Cricket is a harmless bug and in some traditions, it’s the symbol of luck and virtue. However, the constant chirping noise might be too much to handle for some people and if you have crickets in your home then there is a high chance that other predatory bugs and rodents will visit to feast on them.
So it’s wise to take action on cricket, if ignored they will breed rapidly and crickets are known for eating silk, cotton, woolen clothes, and other things. Let’s find out what could be the most effective natural solution for the cricket problem.
Does vinegar repel crickets?
Vinegar is acidic in nature and it is quite efficient in keeping the crickets at bay. The vinegar is acetic acid with a pH level of 2.5, when mixed with water it becomes a natural bug repellent. However, the vinegar and water mixture won’t last or will be effective for a long time.
Vinegar is an easy solution to keep bugs like crickets away. But does it work for all types? Let’s get to know.
Camel crickets:
This light brown color bug is rarely seen near human civilization. It will prefer dark and moist space to live and breed.
It doesn’t possess any poisonous element nor does it spread any viral disease but it would certainly attract other harmful bugs and animals.
Camel crickets are on the top likable food list for bats, rats, ants, and other predatory bugs. If you have a cat in your home, it might eat this cricket out of curiosity and face indigestion problems.
A vinegar and water mix can be a simple solution to this bug infestation. Spray your vinegar solution in places like basements, attics, and other places. It is the most safest and natural way to get rid of this bug.
Spider crickets:
The name is enough to represent the shape and movement of the bug. Spider crickets may look terrifying for some as they almost look and move like a spider.
These crickets are attracted towards light and may come out at night otherwise they will stay in confined spaces to stay safe from predators.
It has a pretty low tolerance against the acidic solution, so spraying vinegar and water mixture will definitely be effective for repelling this bug for good.
Cave crickets:
Cave crickets, the name is a good representative for its character, habitat and it also tells us how rare it is to see in our home.
It will look almost similar to the Camel cricket, will prefer dark, damp places, and like other crickets will be making annoying sounds, releasing pheromones to attract mates along with other bugs and rodents.
Spraying vinegar is an easy and effective solution for getting rid of this bug.
Do crickets like vinegar?
No, crickets and other bugs dislike the smell of vinegar and try to avoid contact with anything mixed with vinegar. The vinegar has an acidic level of pH 2.5, this level of acidity is too much for a bug like a cricket to handle.
Crickets prefer dark and humid places and it’s hard to find such a place in an open field or in modern society. However, you might find crickets in your basement or the attic.
The confined places where someone will rarely disturb them are a perfect safe haven for their living and breeding ground.
The crickets may not be harmful or carry anything disastrous but they will surely attract rodents that will only bring trouble, not to mention that you might have to deal with swarms of crickets in your house if they get the chance to breed.
So it’s ideal to use vinegar mixture at the first sight of any crickets.
How fast does vinegar terminate crickets?
Vinegar is quite effective when it comes to dealing with crickets but the reaction after spraying can vary due to several factors.
If you are able to spray the vinegar solution directly onto the body of the cricket, it will take a minute or two to make the bug unable to move and slowly take its life away.
If you know where the cricket is living or don’t have any clear visual information about the bug then spraying in the corners and even in the air will be enough but it will not give you instant results.
The bug repellent spray found in the market is made with harmful chemicals that may bring instant results but it will surely harm your respiratory system, will create discomfort in your nose, and more.
The vinegar solution may take longer to get rid of the cricket but it’s the safest way possible. You can adjust, modify the volume of vinegar and water ratio to increase its effectiveness.
How do you deter crickets using vinegar?
There are simple steps that you can follow to deter the crickets. Let’s get to know them.
Make an effective solution:
It won’t be a good idea to spray only vinegar or make a solution where the difference between vinegar and water is so unrealistic that you can hardly trace any vinegar.
Your utmost goal is to create an efficient and reasonable solution that will be cost-effective.
While making a cricket or any other bug repellent, the optimal ratio between water and vinegar should be 3:1, which means for 3 cups of water you need to add 1 cup of vinegar.
It’s the go-to ratio that has been proven effective against most bugs. If you want to increase the potency of the solution, a 3:1.5 ratio would bring you great results.
Identify the habitat:
If you are seeing more than one cricket in your house or constantly seeing crickets every day then they have occupied your house and might be breeding in the basement or attic.
Your first job is to find and remove any suspicious-looking object or eggs. If you find it difficult to reach those places or there are too many adult crickets and it will be impossible to remove them manually then applying the vinegar mixture will be fruitful.
Keep your house clean:
You can use a vinegar solution to clean the Basement, attic, storage room, and ventilator. It’s best to clean them regularly, if not possible then on a weekly basis.
Bugs and rodents prefer dark places to live and breed and your unattended basement will be a safe haven for them but it won’t bring any good news to you.
Bugs and rodents are one of the major carriers of horrible diseases, also they will damage your property and may harm your pets and children. So keeping your house clean is a good preventive measure.
What naturally deters crickets?
Here is a list of things that deter crickets naturally.
Vinegar:
The vinegar solution is the most common and effective solution against bugs like crickets.
It takes only a minute or two to make them immobilized by spraying vinegar on them. 3:1 ratio of water and vinegar will be your best bet for creating a natural repellent.
However, the vinegar and water solution might not last for a long period of time.
Peppermint:
Peppermint extract will be a great all-rounder or an all-in-one solution for all your bug problems.
The scent and taste of peppermint essence will fend off several bugs such as crickets, moths, spiders, cockroaches, ants, and other annoying bugs.
Citrus:
Any citrus oil will be great for keeping the crickets at bay. Citrus fruit possesses acidic characteristics similar to vinegar.
So it will be quite convenient to use lemon oil for dealing with the cricket infestation. Spraying the lemon oil will help rejuvenate the atmosphere of your house too.
Salt:
Sprinkling salt on top of the bugs will make them restless, most bugs can not survive in the presence of salt.
Their body functions, breeding ability all get disoriented and they will try their best to flee the spot. If you don’t want to terminate any bugs, just want to scare them away then using salt will be the most humane option.
Diatomaceous:
Diatomaceous or the crushed marine life fossil is a great natural repellent for bugs. You just need to sparkle some diatomaceous dust on the bug and it will start working immediately.
The diatomaceous will absorb all the water from the bug’s body and take care of your bug problems for good.
How do you lure a cricket out of hiding?
Crickets love the sweet smell of Molasses, you can put it out in the open and it will surely attract crickets.
In mass agriculture production, the farmers use a pheromone to attract bugs, you can also apply this method to lure crickets out of hiding. Crickets prefer dark places but they will surely come out if there is a light source nearby.
However, using a bug zapper might not be a good idea as crickets prefer to jump rather than fly.
Final Thoughts
Vinegar has a pH of 2.5 and is acetic acid. Bugs like crickets cannot tolerate this degree of acidity. Vinegar and water solution is quite efficient in repelling pests. The only disadvantage of the vinegar and water mixture is that it will not last or be effective for a long time.