How to Get Rid of Spiders in the House

Every house has spiders. These small, 8-legged protectors survive by eating flies, mosquitoes, ants, and other insects and are mostly harmless to humans and pets. Yet often, we get the willies each time an arachnid passes by them and even more so when there is a full-on spider invasion. In this article, you’ll find out how to get rid of spiders in the house.

Now, set your mind at rest and let’s find out what you can do to prevent these creepy crawlies from trespassing on your property.

So keep reading if you are someone who:

…keep reading as we will share with you some easy and useful tips on how to get rid of spiders.

Common spiders in the UK

There are around 650 species of spiders in the UK, with only 12 of them recorded as actually biting people. Unless you have specific allergies, these bites shouldn’t cause anything serious. Typical UK spiders you’ll find in your house and garden:

What attracts spiders in your house?

Spiders are attracted to your house when they are looking for food, which in their case, consists of insects. Many species are also drawn to areas with high humidity levels, such as bathrooms, attics or basements. And lastly, just like with many other creatures, severe weather conditions can also force spiders to take refuge in your home. This is the main reason why sometimes you’ll find an outdoor species inside your house and even your garden shed. Check our dedicated post on how to keep spiders out of the shed for more info.

So, find out what the spiders from your local area prefer to eat, for example, ants or flies, and get rid of the source. You might even find that you have other bugs in your house you should get rid of.

Why there are more spiders during the Autumn season?

You have probably noticed an increasing number of spiders during Autumn. But what is the reason if they are not coming from the outside? Well, the answer is simple – it is mating season. Basically, wandering males are looking for mature spider females. This usually happens at the end of the summer, but it varies for the different kinds of spiders.

How to get rid of spiders in the house naturally

Are conkers an effective remedy?

Someone somewhere said that spiders run away from conkers like vampires from garlic. However, since this is not a scientifically proven method, you can use it as a distraction for your kids while you’re dealing with spiders. Make them place a couple of conkers on the window sills, in the corners of the rooms, and in front of your house as a protective wall from the arachnids.

How to get rid of spiders in the house using chemicals

Natural remedies will work up to a point, but after that, if you want permanent results, it’s time to bring out the big guns. Those would be either a spider pest control professional or store-bought chemicals. Here is how to use chemicals to get rid of spiders at home:

Spray any corners or cracks with a commercial pesticide

Similar to the diatomaceous earth, spiders need to have direct contact with insecticides for them to have any effect. That’s why you need to spray the insecticide only on the places where you know a lot of the spiders’ walkthroughs. Always read the label before you use the product, as it is a dangerous chemical that could lead to accidental poisoning.

As for the type of insecticide you should use, slow-release kinds and wettable powders are proven to be most useful as opposed to total-release foggers, which aren’t as effective.

If you have small kids or pets, you must be extra careful. Ingesting those insecticides can be lethal and requires immediate medical assistance. Keep them away from children and pets.

Get a professional spider control service

If you are afraid of dealing with spiders or you think your home is infested with them, it is best to consult with a professional. Fantastic Services follows a 4-step process:

1. Survey. A professional pest control technician will come to your property at a day and time suitable for you. He will carefully inspect the property, all the entry points, and the level of infestation.
2. Treatment. The exterminators come fully prepared with all the right equipment and pesticides. Before the treatment starts, they will give you thorough instructions on what you need to do before and during the session. Then all spiders, including their eggs, present at your property will be effectively eradicated.
3. Observation. Depending on the type of treatment, you will have several follow-up visits, in which the technician will come to your property and evaluate the treatment results.
4. Prevention. All possible entry points will be sealed as part of the service to prevent the same problem from happening again. You will also receive a full report of the service and also will be instructed by the professional on how to keep your house spider-free in the future.

How to get rid of a spider nest

To get rid of a spider nest, you must spray it with bleach, water, or pesticide to kill the spiders or egg sacs. With a feather duster or broom, tear down their webs. Vacuuming them up or spraying them with a hose also works. Keeping corners, closets, basements, and other out-of-the-way places clean will discourage spiders from building webs and making nests.

How to keep spiders away from your home

Here is what to do to keep spiders out of your house:

1. Get rid of all the clutter. Like mice and cockroaches, junk and clutter are like heaven for the spiders. There they can roam free, multiply and live happily without you noticing until they decide to start travelling. The most preferred places are piled junk under the kitchen and bathroom sink, under your bed, between the wardrobe and the ceiling, piles of old newspapers and magazines, and storage boxes.
2. Vacuum regularly and keep your home clean. If spiders have nowhere to hide, they won’t have a reason to invade your home. Wipe down kitchen surfaces after each use because the small bits of food are very likely to attract other pests and food for the spiders. Pay special attention to all the corners, lights, window sills, and ceilings. When you vacuum, make sure to go through all the tight spaces, like under your sofa, bed, and nightstands. And, of course, as soon as you see a web or a spider, suck it with the vacuum, as that will kill them instantly but make sure to throw away the vacuum bag afterwards. Air ducts are also a popular spider hostel, so clean them properly at least once every season.
3. Don’t keep any outdoor lights on. Same as the food particles, light is something that will not attract spiders directly, but it will lure all of their favourite food, such as moths, flies, and other insects. Try to block the light that is coming from indoors, as well, by using blinds or shades. If you insist on having a light on the outside, switch to yellow sodium vapour lights. Their light is not as attractive to insects.
4. Relocate plants and outdoor debris from the side of your house. Wood piles, bags of mulch, vegetation and rock are very appealing places for spiders. So if you have a full-on infestation, consider moving your plants, shrubs, trees, etc., to the far end of your garden. Remove all of the debris where spiders might live because even if you don’t mind them staying outside, as soon as it gets too cold or too hot, they will move to the nearest place possible. And in that case, their new home will be your house. If you have any crawling plants like ivy, either get rid of them or move them elsewhere.
5. Seal every possible spider entry in your home. Do not give those pesky crawlers a chance to settle in your home. Patch up and seal all the cracks you have on your walls, doors, and windows. Place mesh over the vents and seal the fireplace when it’s not in use. Pay special attention to the kitchen, attic, and bathrooms, as they are preferred hiding places because of the high moisture levels.
6. Employ scents spiders don’t cope well with. What smells do spiders hate? The smell of peppermint is not the only scent that spiders can’t handle. They also aren’t big fans of citrus, garlic, cedar, eucalyptus, and lavender. Plant mint, lavender, and eucalyptus, and place them around the house, close to the window sills. That way, it’s almost certain that spiders will try to look for another route. You can also light citrus aroma candles, and if you are cooking something with garlic, don’t turn the extraction fan on so fast. Let the spiders feel the smell and run away in terror.
7. Get a cat. Having spiders in your home on its own is not a reason to get a cat if you don’t have one already. But if you are making a list of pros and cons, you should definitely add this to the advantages. Cats are playful creatures that love hunting down all sorts of living things, including spiders. As soon as they spot one crawling beneath the sofa, it’s hunting time. They never give up until the prey is apprehended and can spot the crawlers even with limited light sources.

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Image source: depositphotos / joruba75