How to Get Rid of Scorpions in Your House and Keep Them Out

A scorpion inside your house can feel like a bigger problem than it often is. However, it’s still a sign worth taking seriously. It’s important to know that most scorpions you see indoors are not “nesting” in the way ants do. They are usually passing through, hiding out during the day and coming out at night to hunt. 

Scorpions end up inside our homes when the conditions line up. To get rid of them, you’ll need to remove the reasons your home is on their route in the first place.

Understanding Why Scorpions Enter Your Home

Scorpions are attracted to houses that mirror the conditions they are used to in nature. The biggest pull is usually food such as crickets, cockroaches and spiders. Issues like a small leak under the sink, a damp bathroom, a humid utility room or even a drip you’ve been ignoring can make the area more attractive for them. This is not because scorpions love water, but because damp areas tend to bring in more insects and often slightly better conditions when it’s dry outside. Hiding places are also appealing — scorpions are looking for tight, dark spots that stay undisturbed.

Scorpions do not need much space to enter your home. The most common entry points are:

• Gaps under the doors
• Cracks in walls and foundations
• Openings around pipes and cables
• Windows and damaged screens
• Garages and utility room 
• Firewood and stored items brought indoors

Sometimes the trigger is outside the house, not inside. Scorpions are forced to move during heat waves, very dry spells, heavy rain and flooding. Construction and landscaping that clears away rocks, wood and ground cover can also disturb their shelter, which means they often need to look for a replacement. That replacement is often the nearest garage, shed or ground-level entry point. 

Tips for Removing a Scorpion You Find Indoors

If you’ve already seen a scorpion indoors, the first step is to remove it from your house so it can’t sting people or pets and won’t move to a more hard-to-reach hiding spot. Here are some tips for relocating your unwanted house guest: 

• Gather supplies: To relocate a scorpion outdoors, you’ll need a small, clear container and a sturdy piece of cardboard. Be sure to wear a pair of thick, protective gloves — if they don’t come up very high, consider taping them closed around your wrists. 
• Identify the scorpion type: The Arizona bark scorpion is small, light-colored and capable of climbing. It’s also the most venomous scorpion in North America and should only be removed by a professional. Stripe bark and lesser stripetail scorpions are less dangerous than the Arizona bark scorpion, but should still be approached with caution. They’re typically only found at ground level. The giant hairy scorpion is bigger, heavier and often spotted after heavy rain or yard work has disturbed their outdoor hiding place.
• Place and seal the container: Approach the scorpion with caution, carefully placing the container over top of it. Then, slide the cardboard piece under the container and carefully under the scorpion. Be sure to keep the container and cardboard firmly secured to create a seal. 
• Relocate the scorpion: Take the contained scorpion outside and release them far from your home. Stand back when removing the container and give it plenty of room to exit. 
• Contact a professional: If you have one scorpion indoors, there’s a good chance you have more. At the very least, it means there is an unsecured entry point somewhere around your house that will let more scorpions and other pests enter in the future. Contact a professional to schedule an inspection and treatment.

If you have a scorpion infestation, do not attempt to manually relocate each one. A professional can help remedy the situation quickly and effectively.

How to Keep Scorpions Out of Your House

Once you understand what attracted scorpions to your home, you can start making it less appealing and harder to access.  

1. Seal and Secure Your Home’s Exterior

The first job is to make your home harder to get into. Start by adding or replacing door sweeps to eliminate any line of light under exterior doors. Check the weather stripping around doors and windows and replace any pieces that are cracked or loose. You should also make sure every window has a hole-free, secure screen in place. 

Check around pipes, cables and vents, and seal any gaps in your foundation with caulk or foam. If you can see daylight coming through a crack or gap, a scorpion can probably use it.

2. Eliminate Hiding Spots Around Your Home

Scorpions love tight, dark places that stay undisturbed. Indoors, that usually means cluttered corners, piles of boxes and the space under large pieces of furniture. Try to store most items in plastic containers with lids instead of cardboard boxes, and stack them on shelving that is off the floor if possible.

Outside, move firewood, rocks, building materials and other yard debris away from the house. Trim any tall vegetation that could act as a hiding place near the foundation and possible entry points.

3. Control Their Food Supply

It’s important to fix leaks and damp spots that attract insects, such as crickets and cockroaches. Otherwise, you’re basically running a scorpion buffet in your home. Store foods in clear containers, clean up crumbs and take the trash out regularly. Wipe down and sanitize surfaces regularly. 

4. Consider Professional Barrier Treatments

Sometimes you do everything right, and scorpions still show up. That’s why a professional inspection is the best method for keeping scorpions away. They can help you spot and seal entry points you might have missed and create a long-term plan to get rid of scorpions permanently. This also includes assessing the outside of your property and making recommendations for establishing a protective barrier around your home.

If you’ve already got an active scorpion infestation, professionals also have the expertise and specialized, commercial-grade treatments necessary to eradicate unwanted pests. 

Get Professional Scorpion Control in Phoenix

Whether you’ve found an isolated scorpion in the closet or suspect a whole-home infestation, you need a trained professional to assess and develop an action plan. The team at Budget Brothers Termite & Pest has been helping Arizona homeowners manage scorpion infestations for over 25 years using targeted products, blacklight inspections and home sealing prevention strategies. When you need support in making your home feel comfortable and pest-free again, we’re here to help. Get in touch with our team today to discuss the next best step for your home.