Do you have a problem with slugs in your house?
You’re not alone. It’s actually quite common, especially if you live in the countryside. In this post, I’ll share some tried and tested ways to get rid of slugs in the house and prevent them from coming back.
We only realised we had slugs coming into our house at night after our daughter was born. Night feeds meant we were in the kitchen at all hours, and that’s when we started noticing them.
Of course, being sleep-deprived and dealing with slugs at 3 am wasn’t ideal. Let me tell you, stepping on a slug in the middle of the night is as unpleasant as it sounds.
While we still occasionally spot the odd slug, things are much better now. At one point, we sometimes had 15 to 20 slugs indoors in a single night. Now it’s usually just one or two.
Why Are There Slugs in My House?
There are a few reasons you might find slugs in your house. Slugs like damp conditions, so they are often more of an issue in older properties. Even if your home doesn’t feel damp, there can be hidden damp spots behind cupboards or around the kitchen sink. This is why slugs are commonly found in kitchens.
Some people even spot slugs in their kitchen sink. This usually happens when they are coming up through the wastewater pipe.
Another reason you might see slugs indoors is that they are laying eggs in your house. This can create a cycle that leads to more and more slugs over time.
Slugs are very flexible and can squeeze through tiny gaps. Even the smallest hole around doors, windows, or air bricks could be enough for them to get in.
Are Slugs in the Kitchen a Problem?
Slugs in the garden are generally a good thing. They help break down rotting leaves, provide food for birds, and their droppings are full of minerals that benefit your soil.
Inside your home, however, slugs are not ideal, especially if you have young children or pets. Dogs in particular can become very ill if they eat slugs, because slugs can carry the lungworm parasite. If you have pets, it’s important to deal with slugs as soon as possible.
Do Slugs in the House Mean Damp?
While slugs are often attracted to damp areas, finding them in your home does not automatically mean you have a damp problem. They are simply drawn to the small damp spots that naturally occur in kitchens, bathrooms, or near drains.
How To Get Rid of Slugs in the House
There are lots of ways to deal with slugs in your kitchen and home. Some methods are more humane than others, so it’s important to choose what works best for you.
1. Physically Remove Slugs from Your House
Slugs often follow their own scent trails when moving in and out of your house at night. To break this cycle, gather all the slugs using rubber gloves and a container, and move them as far away from your home as possible. I live near a canal, so I walked to the end of my road and placed them in a hedgerow.
Even moving slugs to the front of your house instead of the back can sometimes be enough to stop them from finding their way back.
2.Block Any Holes Where Slugs Enter
Unless you seal up the entry points, slugs are likely to return. They can squeeze through very tiny gaps, so it may take time to find every place they are getting in.
In older houses or cottages, this can be quite a big job, but it’s essential to stop repeat infestations.
3. Remove Slug Eggs
Slug eggs are small, clear, and often found in clusters. Removing these eggs can help break the cycle and prevent more slugs from appearing in your kitchen or other areas of the home.
4. Cover Air Bricks
Air bricks are a common way for slugs to get into your home. You shouldn’t fill them completely because they allow airflow, but you can install air brick covers. These let air circulate while preventing slugs from entering.
5. Use Copper Tape
Slugs dislike copper. Placing copper tape around areas where slugs are getting in can be an effective barrier. This can be useful for spots where you are unable to block gaps completely.
6. Use Salt as a Last Resort
Salt is a common method for getting rid of slugs, but it is not very humane. If you choose to use salt, do so sparingly and only as a thin barrier along the entry points where slugs are getting in.
Natural Deterrents for Getting Rid of Slugs
There are several natural ways to help prevent slugs from getting into your home, although they may not be as effective as some of the other methods mentioned earlier.
You can try:
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Making a garlic spray
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Planting herbs like lavender or mint near entry points
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Using broken eggshells along thresholds
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Sprinkling coffee grounds along thresholds
These all create a barrier that slugs tend to avoid.
Using Sheep Wool to Keep Slugs Out
Virgin sheep wool can also work as a deterrent, as slugs do not like crawling over it. This method is best used indoors, since it becomes less effective if it gets wet.
Preventing Slugs From Coming Into Your House
Once you’ve dealt with the slugs currently in your home, the next step is to make sure they don’t come back.
Prevention is easier than constant removal and will save you a lot of frustration!
Check for Entry Points
Slugs can get in through the tiniest gaps, so it’s important to inspect your home carefully.
Look for the following:
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Gaps around doors and windows
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Cracks in walls or foundations
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Air bricks and vents
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Spaces around pipes and drains
Sealing these gaps with appropriate materials like silicone or mesh will make it much harder for slugs to enter.
Keep Outdoor Areas Clear
Slugs often move from gardens into homes, so managing the areas around your house helps prevent infestations.
Consider trying the following:
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Keeping plant pots, compost heaps, and garden debris away from walls
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Avoiding dense vegetation directly against the house
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Clearing damp leaves and mulch near entrances
Maintain Dry Surfaces
Slugs are attracted to moisture, so reducing damp areas around and inside your home will make it less inviting for them. Wipe up spills promptly, fix leaking pipes, and ensure good ventilation in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
Use Natural Barriers
You can combine prevention with deterrents by creating small barriers at potential entry points. Some effective options (as previously mentioned) include:
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Copper tape around thresholds or window sills
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Broken eggshells or coffee grounds along entryways
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Virgin sheep wool indoors to discourage crawling
Regular Checks
Even with all the measures in place, it’s worth doing a quick check of your home every few days during wet seasons or at night when slugs are most active. Catching them early makes removal much easier.
Final Thoughts
Slugs indoors are actually a very common problem and nothing to be embarrassed about. It does not mean your home is dirty or unclean.
Before dealing with slugs in my own home, I hadn’t really come across the issue. When I mentioned it to friends, two had experienced slugs getting into their houses too, so it’s more common than many people realise.
Good luck with dealing with your slug problem and I hope this helps you to get rid of the slugs in your house whichever method you choose to use!
