How To Get Rid Of A Cricket In Your Home When You Can't Find It

It's 2 A.M., you are almost asleep, and then it starts: chirp, chirp, chirp. You follow this noise into a corner, look behind the couch, but the chirping stops, and just when you think the cricket has left, chirping starts again. Frustrating, right? Well, you are not alone, as plenty of people deal with this, too. Now, surely you could just keep looking around, and maybe you will get lucky and find the cricket. But if you want a quicker solution, there is a surprising trick worth trying: setting a beer-can trap.

Crickets are attracted to beer's scent and natural sweetness. So, if you leave a can of leftover beer somewhere in your home, it is likely that the crickets will find it and get trapped inside the can. And, if you do not have beer on hand, you can use something else that is naturally sweet, like molasses, to get chirping crickets out of your home. Place it in a cup with some water, and the crickets should flock to it. 

Just keep in mind that no matter what type of DIY trap you use, crickets will always come back if you do not get rid of the things that are attracting them to your home in the first place. These critters thrive in moisture, so if there is any wetness around your home's windows or doors, you'll need to address it. Crickets are also attracted to lights, so you may want to consider dimming outdoor garden lights that are too bright, or any indoor lights that spill outdoors. Lastly, remove any food leftovers and close any holes or cracks that crickets can use to enter your home.

Ready to give a beer-can trap a try? You can use any type of beer; it does not need to be from a specific brand. Open the can and pour most of it out, leaving only a few drops inside. You may be tempted to cut the can to create a larger opening for the crickets, but this is unnecessary. The tiny opening works because it will be difficult for them to exit.

Once the can is ready, place it on its side. Ideally, you should put it in the room or spot where you last heard the cricket, which may be near the furniture or other objects where a cricket might hide. Do not put the beer can in the middle of the room. Crickets often choose sheltered spaces, not open ones, so if it's in the middle of the room, your trap will be farther from their hiding spot. Also, if you are hearing cricket sounds from multiple places in your home, either use multiple beer-can traps or start with the spot where the cricket sounds seem the loudest.

Make sure you set the trap during the evening, as crickets, along with many other types of bugs you do not want living in your home, are nocturnal, or active at night. Keep checking the beer-can trap from time to time because there is no guarantee a cricket that enters it will stay trapped inside. Once you see one, cover the can with a napkin or piece of paper, take it outside, remove the cricket, and set the trap again.