large numbers of crickets can leave behind stains and debris that require more frequent cleaning.

Cricket behavior patterns in the Miami Valley

Cricket activity in southwestern Ohio is strongly tied to weather and seasonal shifts. Homeowners usually begin seeing more crickets from late July through October. Warm, humid nights allow the population to grow outdoors, especially in grassy areas, mulch beds, woodpiles, and around exterior lighting. When cooler temperatures arrive or when heavy rainfall floods their outdoor hiding places, crickets move inside through small gaps, torn screens, or foundation cracks.

Inside Miami Valley homes, crickets prefer basements, laundry rooms, storage areas, garages, and places where clutter creates shelter. They are attracted to warmth and may gather near water heaters, furnaces, or appliances. Since they are nocturnal, most activity happens at night. Many homeowners discover a cricket problem only after hearing the chirping echo through a quiet house.

Signs that crickets have established themselves

The most common sign of cricket activity is the chirping sound. This noise can come from behind walls, under appliances, or inside storage areas. Seeing crickets repeatedly in basements or lower levels of the home is another warning sign, especially when you find them in laundry rooms or along baseboards.

If you notice small holes in clothing or blankets stored in basements or closets, crickets may be feeding on fabric fibers. Paper items, cardboard boxes, and stored linens can also show signs of chewing. Droppings or shed skins near these items further confirm their presence. Another sign is spiders or centipedes becoming more active, since they often move in to feed on the crickets.

When you should take action

You should take action as soon as you see recurring cricket activity or hear their noise inside your home. Waiting allows the population to grow, and the constant chirping becomes more disruptive. Store bought sprays and traps may catch a few individuals, but they do not address the root issue of how the crickets are entering or why they are staying. Without proper treatment, the problem often returns each season.

Treating early is especially important if crickets are damaging stored belongings or if the noise is affecting sleep. Addressing moisture issues, sealing entry points, and reducing insect populations that attract predators are all part of a complete solution.

The right next step

If crickets are showing up inside your home or keeping you awake at night, the best thing you can do is contact Midwest Pest and Wildlife Control. We identify where they are entering, reduce their numbers, and treat the conditions that attract them. Professional service keeps crickets out of your living spaces and helps restore calm and comfort to your home.