People have all kinds of phobias, but some are much more prevalent than others. One of the most common is arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders. Because of this, people are often terrified of having spiders in their homes even though most of them are harmless and can be beneficial since they eat other bugs that can spread disease, such as mosquitoes. Nevertheless, if you have a spider infestation in your home, the odds are good that you will want to get rid of it as soon as possible.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Top 5 Ways to Keep Spiders Away
- Top 3 Natural Solutions
- What Attracts Spiders
By understanding what attracts spiders, as well as some of the best ways to keep them away, you can protect your home and make sure everyone feels comfortable.
Ed has been working in the pest control industry for years helping 1,000's of homeowners navigate the world of insect and rodent management. He manages Pest Strategies now helping homeowners around the world!
Table of Contents
Top 5 Ways to Keep Spiders Away
The best way to get rid of spiders in your home is to make sure they don’t have a chance to get inside in the first place. The best offense is always a good defense when it comes to pest control. Trying out some of the below techniques can help you keep your home safe and comfortable.
Make a White Vinegar Spray
One of the things that spiders hate the most is white vinegar. In fact, many pests will be repelled by the smell, and it can act as a great, low-impact pesticide. It also works well as a cleaning product and can take on double duty if you wipe down your counters and tables with it.
To make a vinegar solution, simply mix a half and half combination of white vinegar and water. Then, pour it into a spray bottle and keep it on your counter or close at hand. Spray areas like window sills and baseboards where spiders can potentially get in or where they might weave their webs.
Spread Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a fantastic deterrent for all kinds of pests. It’s made up of silica and fossilized organisms and can be put almost anywhere you want to keep pests like spiders away. It does this by having sharp, microscopic edges that will cut up the exoskeleton of insects and arachnids and cause them to perish from dehydration.
You can spread diatomaceous earth anywhere you think spiders might be getting inside. Window sills and door thresholds are great places to start. You can also put it in your potted plants to keep other pests from eating away at them.
Seal Up Your Home
If you want to keep spiders out of your home, one of the best ways to do it is to make sure they can’t physically get in. Spiders can’t make their way inside the house if there are no openings for them to get through. This is why it’s always a good idea to go around your house and make sure it’s completely sealed up.
Check all your window screens to make sure they don’t have any holes and replace them as needed. You should also go around your home and look for any cracks or crevices in the siding or near your doors. These can be sealed up with caulk, which will dry hard and match your current color scheme.
Clean Up Leaf Litter
When leaves fall, they start to rot away and become an excellent food source for all kinds of pests. Spiders, in particular, like to make their homes in dry leaves. They will also use them to find other insects that eat the leaves, like grubs and beetles.
In the seasons when leaves fall the most, like fall and winter, make sure to rake your lawn regularly and get rid of the leaf litter in a dedicated yard waste bin. This will ensure that spiders aren’t attracted to your yard and look elsewhere for their food. While they may still try to get into your bins, they will most likely stay away from the house if they are emptied regularly.
Dust Frequently
Dusty homes are a perfect environment for spiders to thrive. This is especially true if your home has a lot of cobwebs, which can act as starters for spiderwebs. Spiders will look for dusty corners to weave their webs since they can attract other insects like flies and mites.
Be sure to look around your home and find areas that get extra dusty. Attics and garages are especially susceptible to dust and spiderwebs and will be perfect environments for some of the more dangerous spiders like brown recluses and black widows. Taking care to remove these habitats will increase your chances of keeping spiders out of your home.
Top 3 Natural Solutions
If you’re concerned about your local ecosystem and environment at large, there are many natural spider repellents available. While essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint oil work very well for all kinds of pests, they are not as effective on spiders. Knowing some of the best natural ways to get rid of spiders can help you keep control of these pests without harming the environment.
Leave Citrus Peels Out
Spiders are very resilient creepy crawlies, but they have their phobia: oranges. Even if you leave oranges on your table, spiders will do everything in their power to avoid them. Because of this, they are a great natural repellent that can have a lot of advantages aside from just keeping spiders away.
This method is even more effective if you leave the actual orange peels around your home. Placing the peels of citrus fruits around your window sills and baseboards can be a great way to ensure that spiders don’t want anything to do with your house. Plus, they can add a very pleasant aroma, even after they’ve dried out.
Spread Horse Chestnuts
Horse chestnuts are another one of the best natural remedies for spider infestations. By placing these in hiding places like closets and near entry points, you can ensure that spiders stay away for good.
One of the major benefits of using horse chestnuts is that they stay good for a long time. Unlike orange peels, which will eventually dry up and lose their scent, horse chestnuts will continue to protect for months. Because of this, you can simply spread them around and forget about them.
Leave Out Mint
Sprigs of mint are another great spider repellent. You can leave these out on your kitchen table or lay some near your windows or in areas where spiders like to hide. Not only will they keep spiders away, but they can also keep other pests like cockroaches out of your house for long periods.
Dampness and Humidity Attracts Spiders
Spiders will be attracted to warm areas and have a lot of moisture. This is why you are most likely to find them in places like your garage or attic, where there is less ventilation and water is more likely to build up.
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What Attracts Spiders?
If you want to be sure that you can get rid of spiders, you must know what attracts them. Taking the time to get to know what spiders want out of your home can give you a good idea of what you should be looking out for when eliminating attractants. Making a few small adjustments should be enough to contribute to a significant decrease in your home’s spider population.
The number one thing that attracts spiders to an area is dampness and humidity. Spiders will be attracted to warm areas and have a lot of moisture. This is why you are most likely to find them in places like your garage or attic, where there is less ventilation and water is more likely to build up. You might find spiders in places like behind your water heater because the moisture collects there and becomes very humid.
Spiders are also very attracted to flies because they are a natural food source. This is why you should be careful not to leave your trash cans open. Flies will be attracted to old, rotting food, and this is a perfect environment for spiders to thrive. They will weave their webs around the cans in the hope of catching flies and can multiply from there, which is how they end up in your house.
Final Thoughts
Having a spider infestation can be a frustrating experience, especially if you fear them. Knowing some DIY ways to keep them out of your home, as well as what attracts them in the first place, can help you feel safe and comfortable in your house.
If you have tried the above methods and still have problems with spiders, a pest control professional can help. They can go through your home and identify all the access points and cover them to make sure spiders can’t get in the house anymore and so that you can relax knowing your spider infestation is taken care of.
