How To Get Rid Of Rolly Pollies In The House: Your Ultimate Guide

Finding tiny, gray armored bugs rolling around your laundry room or basement is never a pleasant surprise. We're talking about rolly pollies, also known as pill bugs or woodlice. While they are essentially harmless decomposers, you certainly don't want them setting up residency indoors.

If you're desperately searching for information on How To Get Rid Of Rolly Pollies In The House, you've come to the right place. The good news is that these invaders are relatively easy to manage once you understand what they are looking for: moisture.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through immediate removal techniques, long-term prevention strategies, and everything in between to ensure your home remains a pill bug-free zone.

Understanding Your Tiny Invaders: What Are Rolly Pollies?

Before launching a counter-attack, it helps to know your opponent. Rolly pollies are not insects; they are actually terrestrial crustaceans, making them closer relatives to shrimp and crabs than to ants or spiders. They breathe through gills, which is why they require extremely moist environments to survive.

Indoors, they pose no threat to your home's structure or your pantry food. They don't bite, sting, or carry diseases. They are simply lost, having wandered in from the damp soil looking for an even damper place to hang out. If they cannot find consistent moisture, they will quickly dehydrate and die.

Why Are Rolly Pollies Invading My Home?

Rolly pollies don't typically live their whole lives inside a structure. Their presence signals two major issues: a moisture problem and unsealed entry points. Addressing these root causes is essential for long-term control.

The Moisture Magnet: Why Damp Areas Attract Them

These little guys need high humidity to breathe. If you see them indoors, they are almost certainly congregating in the areas with the highest relative humidity, which are usually:

Basements, especially concrete floors.
Crawl spaces with poor ventilation.
Bathrooms or laundry rooms where plumbing may leak.
Areas near foundation leaks or where water pools outside.

If you find large numbers of rolly pollies, it's a big red flag that you have a moisture issue that needs immediate attention.

Entry Points: Sealing the Gaps

Rolly pollies are very small and can squeeze through astonishingly tiny cracks. They tend to follow foundation walls and enter wherever the outdoor conditions transition to indoor conditions.

Key entry points often include gaps under door sweeps, utility line entry points (like gas or water lines), and cracks in the foundation or basement walls.

Immediate Steps: How To Get Rid Of Rolly Pollies In The House Right Now

For the rolly pollies you see actively crawling around, simple mechanical removal is usually the quickest and safest solution.

Vacuum Them Up: The easiest and fastest way to remove large clusters is to use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment. Once collected, immediately dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister outside.
Sweep and Dispose: For isolated bugs, sweep them up and release them back into a moist, vegetated area outside—far away from your foundation.
Create DIY Traps: Rolly pollies love fruit and damp spaces. Place slices of potato or melon in a damp corner overnight. They will congregate under the food, allowing you to easily dispose of them in the morning.
Apply Diatomaceous Earth (DE): If you see a consistent path they are using, apply a thin layer of food-grade DE. This natural powder causes dehydration in the rolly pollies, effectively getting rid of them. Make sure the area is dry for DE to be effective.

Long-Term Prevention: Making Your Home Rolly Polly-Proof

Chemical treatments are rarely necessary for rolly pollies. The real secret to success in how to get rid of rolly pollies in the house is environmental modification. Cut off their food source (decaying matter), eliminate their water source (moisture), and block their path.

Landscape Management: Controlling the Outdoor Source

Since they live outdoors, the first line of defense is creating a dry, less hospitable barrier around your home's perimeter. This helps keep the population far away from your foundation.

Clear Debris: Remove piles of leaves, grass clippings, mulch, firewood, and stones that sit directly against the foundation. These provide perfect, damp habitats.
Manage Mulch and Soil: Pull back mulch or landscape materials at least 6 to 12 inches from the foundation edge. Consider using gravel or pea stone right next to the house instead of organic mulch.
Improve Drainage: Ensure your downspouts direct rainwater at least five feet away from the foundation. Grade the soil so it slopes away from the house, not toward it, to prevent standing water.

Indoor Moisture Control

If the inside of your home is bone-dry, rolly pollies simply cannot survive. Focus your efforts on drying out basements and crawl spaces.

H4: Implement Ventilation and Dehumidification

A high-quality dehumidifier in the basement or crawl space can dramatically reduce the relative humidity, making the area uninhabitable for pill bugs. Aim for humidity levels below 50%.

If your crawl space lacks proper airflow, consider installing vents or a fan system to increase ventilation and dry the area out.

H4: Seal All Cracks and Gaps

Use silicone caulk to seal any crack or opening found along the foundation, around window wells, and where utility pipes enter the home. Install tight-fitting door sweeps on all exterior doors, especially those leading to a garage or basement.

When to Call the Pros

For most homeowners, rolly pollies are a minor nuisance that can be resolved with DIY environmental controls. However, if you are seeing hundreds or thousands of bugs, or if they continue to reappear after you have implemented control measures, you might need professional help.

A professional pest control service or a foundation repair specialist can help identify severe moisture intrusion issues, such as a large crack in the foundation or a persistent leak in a hard-to-reach area that you may have missed.

Conclusion

Learning How To Get Rid Of Rolly Pollies In The House is less about aggressive pest control and more about home maintenance. Remember, these creatures are accidental invaders driven solely by a need for moisture.

By removing their outdoor habitats (like wet mulch and debris) and aggressively controlling indoor dampness through dehumidification and sealing entry points, you eliminate the factors that allow them to thrive. With a little effort, you can quickly put an end to their temporary indoor stay and ensure they stick to the garden where they belong.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can rolly pollies damage my house or furniture?: No, rolly pollies are generally harmless to structural elements and household items. They feed on decaying plant material and do not chew wood, fabric, or dry food products. Their main danger is serving as an indicator of a severe moisture problem.
Are rolly pollies dangerous to pets or children?: Not at all. Pill bugs do not bite, sting, or carry any known diseases that affect humans or pets. They are considered non-toxic and are sometimes even collected by children due to their unique defense mechanism of rolling into a ball.
Does pouring salt outside help repel rolly pollies?: While salt can absorb moisture and is sometimes used as a short-term deterrent, it is not recommended for widespread use. Salt can damage plants, leach into the soil, and potentially damage concrete foundations over time. Focus on physical barriers and moisture reduction instead.
Why do I see them mostly in the spring and fall?: You typically see an increase in rolly polly activity during the spring and fall because these seasons often bring higher outdoor humidity and cooler temperatures. As the weather shifts, they may migrate closer to the warmth and consistent dampness provided by a building foundation, leading to indoor invasions.

How To Get Rid Of Rolly Pollies In The House

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