Earwigs are usually associated with outdoor environments. They hide in dark, damp places during the day and become more active at night. When conditions outside change, they may find their way into homes through small gaps around doors, windows, foundations, and utility openings.

If you keep spotting earwigs indoors, it helps to look beyond the insect itself. The areas immediately around your home may be providing the moisture, shelter, and access they need.

Here are seven places to inspect and practical steps you can take to make your home less inviting to earwigs.

1. Look Under Flowerpots and Outdoor Containers

Flowerpots, plant trays, and garden containers can create shaded, moist spaces where earwigs shelter during the day.

Check the areas beneath pots, particularly those placed directly against exterior walls, near doorways, or in shaded corners of patios. Look for accumulated leaves, damp debris, and other sheltered spaces.

What to do: Remove dead leaves, clean the surrounding area, and move pots slightly away from doorways where practical. Avoid leaving unnecessary water standing in plant trays.

You do not need to remove your plants. The goal is to reduce the sheltered conditions immediately around entrances and frequently used outdoor areas.

2. Check Leaf Piles, Mulch, and Garden Debris

Leaves, bark mulch, fallen branches, and other garden debris can provide suitable hiding places for earwigs.

These materials are particularly worth checking when they remain damp for long periods or accumulate directly beside the house.

Walk around the exterior perimeter and look for piles of leaves beneath shrubs, along foundation walls, and beside patios or basement windows.

What to do: Clear excessive debris, remove rotting plant material, and keep the foundation area tidy. Where practical, maintain a clear border between dense garden vegetation and the exterior wall.

Regular garden maintenance can make it easier to spot potential pest harbourage before insects begin entering the building.

3. Inspect the Foundation and Lower Walls

Small cracks and gaps near ground level can provide access for insects moving between outdoor and indoor spaces.

Inspect the foundation, exterior wall joints, and areas where different building materials meet. Pay attention to damaged caulking, spaces around pipes, and openings around utility lines.

What to do: Seal suitable gaps with appropriate materials and repair damaged exterior seals. For larger cracks or signs of moisture entering the building, arrange the necessary repairs.

Spraying alone will not correct a structural opening. Addressing entry points is an important part of a longer-term prevention routine.

4. Examine Doors, Windows, and Screens

Doors and windows are among the most frequently used openings in a home. Worn seals, damaged screens, and small gaps near thresholds can make it easier for insects to get inside.

Check exterior doors, patio entrances, basement windows, and other ground-level openings.

Look for worn weather stripping, torn screens, and spaces beneath doors. If you regularly notice earwigs in one room, inspect the nearest exterior opening first.

What to do: Repair damaged screens, replace worn weather stripping, and fit suitable door sweeps where needed. Close doors promptly instead of leaving them open unnecessarily.

These small improvements can help reduce access for earwigs and other occasional insect visitors.

5. Reduce Excess Moisture Around the House

Earwigs prefer moist, sheltered areas. Water that collects near foundations, leaking outdoor taps, damp corners, or poorly draining garden beds can make the surrounding environment more attractive to them.

Inspect downspouts, outdoor faucets, irrigation systems, and areas where water collects after rainfall.

What to do: Repair leaks, clear blocked drainage points, and direct water away from the foundation where appropriate. Avoid overwatering plants immediately beside exterior walls.

If your basement or crawl space remains damp, investigate the underlying moisture problem rather than relying solely on pest treatments.

Reducing excess moisture can help discourage earwigs and supports general home maintenance.

6. Check Garages, Sheds, and Storage Areas

Garages and sheds often contain cardboard, gardening equipment, plant pots, lumber, and other items that sit undisturbed for long periods.

These spaces may also have door gaps or openings near the floor that allow outdoor insects to enter.

Inspect areas behind stored boxes, beneath shelving, around garage-door edges, and near exterior-facing corners.

What to do: Organize stored items, remove unnecessary debris, and keep frequently used equipment off the floor where practical. Check the bottom of garage doors and repair damaged seals.

If you discover an earwig indoors, you can usually remove it with a vacuum or broom and dustpan. Repeated sightings suggest that it is worth investigating nearby hiding places and entry points.

7. Review Outdoor Lighting and Nighttime Conditions

Earwigs are primarily active at night, so it can be helpful to pay attention to areas around entrances and exterior lights after dark.

Outdoor lighting can affect where some insects gather, although lighting alone does not explain every earwig sighting.

Look at lights positioned near doors, basement windows, patios, and sheltered wall corners. Notice whether the surrounding area also contains moisture, vegetation, or debris.

What to do: Switch off unnecessary lights when they are not needed and consider warmer, less insect-attracting lighting options where appropriate. Keep essential walkways safely illuminated.

Combine lighting adjustments with cleaning, moisture management, and sealing gaps rather than treating lighting as a complete solution.

Where Nature's Dome Pest Control Spray Fits In

Cleaning outdoor areas and repairing entry points are useful first steps, but you may also want a product for targeted pest management.

Nature's Dome Pest Control Spray – 32 oz is a ready-to-use spray formulated with essential-oil ingredients, including geraniol, cottonseed oil, and cinnamon oil. Its official product listing includes earwigs among the insects it targets and describes indoor and outdoor applications.

The spray is one option to consider as part of your pest-management routine when the intended pest and application area match the product label.

Always read the current label before use. Follow its directions for application areas and precautions, and do not apply the product to pets or surfaces that are not approved by the label. Keep children and animals away from treated areas as directed.

A product can complement prevention, but it cannot guarantee that earwigs will never enter your home again.

A Simple Earwig Prevention Checklist

Before treating the area, take a few minutes to check the conditions around your home.

• Remove excess leaves and debris near exterior walls.
• Move garden containers away from doorways where practical.
• Check for standing water and drainage issues.
• Seal suitable cracks and gaps around the foundation.
• Inspect door sweeps, window screens, and weather stripping.
• Organize garage and shed storage.
• Use any pest-control product according to its label.

If you find only an occasional earwig indoors, simple removal and prevention may be enough. If they continue appearing in large numbers, investigate the source or consult a qualified pest-management professional.

Keep Earwigs Outside With a More Complete Approach

Earwigs are usually outdoor insects, and seeing a few indoors does not automatically mean your home has a major infestation.

The most useful starting point is to inspect the areas that may be allowing them inside. Damp garden debris, sheltered spaces near foundations, and gaps around doors and windows are all worth checking.

Combine routine cleaning, moisture management, and physical exclusion with appropriate targeted pest control when needed.

Nature's Dome Pest Control Spray offers an option for managing listed pests when used according to its label. Pairing appropriate treatment with ongoing home maintenance gives you a more practical approach than repeatedly treating insects without investigating where they are coming from.

Start with the source, address the conditions, and make prevention part of your regular home-care routine.

Important note: Earwigs are generally nuisance insects and are not considered a serious indoor pest. No spray guarantees complete prevention. Follow all product label directions and precautions, and seek professional advice if the problem persists.