Spiders mostly live outside houses, but you can find them indoors – especially when they are in search of shelter and food. Preventing the spread of spiders in the house is effectively accomplished by blocking them out, but after they enter the house, there are various effective remedies that you can use to get rid of spiders.
While you should always have regular pest control visits, sometimes infestations can get out of hand. So whether you’re waiting for your pest control expert to arrive or want to take care of some eradicating them yourself, here are the effective ways to get rid of spiders while cleaning your home.
Tip #1: Seal Up Entryways Into the House
While spiders prefer to live outside, they may come into the house through various channels. To get rid of spiders in your home, it is prudent that you seal all possible inlets such as holes and cracks that favor their migration from outside into the house.
One of the easiest methods is to apply caulk to seal any cracks or gaps around windows and doors. Any holes where cables and wires run from the inside out should be covered with caulk, too. Broken windows, chimneys, and vents should be repaired or covered with a fine mesh that screens off spiders and other unwanted bugs.
Tip #2: Remove Any Hiding Places
Spiders are interesting insects in that they tend to avoid your attention at all costs. If they hear your footsteps, they will scurry away and hide where they cannot be seen. Whether it’s spring cleaning or you’re just decluttering, be sure to check through dark and untouched spaces where spiders may be hiding including:
- Nooks and crannies of garages and basements
- Untouched storage boxes, especially if they’re open
- Cracked windows, walls, or open pipes
- Piles of old newspapers, books, or magazines
- Underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks
- House plants with plenty of leaves
- Corners of high ceilings
Most spiders prefer hiding in dark and damp sections of the house, such as rarely opened closets and basements. However, some like dry sections such as attics and different parts of windows, especially near parts that are hard to reach.
Tip #3: Use Natural Deterrents to Get Rid of Spiders
If you want to avoid the use of harsh chemicals to get rid of spiders, then there are plenty of natural deterrents that will help deter spiders from setting up camp in your home. Vinegar and essential oils are among the most simple and popular things to place around your home.
Lemon
Spiders hate citrus, so applying some lemon juice, essential oil, or extra lemon peels around entry points will work well to prevent spiders from coming in. All you have to do is rub the juice, oil, or peels on all windowsills, dark closets, bookshelves, and other places where spiders hide, like underneath sinks, in garages, and in basements.
Vinegar
Vinegar is another effective natural spider repellent. The best way to apply it is by mixing white vinegar with water and then using a spray bottle to apply it.
Make sure to go around your home and spray all nooks and crevices. Since vinegar has such a strong smell, it’ll be helpful to use scented air refreshers afterward.
Peppermint
Peppermint is another great spider deterrent. Fill a spray bottle with water then add approximately twenty drops of peppermint essential oils. Apply this solution around spots that spiders like to hide.
You could also opt for peppermint tea bags, where you can apply brewed peppermint tea and squeeze the excess from the teabag around the spider-prone areas of your house or home.
Lavender
Although people love the smell of lavender, spiders hate it. Prepare a lavender solution by half-filling a spray bottle with warm water and add about seven drops of lavender oil plus a tablespoon of washing detergent. Shake the bottle well then begin spraying around popular spider hiding spots.
Tip #4: Keep the Outdoor Lights Off
Another way to prevent and get rid of spiders is to keep outdoor lights off. While outdoor lights don’t attract spiders, they do attract other pests that act as food sources for spiders. Eliminating the amount of prey around your house will help to reduce the number of spiders in your home.
If you turn off your outdoor lights each night, you’re less likely to be bombarded with moths and hungry spiders.
You can also use opaque blinds or curtains to prevent indoor lights from reaching outside at night or consider installing yellow sodium vapor lights. Because of its “warm white” hue, these types of lights are not as appealing to pests and other insects.
Tip #5: Hire a Professional to Help Get Rid of Spiders
Spiders do a lot of good for the environment, but for many, they’re the last things we want to see in our homes. The good news is that the methods discussed above will help get rid of spiders and keep them out of your home.
Of course, if there are just too many and frequent cleaning doesn’t seem to do the job, then you should get professional help from companies like Moxie Pest Control. These pest control companies are trained to identify and eradicate any type of infestation—including the ever-elusive spider.