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Having spiders inside your home isn’t a big cause for concern compared to finding other pests. Although they’re not as destructive or harmful, spiders can still be an annoyance for many homeowners. It’s pretty rare to discover a venomous spider species in your home that could pose a danger but it’s still preferable to take some precautions and keep the eight-legged creatures away from your property.
Some people find them a little creepy but others can see spiders as downright terrifying. Whether you have arachnophobia or simply wish to keep your house clean of any kind of pests, check out the following methods for eliminating spiders. We’ll explore the best natural remedies and chemical-based solutions to try getting rid of spiders yourself without having to use the services of an exterminator.
Spider Removal Methods
Figuring out your spider control goals can be considered an essential aspect. Are lone spiders sometimes found in your home or do you have regular visits to suspect a more serious infestation? As opposed to other pests that are clearly harmful to humans and should be removed as soon as possible, spiders are primarily beneficial. They hunt various insect pests making their interests align with ours in many cases.
That being said, spiders can still be a real nuisance in some situations. Cobwebs cluttering up around the house are very unsightly. Even if you don’t mind their presence, spiders are predators hunting at night so the thought of creepy crawlies hanging around in the dark is uncomfortable enough to motivate anyone to get rid of them.
Before going over the removal and prevention methods, it’s worth doing a thorough inspection of the house to assess the infestation level. This is helpful to apply the most effective spider control solutions. In most cases, you won’t have to bother with more extreme measures such as chemical-laden insecticides. Spiders prefer quiet and undisturbed areas indoors so start checking them out properly.
When doing a spider inspection, it’s recommended to wear gloves. Spiders don’t attack humans but will become defensive when they feel threatened. Biting in self-defense is a common strategy used. Take a close look behind furniture or in various corners of the house that aren’t usually bothered. Finding lots of cobwebs and spider droppings can indicate a considerable spider presence in your home.
1. Take Out The Duster Head And Vacuum
Now that you have a rough idea about spider activity in your home, it’s time to start the removal process. Most mild spider problems can be tackled by regular cleaning of the spider webs. This is handled easily with the help of a duster head that may need a connection to an extension pole to reach any place used by spiders. Check out this model on Amazon.
It’s also important to get the vacuum out and clean the floor thoroughly. This is needed for vacuuming the egg sacs that could be lying around. Make sure you go the extra mile of reaching all the corners and crevices where spiders could live. This also gives you the opportunity to get rid of any cobweb materials and spider droppings.
If you manage to keep a regular cleaning schedule like this, chances are good that your spider problem will resolve by itself. New spiders may still try to invade these areas of your home but they will be strongly discouraged to hang around once their cobwebs are quickly destroyed.
2. Use a Bug Catcher
Whether you’re more comfortable with a large distance or want to take out spiders from your home without harming them, it’s recommended to try a bug catcher. This handy tool from Amazon is a great example. It’s a convenient gadget that catches spiders and other insects without hurting them. You can then safely release them outside.
A bug catcher represents a solid control measure for occasional spiders entering your home accidentally. It’s not an effective solution for a serious infestation. Even if you don’t really plan on rescuing spiders from your home, this kind of tool can be a lifesaver if you’re terrified of getting too close to big spiders.
3. Try a Residual Pesticide
Pesticides are usually very reliable against many types of pests but spiders are harder to kill with them. Why is that? It’s not because you need stronger chemicals, it’s simply hard to apply the pesticide on them. They can effortlessly avoid treated surfaces and won’t be tempted with baits because spiders have a predator instinct and need to capture live prey.
Pesticides appear to be pretty ineffective against spiders. However, some products are better than others. When it comes to killing spiders, your best bet is to opt for residual pesticides. They need to be applied around the home to form a protective barrier. This only works effectively if you manage to get the spider in contact with the chemical. That’s the tricky part that makes pesticides and insecticides less effective on arachnids. Try this powerful residual insecticide concentrate.
Residual pesticides are better in this case because you need a substance that can persist and maintain long-term effectiveness. As opposed to other pests such as cockroaches, it’s difficult to attract spiders to any kind of poison because they don’t move around that much. You might imagine that when you go to sleep spiders come out searching for food around the house but that’s not true. They have limited contact with the surface of the home. You can’t kill them quickly with this method. It’s important to get your hands on a residual insecticide whose active ingredient won’t wear off easily. That means spiders walking on it after two weeks will still be affected.
Spider Prevention Methods
Searching around the house for spiders and their webs to remove can be quite the hassle. Believe it or not, getting rid of arachnids completely is the easiest if you incorporate some reliable prevention methods. The secret is to make your home less inviting for spiders. There are reasons for their presence indoors so you must take care of them.
4. Seal Up The Home
No matter how diligently you clean their webs, remove their egg sacs or apply pesticide, spiders can still find their way back inside if you leave out openings. It’s essential to check all the potential cracks or crevices around the house and seal them properly to prevent reentry of the spiders. This might seem difficult but you can find motivation in the fact that sealing your home is recommended for other reasons as well.
Even the smallest gaps can be sufficient to allow small spiders and other pests to infiltrate. Another aspect to consider is open windows. Make sure they have good mesh protection and seal all the surrounding crevices. Doors and windows are some of the most common spider entrance points. That being said, it’s not uncommon to bring the arachnids accidentally in your house with other objects such as fruit crates or boxes with items stored in the shed.
5. Remove Food Sources
Spiders are normally living outdoors where they feed on their favorite insect food. There’s usually no reason for them to enter your home unless there’s an abundant source of food present. A serious indoor spider infestation is a clear sign of a deeper insect pest problem. It’s not surprising to discover lots of spiders when the pantry is also invaded by roaches, ants, or other insects. It’s only natural for spiders to hang around in areas rich in potential prey captures.
Pay close attention to garbage bins. Fruit flies or gnats can be attracted to food leftovers which in turn will attract spiders. The garbage area outdoors needs to be as far away as possible from the home to reduce the chances of spiders and other pests coming indoors. It’s generally a good rule of thumb to not have leftover food lying around the house and reduce clutter overall.
6. Spread Diatomaceous Earth Around
If you’re interested in a natural spider deterrent, diatomaceous earth powder can be considered a solid pick. Regular insecticides can be harmful indoors, especially if you have pets. Diatomaceous earth is a safe, non-toxic solution to repel spiders. It causes dehydration for any bugs that come in contact with it. There’s also no risk of developing resistance which can happen when you’re using chemical-based pesticides.
Applying diatomaceous earth around is helpful together with other methods to prevent spiders from establishing themselves in your house. By itself, this isn’t enough to eliminate your spider problem because the arachnids still need to find their way to the powder. Just make sure you focus on key undisturbed corners and crevices where spiders are likely to appear. Check out this food-grade diatomaceous earth powder that is usually considered the safest choice if you have pets.
7. Consider a Natural Spider Deterrent Product
Aside from diatomaceous earth powder, there are other natural deterrent solutions against spiders. A simple peppermint-oil blend can be used as a DIY repellent. For maximum effectiveness and less hassle, we recommend a concentrated pre-made product formulated to discourage spiders and other insects from visiting your home. The cocktail of botanical oils may not kill the spider directly given that their purpose is to repel the arachnids.
Take a look at this natural repellent spray on Amazon. The strong odor has a potent effect on spiders because of their well-developed sense of smell. While these natural products are safe and can provide surprisingly good results to prevent spiders in your home, you will have to reapply them often to maintain a solid protective barrier. It could be necessary to try different spider deterrents with various active ingredients because some formulations work more effectively than others.
8. Limit Outdoor Lighting
This prevention method is closely related to the idea of removing food sources. Spiders are not attracted to outdoor lights but their insect prey is. This means that if you manage to reduce the amount of outdoor lighting, it can serve as a decent deterrent for spiders. Similarly, bright indoor lights might attract various pests that in turn invite predators such as spiders. Try getting window shades or using lights that are less appealing to insects.
9. Identify Problem Areas With Traps
Although sticky traps aren’t effective to control spiders, they are still useful in terms of identifying problem areas. Depending on the substance used to lure the spider, traps could be more or less effective when it comes to encouraging the spider to investigate. They don’t contain pesticides so they’re safe to spread around the home. Check the sticky traps periodically to discover zones of considerable spider activity. Then you can implement a more focused control approach to eliminate the arachnids. Check out these spider & insect traps.
10. Make a Vinegar Solution
Acetic acid from vinegar is damaging to spiders when sprayed directly on them. If you mix it with water in equal parts, you can create a potent anti-spider weapon without having to rely on more toxic insecticides. In a similar way, it’s also recommended to place small dishes of vinegar in key areas of spider activity throughout the home. The intense smell of vinegar will deter unwelcomed eight-legged visitors.
Are Spiders Actually Dangerous?
Many homeowners wish to rid their homes of spiders because they see them as harmful pests. Despite popular belief, the large majority of spiders are mostly harmless. They are not aggressive towards humans and often feed on insect pests like mosquitoes. Just a handful of species can be considered truly dangerous to human health and important to eliminate at all costs. In the US, the only arachnid species that you need to pay special attention to remove are the black widow and brown recluse spiders.
Black Widow Spiders
The black widow spider has an infamous reputation because of its toxic bite. Although getting bit by a black widow spider can pose serious health concerns, it’s not enough venom in a single bite to kill you. Fatalities are very rare yet it’s still the kind of spider that you always need to remove from your residence.
There are different black widow spider varieties in the US. The one thing they all have in common is the distinctive glossy black body and red markings. These spiders can be encountered unintentionally outdoors but they can also find their way indoors. Some of the most common shelter places used by black widows include sheds, barns, and porch furniture.
Despite their scary appearance, black widow spiders only attack humans in self-defense. Disturbing their nest comes with the risk of getting bitten as the surprised spider reacts instinctively. Black widows are easy to recognize and can be avoided without difficulties until you’re prepared to get rid of them.
Brown Recluse Spiders
If you live in the lower midwestern regions of the United States, you’re probably familiar with brown recluse spiders. This is another important arachnid species to avoid because of its dangerous venom. These spiders are not as widespread in the country as black widows but you should still watch out for them in their range. The brown body with black markings can help identify a brown recluse.
The good news about this spider species is that it’s not aggressive and bites rarely. Even if you get bit, you might be lucky enough to avoid the effects of the venom as the spider’s fangs can’t pierce clothing very well. The venom of a brown recluse can be quite damaging for human health as it might cause necrotic lesions. Small children and adults with health problems can be affected most severely so medical attention is required immediately.
Brown recluse spiders prefer dry, undisturbed areas. They can be encountered outdoors close to your residence. It’s not unheard of to find this type of spider indoors as well. They will usually prefer cardboard boxes for shelter. Keep in mind that brown recluse spiders are adept survivors and can withstand long periods without adequate food sources.
