Dealing with slugs in the garden is one thing, but spotting their glistening trails inside the home is even more unsettling. Luckily, learning how to get rid of slugs in the house is easier than it sounds.
But out of the various tricks for getting rid of slugs naturally, which ones work indoors? Well, between home-made sprays and simple preventative measures, there are lots of hacks you can use to crack down on the intruders.
'Slugs are very unwelcome guests in homes, but unfortunately, we all seem to have them appear at this time of year as temperatures drop outside and humidity levels increase,' says Ted Hall of landscaping supplies manufacturer IBRAN.
We've asked the experts for their tips on how to stop slugs once and for all.
How to get rid of slugs in the house
Slugs are unwelcome visitors in any home, but they’re something that many homeowners struggle with on a regular basis. First and foremost, you'll want to ensure that all nooks and crannies are sealed.
'Proactive prevention is the key for slugs,' says Edris Latifi, pest expert at Eco Care. 'Ensure that they cannot access your home, or it will quickly become an attractive hangout for the pests.'
Slugs invade bathrooms and kitchens, and they seem impossible to control. Thankfully, there are plenty of natural solutions if you're wondering how to get rid of slugs in the house.
What you'll need
1. Use slug tape
Both indoors and outdoors, copper slug tape works wonders. It can be used as you would any other masking or sticky tape and can be stuck all over the house.
But what is it about copper that slugs don’t like? 'The copper deters the pests by giving them a very small electrostatic shock,' explains John Stewart from the technical team at sustainable pest prevention specialist Pelsis. 'Although the shock won’t cause them any serious harm or long-term damage, it's enough to stop them from trespassing.'
And while it’s not exactly known why slugs and copper do not mix, you’ll be happy to know that this copper tape doesn’t hurt slugs, and the shock is harmless.
More than anything, the tape acts as a barrier between the inside of your house and the slug. And sometimes that's all it takes.
2. Tackle condensation issues
If you want to stop slugs coming into the house, you’ve probably asked yourself what they’re doing there in the first place. It might be that you need to focus on how to deal with damp, instead.
'Slugs need moisture to survive,' says Edris from Eco Care. 'If you have damp areas in your home, such as basements, crawl spaces, or leaky pipes, they may be attracted to these spots.'
If you can, try and tackle damp or condensation issues you may have in your house. To do this, wipe away condensation build-up on windows and make sure you’re improving ventilation in your home. Open up windows during the day, and use extractor fans while you’re cooking and taking a shower.
If you’re worried about the moisture levels in your home, it might be worth investing in one of the best dehumidifiers on the market.
3. Make a natural spray solution
Cleaning expert Nicola Rodriguez, AKA Essex House Dolly., has found the perfect natural spray solution to stop slugs coming into the house, tried and tested in her mother’s home.
‘Make a spray solution of lavender and/or rosemary oil as well as fennel and perennial phlox with water and spray it all around your home,’ she says. It’s best to spray this as close to the floor as you can, so the slugs can get a good whiff of it.
This concoction will not just deter slugs, but it also has the bonus of making your home smell wonderful. And who doesn’t want that?
4. Take away the opportunity
Slugs are very simple creatures – they love dark spaces with lots of vegetation they can eat.
For starters, it’s a good idea to remove any food debris you have in the house, especially on floors, windowsills or other hidden areas in the kitchen. Slugs have an incredible sense of smell and can seek out delicious food with ease, and they’ll slither through the smallest of spaces to get to this food if they want it.
That’s why you also need to take a good look around your home for any potential entry points. ‘Check your windows and doors,’ says Daniel Steward, managing director of Shield Pest Control. ‘It’s worth spending some time surveying your property to see if any holes need resealing. Even the smallest of gaps can be a welcome invitation for slugs.’
Thankfully, it’s fairly easy to fix these gaps. Simply squeeze a small amount of silicone sealant like the EVO-STIK All Purpose Silicone Sealant from Amazon into any holes you find. This is a great way to draught-proof your windows, too.
5. Lure them out with a trap
As we already know, it is possible to stop slugs coming into the house. But what do you do when they're already inside?
‘Sometimes, it’s hard to know where they are hiding, so slug baits are a great way to encourage them to appear from their retreats,’ says Daniel. ‘Slugs normally hide in dark, moist spots such as under sinks, so be sure to check these areas thoroughly. For a humane slug trap, use sugary liquids such as soft drinks to lure and catch the slugs. Once inside, take the trap outside and release the slug as far away from your property as possible.’
Of course, if you find this isn’t working, it may be a good idea to enlist the help of a professional pest control company to ensure that all of the slugs have vacated the premises.
FAQs
Do slugs in a house mean damp?
Slugs are highly attracted to damp environments, so spotting them indoors can indicate dampness in the home.
'They thrive in moist environments, so their presence can be a sign that there's excess moisture in your home,' says Edris from Eco Care. 'This could be due to leaks, poor ventilation, or other factors.'
How do slugs get in the house at night?
Slugs are nocturnal animals that thrive when the sun sets, so nighttime is the perfect time for them to enter your house.
'Slugs can get into your house in a few ways,' says Edris. 'The most obvious is through cracks and gaps – be it walls, doors or windows. Whilst these aren’t always obvious to the human eye, they can be around utility pipes or broadband cables.
'And if one gets in, many slugs will follow the slime left by parents or other slugs – so one slug always means lots of slugs.'
So, now you know to get rid of slugs in the house, you can reclaim your home and keep the nocturnal intruders at bay.
