How A Wet Paper Towel Can Help You Get Rid Of Bugs In A Pinch

If you have ever noticed a bug in your home and felt that instant rush of crippling anxiety, you aren't alone — nothing can ruin a relaxing evening quite like spotting a spider in your peripheral vision. While many may view the idea of getting rid of a bug as a simple procedure, some of us find it nearly impossible to squash a bug with our own hands.

For those of us in the can't-touch-a-bug camp, TikTokers may have revealed a new hack that makes getting rid of pesky bugs a bit easier to do. Instead of using a broom or getting up close and personal with the insect at large, try using a wet paper towel. According to user @bbrigitte.bb on TikTok, using a wet paper towel and simply throwing it at the bug may just be the easiest way to get rid of bugs in your home — and the comment section agrees.

But while many people were happy to learn and use this hack for their own insect intruders, it probably isn't the best way to get rid of unwanted bugs in your home. Intrigued as we were, we dove in a bit deeper to see if the method actually works.

If you saw this and felt a bit confused about how it actually works, we were right there with you. One Reddit user, u/petertmcqueeny, posted in r/LifeProTips about the benefits of using a damp paper towel to deal with spiders. They argue that when thrown with force, the paper towel creates a suction of sorts and will temporarily make it impossible for the bug to crawl out from under. (This user also said this method is beneficial for dealing with spiders harboring large numbers of babies, but it's unclear how a wet paper towel would fare against a hundred baby creepy-crawlies.) In the TikTok video, @bbrigitte.bb demonstrates how, if the insect is too high for you to reach with a broom or vacuum, throwing the wet paper towel over it will trap it in its place without you having to pull out the ladder — until, of course, you need to get the towel off the ceiling.

One TikToker took this method a step further by adding bleach to the towel. User @keridle posted a TikTok video showing their attempt at getting rid of a large spider in their home by first — through high-pitched screams — knocking the spider to the ground before topping it with a bleach-soaked paper towel and then covering that with a cup. At first glance, this may seem like a great way to get rid of the bug without touching it, but think twice before using the hack yourself. The bleach can be dangerous in certain areas, having the potential to stain your carpets or walls. Even without the bleach, most people may have trouble getting the paper towel to land on the bug before it quickly crawls away.

Many commenters were thrilled to learn of this bug-killing life hack — one even wrote "BRO YOU SAVED MY LIFE OMFG" under user @bbrigitte.bb's TikTok. But in our opinion, unless you have really great aim and a bug that stays still for longer than a few seconds, it may not be the best way to get rid of unwanted bugs in your house. Even if you do land the towel shot against a big spider, it doesn't just make the spider disappear. You still have to deal with it. And if that pest is stuck to your ceiling with a paper towel, we aren't really sure what step two of the wet paper towel method entails or how it's somehow less gross than just vacuuming it up or squashing it.

If you want to use a tool to get rid of the pest without killing it, there are a ton out there that will help you get those bugs outside without wasting an entire roll of paper towels or having to work on your aim. The age-old trick of using a cup and piece of paper or newspaper is great for spiders, while a gadget like the Critter Catcher, which can be found on Amazon for $22, is a good way to deal with some larger insects.

If you need a longer-term solution, consider using natural repellents, like lavender to combat mosquitos in your yard, cayenne pepper to repel flies, or petroleum jelly to get rid of ants in the kitchen. If all else fails and your bug problem becomes hard to deal with, you can always contact a professional to safely spray your home and get rid of bugs for good.