Expert Advice: How to Keep Spiders out of Your House

We’re here to help you with your spider problem. We explain How to Keep Spiders out of Your House, as well as how to kill spiders, deter spiders and how to keep spiders away for good. Let’s be honest, most people don’t want spiders in their home, including me. I absolutely hate spiders so sharing this information with you brings me joy.

How to Keep Spiders out of Your House

Spiders are infamous critters that are most known for invoking fear in many people more than any other common bug. While most are harmless, there is good reason to find out how to keep spiders out of your house. Certain species, such as the Black Widow and Brown Recluse, can be poisonous and they leave unsightly webs where present. Not all spiders are bad; although, you want to take control of the matter if you do have them in your home before they become problematic.

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What Attracts Spiders?

Humans aren’t the only ones that like living indoors. Just like any other common insect, spiders often make their way into homes in search of food sources or a warm place to nest. Spiders can be beneficial in that they eat other insects that are a common nuisance. Unfortunately, that may mean your home is a welcome free-for-all if you have other pests as well. Many of the contributing factors that lead insects into your home can be avoided and make it less inviting.

Aside from food source, the other component spiders need to thrive is shelter. Things that are lying around the yard undisturbed, such as old tires, stacks of wood, or buckets create a perfect space for a spider to dwell in. Be sure to keep these things away from your home so they are less likely to make their way inside. Also remove clutter and stacks of papers around your home. Piles of clothes can also be a great hiding place for spiders and leave you vulnerable to unsuspectingly getting bit. Store clothing such as seasonal wear and shoes in plastic storage containers if you won’t be wearing them for a while. Shake them out carefully to inspect for spiders before putting on.

VIDEO | How to Keep Spiders out of Your House

Remove contributing factors that attract other pests. Things such as dirty dishes, food crumbs, and moisture can attract other pests into your home providing an ideal food source for spiders. Maintain a regular cleaning schedule to reduce those unwanted house guests and take measures to prevent them from coming. Avoid using outdoor lights in the evenings that attract flying insects or switch to a blue light so you’re not creating a welcome party of a spider’s menu. Regularly check possible entry points by ensuring any cracks in the floors, windows, or doorways are adequately sealed.

If you enjoy opening the windows to let fresh air into your home, you can do so without letting in those pesky critters. Install window screens that will not allow insects to get in and inspect them regularly to check and repair holes or tears. It is preferable to open windows only during the day time when spiders are less likely to be moving about and eventually make their way inside.

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How to Remove Spider Webs

A spider web is typically the first sign that a spider is living under your roof. These consist of spider silk, a strong and adhesive substance spiders produce for the purpose of trapping other insects for food along with housing the maker and egg sacs. They can also pose a fire hazard. Older spider webs that have been abandoned, also referred to as cobwebs, attract dust and debris and are more noticeable than freshly spun webs. One step on how to keep spiders out of your house is eliminating their home.

Spider webs aren’t difficult to remove, but you may want to do it without the spider actually present. Because many common species of spiders are nocturnal, the best time to remove the webs is during the day. You can simply whisk them away with a broom or vacuum.

A vacuum is ideal in removing spider webs as it will also remove egg sacks and spiders along with them. Vacuum your entire house thoroughly giving special attention to cracks and corners in each room, including closets. Don’t forget about the attic, garage, and basement! For spaces you can’t reach with a vacuum, use a broom to lift away cobwebs. Be sure to discard the vacuum bag or empty the canister once you’re done.

Remove spider webs from your broom or duster. A broom or extended duster is a solution for those hard to reach spaces in spider web removal but over time they’ll become ineffective in cleaning as they get wrapped up with web. Soak the bristles in hot soapy water using a dish soap then rinse away to clean off old spider webs and dust.

If you have a popcorn ceiling, removing spider webs may be a little tricky due to the uneven surface. Here’s a solution that also works for high ceilings where a vacuum hose can’t reach. Use a long-handled paint roller and wrap duct tape around the roller head with the sticky side facing up to roll over webs.

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How to Get Rid of Spiders

Non-venomous spiders can be beneficial for gardens and keeping other annoying insects away from your home. It is best to simply remove or release the spider to another location outside of your home rather than kill it. You can do this by placing a cup or bowl over the spider to catch it then slide a piece of cardboard or sturdy material underneath the cup to trap the spider inside and release it in a location away from your home.

A spider’s body structure is soft and easily susceptible to trauma making it easy to kill them if that’s just how it has to be. There are many people that have a fear of spiders, known as arachnophobia, which can pose a challenge in coming into close enough contact to catch and release. Fortunately, there are many ways to kill spiders without having to touch one.

Vacuum them up: the force of getting sucked up and passed through the mechanics of a vacuum cleaner is enough to kill spiders and their eggs. Best of all you can simply discard the bag or empty the vacuum cleaner when you’re done so you never have to see the remains. Be sure to wait a few minutes prior to discarding to ensure the deed is done.

Hair Spray: Insect sprays can contain harmful chemicals, are sometimes costly, and leave an awful smell making them unpleasant to use. As a quick alternative; the same stuff that you use to keep your hair perfectly in place will also do the trick to stop them dead in their tracks. Hitting them with a blast of hair spray will often times immobilize the spider enough to get close enough to swat them. Many of these products also contain ingredients that are lethal to spiders, although death may not be imminent. The stronger the hold of the hair spray, the better.

Spice things up: Check your spice rack for these items that are lethal to spiders – black pepper, salt, turmeric, cloves, and baking soda are all capable of killing spiders. You can sprinkle any one of these around areas where spiders could be present or create a spray by adding to water in a spray bottle to spritz suspecting areas.

Spider Traps: Traps that capture and immobilize the spider are not suitable when it comes to keeping them away for good, but it can help monitor the situation. Spotting an occasional spider is not difficult to take care of, however an infestation will require a little more effort to eradicate. A sticky trap like the ones used in catching mice can trap, immobilize and eventually kill spiders where they are heavily populated. If you have an infestation you will likely catch a few using a sticky trap which can help reduce the population while taking additional measures to eliminate the problem.

If you have or suspect a spider infestation you may need to bring out the big guns. Spider or insect bombs are designed to be set off and release a deadly concoction for the buggers by permeating throughout a room to get in every nook and cranny they may be hiding. This solution is very effective and cheaper than hiring a professional, though it takes some preparation. You will need to open all cabinets and doors to the room it’s being used in and be sure there are no pilot lights on or open flame. It may also require vacating the area where it is being used in for several hours.

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Natural Spider Repellent

There are many natural home remedies on how to keep spiders out of your house using deterrents. Many of these can be easily done at home and cost very little. They’re also generally safe to use around pets and children.

Once you have successfully removed the spiders and spider webs from your home, you should clean thoroughly to make your home uninviting. Common household pests do not favor clean environments. Go one step further to deter spiders by using essential oils as a cleaning solution. Strong aromatic essential oils such as eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and tea tree oil are thought to be quite effective as a natural spider repellent.

You can also use essential oils as a spray solution around your home and outside to keep spiders away. Peppermint oil is very effective in sending them packing because it is believed they cannot stand the smell. Use a standard size spray bottle to fill up with water and add 15 – 20 drops of peppermint oil. Spray corners, baseboards, moldings, vents, cracks in floors and walls, and in closets to deter spiders from making an entry.

A DIY lethal spray that can be used around the house as well as outside can also help to prevent the eight-legged critters from gaining entry. You can save money by creating your own safe and natural spider deterrent spray using items you most likely have on hand – white vinegar and black pepper. Combine a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add in the pepper and gently shake to combine. Spray around any areas where spiders may be present such as corners, cracks, and closets. An alternative to this spray that works well in the kitchen and on plants is a solution of liquid dish soap and water. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to a spray bottle of water and spray around areas that might be inhabited by spiders and on plants to disrupt spider egg cycles.

VIDEO | Make Spider Repellent

Stay Away Spider Repellent is a natural spider repellent that can be purchased in the form of pouches. The pouches contain ingredients known to throw off a spider’s’ sense of touch, smell and hearing making a great deterrent. The pouches can be placed discreetly near doorways and in rooms to deter spiders from entering.

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Pesticides and Insecticides

There are many different methods on how to keep spiders out of your house using alternative natural methods as opposed to poisons like pesticides. These types of chemicals are not very effective on spiders and here’s why. In other insects, pesticides are often picked up from the bodies or feet as they come in contact with the residue which is carried to the organs and causes them to die. Spiders are not technically insects, rather they’re arachnids. Because spiders have long legs, their bodies do not come into contact with the residue from insecticides. Furthermore, they have no circulatory system to deliver the residue that touches their feet to the vital organs.

Terro T2302 Spider (Insect) Spray

Another way that spiders are different from insects is in grooming. They do not use their mouthparts to clean off their bodies, as is typical in other insects which is how the pesticides become ingested. The best way to kill spiders using a spray or pesticide if you want to go this method is by direct contact. If using a spray, it is important to locate the areas where spiders are inhabiting to apply the spray directly such as cracks where they frequently go in and out of.

The ultimate way to keep spiders out of your house is taking necessary steps to make your home as unwelcome as possible. This simply means keeping a clean and tidy house, eliminating other pest problems, and using deterrents that will keep them at bay.