Everyone has opened a seldom-used box to find a spider lurking inside or noticed an unwelcome, eight-legged guest hanging out in the corner of the room. Spiders can be an uncomfortable nuisance.
If you’re looking for ways to keep spiders from entering your home or need to learn how to get rid of spiders in your house, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll cover what attracts spiders to your home, why you should keep spiders out of your house, and five tips to keep spiders away.
What Attracts Spiders to Your Home?
Spiders typically enter homes for two reasons: they’re looking for food or they’re looking for a quiet, warm place. These sneaky creatures will slip through cracks and holes in your walls looking for an ideal place to hunt and spin their webs. And because spiders eat flies, moths, ants, and other insects, homes with insect problems are all the more appealing.
Why Should You Keep Spiders Away?
It’s typical to see a spider in your house now and then, but a significant number of spiders could be cause for concern. Having so many spiders in your home can be a sign of structural damage. More spiders could mean your home has several holes or other avenues for them to sneak inside. It could also mean that you have a pest infestation.
While spiders will eat some insects in your home, it’s not a good idea to leave a spider problem unchecked. The longer you let spiders explore the nooks and crannies of your home, the more opportunities they have to lay eggs. These eggs will hatch into more spiders, which will lay more eggs, and the problem will become exponentially worse.
They’re also unpleasant house guests. Spiders leave webs all over, making it difficult to keep your house clean. And let’s face it, spiders are creepy. With so many people worldwide who are afraid of them, it’s better to keep spiders away.
How to Keep Spiders Out of Your House
Whether you’re looking to prevent spiders or you’re wondering how to get rid of spiders in your house, there are some best practices you can follow.
1. Keep Things Clean
Spiders like clutter. They want to hide in corners, inside closets, and behind boxes. Preventing spiders starts with keeping your home clean. Since spiders dislike open spaces, a tidy home is far less appealing. This gives them fewer safe places where they can weave webs.
If you see spiders in your home, make sure to clean up their webs with a vacuum. Not only will a vacuum make quick work of spiders, webs, and any insects caught in the web, but it will also suck up spider eggs. Dusting with rags or paper towels may cause you to miss eggs, continuing your spider problem.
2. Seal Holes and Cracks in the Walls
Look around the outside of your home for any small cracks or holes where spiders are entering your home. The harder it is for them to get inside, the easier it will be to keep spiders away.
Use weatherstripping to close off any gaps around doors or windows. Double check your window screens and replace any that are broken. You can also caulk cracks and crevices around the foundation, windows, and doors.
3. Get Rid of Their Food Sources
Keeping spiders out of your house may start with keeping other insects away. Spiders are attracted to homes where food is plentiful. If you have flies, mosquitoes, or other creepy, crawly things in your home, spiders will follow.
You can keep insects away by controlling garbage in your home, watching water usage, and sealing up food in airtight containers.
4. Try DIY Spider Deterrents
If you want to take keeping spiders away to the next level, try house spider repellents. Many household items can be used to deter spiders. You can try making your own spider repellent by combining one part white vinegar, one part water, and a small amount of dish soap. Spray the mixture on spider webs and in areas where spiders like to congregate in your home.
5. If Those Don’t Work, Try Insecticides
Have you tried the other options and you’re still wondering how to get rid of spiders in your house? It may be time to try insecticides. A long-lasting residual insecticide spray can be used around the outside of your home to create a protective barrier. Spiders and other insects will avoid the insecticide, keeping them away. Aerosol sprays and mists can be used inside your house when a residual spray isn’t wanted.
There are many spider repellents you can buy at local hardware stores to use yourself. Or, if you want to be sure to keep spiders away, you can call in the professionals.
Keep Spiders Away With Plunkett’s Pest Control
Stop asking yourself how to keep spiders out of your house and trust the pros. The experts at Plunkett’s Pest Control can get rid of spiders and keep them away for good! Schedule a pest control appointment online or give us a call at (877) 571-7100.