How to Get Rid of Spiders

Spiders are notorious for frightening people away. Though only a few spiders are known to be dangerous—like the black widow, brown recluse, and possibly hobo spider—the thought of them in your home is probably unsettling. The good news is that there are steps you can take to keep them out of your home. We’ve gathered information to help you get rid of spiders.

What Attracts House Spiders?

Knowing why spiders are attracted to your home can help you keep them out of your house. Check out a few reasons why spiders invite themselves into your home.

• Food & Water: If there’s food or moisture in your home, spiders will come inside in search of it. Spiders typically feed on insects, so pest-proofing your house is important.
• Dark, Quiet, Secluded Areas: Some spiders prefer dark, out-of-the-way areas, and they will head for your basement, attic, crawlspaces, garage, and other secluded spots.
• Weather: If it gets too hot, cold, or wet outside, spiders will head indoors for shelter.
• Hideouts: Spiders often seek out shelter in the form of woodpiles, sheds, leaves, and even clutter. From there, they may try to hitchhike their way indoors.
• Entrances: Spiders are sneaky and can easily find ways into your home through cracks, crevices, holes, wall voids, open doors, and windows.

How to Prevent Spiders from Getting in Your Home 

Taking the time to spider-proof your house can prevent an infestation. Check out a few tips to help you reduce the spider population in your home.

• Keep Your Yard Clean: Regularly mow your lawn, trim your trees, bushes, and shrubs. Keeping vegetation in your yard from touching the side of your house will make it harder for spiders and other pests to sneak inside. Don’t stack firewood or trash along the side of your home.
• Keep Your House Clean: Sweep up crumbs, wipe down counters, and clean up spills. A clean home can help prevent pests that spiders will feed on.
• Vacuum Regularly: Vacuuming can help to deter spiders. You can use an extension to clean ceilings, corners, and light fixtures where webs have been built.
• Eliminate Moisture: Repair or replace leaky pipes and faucets. Reduce moisture build-up in your home and yard.
• Eliminate Entry Points: Patch up any holes in foundations, caulk gaps in walls and around doors, windows, the foundation, and utility entry points. Keep screens and weather stripping in good repair.
• Keep Your Chimney Flue Closed: Close your chimney flue when you’re not using your fireplace. This will help keep spiders out and it will also help lower your utility costs. 
• Get Rid of Clutter: Clutter, like empty cardboard boxes, items stored under beds, sinks, and in closets, and piles of magazines/newspapers, act as shelter for spiders. Reducing clutter will also help eliminate hiding spots for other pests like cockroaches.
• Use Fabric Grocery Bags: Another way to reduce spiders in your home is to use fabric grocery bags. Spiders can sneak into your home via paper grocery bags. Using a fabric one and washing it regularly can help prevent spiders.
• Wash Your Fruit: Spiders like to hitch a ride on fruit, especially bananas. Make sure to wash produce after bringing it home.

How to Get Rid of Spiders

Sometimes spiders will still be able to slip into your home. When this happens, you need a quick and effective solution. We’ve gathered information to help you eliminate a spider infestation.

Plant-Based Insecticide Sprays

For spot treatment, plant-based insecticide sprays work well. Our Home Bug Spray kills spiders. It also provides you with residual repellency protection. Applying it to common entry points can help prevent spiders from entering your home. You can also spray the perimeter of your home and the foundation with our Yard Bug Spray. It will help kill spiders hiding there and create a protective barrier. Since they are made with plant-essential oils, they are more environmentally and family-friendly.

Insecticide Dusts

Insecticide dusts can offer long-lasting protection. When spiders come in contact with the dust, it kills them. Our Spider & Insect Dust and Bed Bug Killer are both effective solutions for spiders. Dusts can be applied in cracks, crevices, and spots where spiders visit. You can also use a paintbrush to apply a light coating to baseboards. When left undisturbed, dusts can remain effective for up to ten years.

Use a Spider & Insect Trap

Our Spider & Insect Trap can help to control spider problems. It works 24/7 to help capture spiders and other crawling insects that sneak into your home. You can place the trap on level surfaces close to where you have seen spider activity or in areas where they are likely to harbor. The translucent station makes it easy to monitor the trap for pests. You will want to replace the glue board every three months or when it's full of spiders or insects.