Hi everyone,
Okay, I need help right now. I just spotted a house centipede crawling along the wall in my bedroom, and I’ve basically frozen in place. I know people say they’re “harmless” and even helpful, but seeing one sprint across the room at this hour is not something I was prepared for.
I haven’t tried to kill it yet because it disappeared behind my nightstand, which honestly makes this worse. I’m trying to figure out what the smartest move is without turning this into a bigger problem.
First of all, deep breaths 
They look terrifying but they won’t hurt you. I usually just grab a cup and some paper and release them outside.
If it ran behind furniture, chances are it’ll come back out once things are quiet. That’s the part I hate.
House centipedes are usually there because they’re hunting other bugs. Seeing one doesn’t automatically mean an infestation.
Check humidity levels. I noticed way fewer centipedes once I started running a dehumidifier in the bedroom.
@SleeplessAt2AM I had the same panic last year. One turned into zero after I sealed gaps around the baseboards.
They prefer dark, damp areas. Bedrooms near bathrooms or basements tend to see them more often.
Honestly, killing it won’t solve much if the environment stays the same. Reducing moisture matters more.
Not gonna lie, I sleep on the couch if I lose sight of it 
You’re braver than me for staying put.
@LateNightLaugh Same here. But long term, once I fixed a small leak and cleaned up clutter, they stopped showing up entirely.
One centipede is usually just a random visitor. If you start seeing them regularly, that’s when it’s time to dig deeper.