If you don't want to deal with spiders, but don't like the idea of getting rid of them once they've invaded your home, there are a few tactics you can use to get rid of them. Some techniques will reduce the number of spiders hanging in your yard, while others will simply prevent them from finding their way into your home. Keep reading to learn more.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preventing Spiders Outside the Home
Step 1. Remove dirt (debris) from your yard
Most spiders like to hide in dark places, and yard debris provides the perfect hiding place for any arachnids looking to make a home in your yard.
- Remove piles of leaf litter, grass clippings, piles of wood, boxes, tires, plywood, and empty containers from your yard.
- It is very important that you remove all debris around the perimeter of your home's foundation in order to keep spiders out of your home. If you want to get as many spiders out of your yard as possible, then you should get all of these things out of your yard.
Step 2. Remove (weed) all tall grass and weeds in your yard
If there is no debris, other places spiders will look are tall grass and dense weeds. Weeding and mowing your lawn will reduce the number of spiders in your yard by creating a less attractive habitat.
You don't need to get rid of all those shrubs and grasses, but you should at least avoid planting them near the foundation of your house to limit the number of spiders roaming around inside
Step 3. Limit outdoor storage space
Boxes and bags of objects stored in outdoor sheds or garages are yet another attractive place for spiders. Reducing the number of objects you keep outside will also reduce the number of spiders you see.
- If you plan to store things outside, put them in tightly closed plastic containers, not cardboard boxes. The tightly sealed container prevents most spiders from crawling in, so you'll have a few unpleasant surprises to deal with the next time you open the container.
- Check all boxes stored outside before bringing them into the house.
Step 4. Remove any cobwebs you see
When you see a cobweb next to a building or somewhere in your yard, immediately remove the web to prevent the spiders that built the web from returning.
- In most cases, you will need to remove the cobwebs with a broom, mop stick, or water hose.
- If you're close enough to an electrical outlet (mains plug), you can use a vacuum to remove any spider nests and egg sacs you see outside.
Step 5. Avoid using outdoor lights. While outdoor lights are not directly related to spiders, they will attract lots of insects, and the increased number of insects will also increase your spider population.
- Use as few outdoor lights as possible.
- Direct the light away from your home to attract insects and spiders away from your foundation.
- Switch to incandescent light (yellow light bulb). Dimmer light is less attractive to insects and will not attract insects as much as bright lights.
Method 2 of 3: Preventing Spiders from Entering the House
Step 1. Patch the cracks in your wall
Use silicone putty for all the gaps around your walls and doors, or along the foundation of your home.
- Most spiders will sneak into your home through accidental cracks and holes. Caulking the gaps will prevent spiders from getting in.
- You can buy putty from a hardware store. Follow the instructions provided on the label to properly prepare and use the putty.
- When you apply the putty, make sure that the gaps are completely filled and covered.
Step 2. Install the screen door, rubber seals and door guards, windows (weatherstripping) and also the door sweep tightly
These objects are another way for spiders to invade your home.
- Weather stripping and door sweeps will close gaps in the bottom and sides of your doors and windows. Door sweeps are especially important because you can't use putty to cover gaps at the bottom of entry doors. By installing the right door sweep, you're cutting off access for spiders.
- A tight-fitting screen door is also an important tool. Spiders can sneak through the gaps in the screen opening, and so can the insects that spiders like to eat. Install screens on your windows and vents.
- If you see a hole in your screen door, repair or replace the screen. Otherwise, spiders and insects may find their way into the house through these holes.
Step 3. Clean up the messy stuff
Spiders love messy things indoors as well as outdoors.
- Do not pile clothes, paper, towels, cloth, or shoes on the floor.
- If you do leave a pile of messy stuff on the floor, shake each sheet or piece of stuff that's piled up while you're cleaning to knock out (repel) unwanted spiders.
Step 4. Place the stored items in tightly closed plastic containers
Spare clothing, home decorations, extra fabrics, and other items that fall under long-term storage should be kept in tightly closed containers to prevent spiders from sneaking in.
- Don't use cardboard. However, if you must use it, cover any holes or gaps with adhesive tape (duct tape).
- A good way to store things, especially for important items, is to keep them in a dark basement or attic.
- Consider storing outdoor equipment and exercise equipment in tightly closed containers as well. These items include, for example, roller skates, garden equipment and clothing, ski boots, and sports uniforms. If you don't want to store the item in a plastic container, store it in a large plastic bag with a tight-fitting lid and no holes at all.
- Cover all food sources for animals as well as humans. Spiders are not attracted to this food source, but insects that spiders like are attracted to this food source. As a result, storing food in tightly closed bags and containers will not attract as many insects, thus attracting fewer spiders.
Step 5. Vacuum and dust regularly
You should clean all areas of your habitat on a regular basis, but once every two weeks, you should also clean around the area where the spiders live.
- Using a vacuum and dusting removes both adult spiders and spider egg sacs, preventing them from hatching and producing large numbers of baby spiders.
- Vacuum under furniture, inside clothing, under heaters, and around house poles.
- Remove dust from the top corners of walls and other areas that are rarely touched by human or animal activities.
Method 3 of 3: Spider Repellent
Step 1. Use essential oils
There are a large number of essential oils that are touted as spider repellents. If you mix this oil with dish soap and warm water, you can create a repellent that may repel the most common types of house spiders.
- Peppermint essential oil is the most popular choice, but you can also try tree-tea oil, citrus oil, lavender oil, and neem oil.
- The thought is, the essential oil mentioned above has a very pungent smell that spiders don't like.
- You will need to add dish soap to make a more effective solution. The soap solution breaks down the oil molecules, so the oil mixes more consistently in the water.
- Use 5 to 10 drops of essential oil. Place the essential oil in a 16 oz (500-ml) spray bottle and fill the bottle to the brim with warm water. Put the cap back on and shake to mix.
- Use this spray along crevices or holes where spiders have crawled in, including window frames and door gaps. Reapply every few days, or when the smell has gone.
Step 2. Coat each driveway with lemon scent
You can do this by rubbing a lemon peel around the area or by spraying some lemon juice.
- Slice a lemon and remove the flesh. Rub the lemon zest around the door or window frame to completely cover the area with the citrus scent.
- Optionally, you can mix equal parts water and lemon juice in a spray bottle and spray the solution on holes and crevices, door frames, and windows.
- Like essential oils, lemons are stubborn enough to repel spiders because of their pungent smell.
Step 3. Spread horse chestnuts around the perimeter of your house
The seeds of this horse chestnut tree, also known as conker, have been used as a spider repellent for a long time.
- Gather a few handfuls of horse chestnuts and arrange them in a line around the perimeter of your home along the inner and outer walls. Doing this should prevent spiders from breaking through these barriers and into your home.
- Replace these horse chestnuts once a week to prevent spoilage and cause additional problems.
Step 4. Let the cinnamon scent spread throughout your home
Burn a cinnamon-scented candle or cinnamon oil in an oil burner.
- As with other homemade remedies, this method is based on the premise that spiders find the pungent smell of cinnamon repulsive.
- As a result, anything that puts a cinnamon scent in it qualifies as a spider repellent. These ingredients include cinnamon baked goods, cinnamon oil, cinnamon scented candles, cinnamon soap and body spray.
Step 5. Make a solution of coconut oil and vinegar
Fill a spray bottle with this solution and spritz it around areas where spiders are suspected of being the entrances and hiding places.
- Mix 1 part coconut oil with 2 parts distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. Close the bottle and shake it to mix the coconut oil and vinegar.
- Spray this solution around cracks in doors and windows, dark places where spiders might be hiding.
Step 6. Only use chemical insecticides to remove possible food sources
Most insecticides and chemical repellents do not work against spiders.
- You can try using a labeled (titled) chemical repellent against spiders, but if you choose chemical treatment instead, you may be better off using the chemical to kill the spider's food source.
- Determine what the most common spider food sources around your yard and home are and purchase an insecticide or repellent that's titled to use against those sources.
- Read the instructions carefully so that you use the chemical properly. Use protective equipment when using the poison and do not allow animals or children to be near or come into contact with the chemical.
Warning
- Wear gloves when moving boxes and containers located in dark areas, such as your outdoor shed or basement. The spider may have dangled in this area, and a pair of gloves can help prevent you from being bitten by the spider.
- Please note that this natural spider repellent may have limited success. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that these natural repellents work against spiders, and these methods are generally considered traditional remedies.
