How To Get Rid Of Spiders In The Home

How To Keep Itsy-Bitsy Spiders Away From Your Home?

Spiders are creepy and unhygienic. When their nearly invisible cobwebs get stuck in your hair and hands, it’s a different story altogether. Make your life much easier by learning how to get rid of spiders at home 

Are you wondering how spiders get into your homes in the first place? Well, they can easily enter through holes, cracks or air vents near doors and windows and connected cables/pipelines. Various species of these eight-legged creatures are attracted to living environments that are prone both to moisture and extreme dryness. Examples of such spaces are crawl spaces, basements, attics, cluttered spaces, houseplants, and the ceiling corners of rooms that you can’t easily see and reach.

Learn how to remove spiders from home permanently by reading this blog post. It will give you a glimpse of some homemade remedies, a home care routine, and a brief comparison between natural and chemical spider repellents. 

Home Care Routine To Remove Spiders

• If you just don’t like spiders but aren’t really scared of them, you can try catching them in an inverted glass/jar, quickly slipping a piece of thick paper under it to trap the insect and finally releasing it a considerable distance away from home 
• Put the lights out, whether it is inside or outside your home, to prevent spiders from feasting on their favorite snack: bugs. This is because bugs get attracted to light, and where there are bugs, there’ll always be spiders. In case you need the indoor light, use yellow sodium vapor lights, opaque shades/filters, or a dark red night light and make your home less attractive to these insects
• Clean dust regularly using a vacuum cleaner, a soft cloth, or a long ceiling cobweb duster. This will remove the spiders and their cobwebs

• Get rid of green plants near doors and windows to avoid attracting spiders. This is because plants are dense and perfect spots for spiders to hide and live. If you don’t want to do away with the greens, then consider replacing them with some spider-repellent houseplants like lavender, basil, lemon balm, chrysanthemum, or even peppermint. They work like magic!
• Sound vibrations are known to drive spiders away. These insects usually tend to make their homes in low-traffic and quiet spaces where there aren’t many fresh smells. Loud vibrations trigger the feeling of anger and fear of predators among them, and they flee. Turn on some music the next time you see a spider! 
• Ensure you declutter your home from time to time. You could consider getting rid of old newspapers and clothes and cleaning your basement/attic. Opt for plastic storage containers instead of cardboard boxes 

• Either store leftovers in your fridge or throw them away to keep away bugs. Remember also to wash your fruits and vegetables properly before storing them to make sure they remain fresh and don’t invite flies
• Seal cracks or holes in your walls, windows or doors with either caulk or a sealant. What’s the difference between the two, you ask? Caulk is more rigid when dry while sealants adjust better in spaces that are prone to frequent expansion and contraction  

• If all your attempts fail and things go out of hand, it’s time you call in a professional exterminator to help you out. However, avoid pest control using pesticides as they can prove unhealthy and dangerous  

Natural Vs Chemical Repellents

Let’s briefly go over the differences between natural and chemical repellents so that you can make an informed decision.

Natural repellents:

1. They are a long-term and durable solution
2. They are environment- and human-friendly
3. They are comparatively inexpensive
4. They are plant-based and/or essential oils-based
5. They need to be handled with a little care around pets and children 
6. They must be reapplied frequently for them to be effective 

Chemical repellents:

1. They are a short-term and temporary solution
2. They are not environment-friendly and human-friendly
3. They are comparatively expensive
4. They are acutely toxic, can damage the nervous system and trigger chronic neurodegenerative disorders
5. They need to be handled with lots of care around pets and children 
6. They must be used according to instructions on the containers

Home Remedies For Spiders 

Natural spider repellants undoubtedly are a better choice. Let’s discuss them in detail:

Essential Oils For Spiders 

Essential oils have refreshing scents, which spiders try to avoid. The most popular essential oils that can be used include eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, citrus oil, cinnamon oil, tea tree oil, neem oil, lavender oil, rosemary oil and lemon oil. 

These essential oils can be used at home in four ways:

Homemade sprays: Make your very own homemade spider repellent spray using the essential oil of your choice but ensure that they’re stored in amber or glass bottles in a dark place. To make the spray:

• Add 10-15 drops of your preferred essential oil to 30ml of water
• Then add some dispersing agent, like a few drops of your favourite dish soap 
• Shake the spray bottle well before application in areas frequented by insects

Diffusion: Use a professional diffuser to spread the calming scent of the essential oil throughout your home. Alternatively, create a DIY diffuser by:

• Adding 10-15 drops of your chosen essential oil into a small glass container 
• Then adding 1/4th cup of carrier oil (vegetable oil) and mixing well
• Placing some reed diffuser sticks in the glass container
• Flipping the sticks upside down every two days for a stronger fragrance 

Body repellents: Since essential oils are natural, you can apply them directly on your skin (like a moisturiser) before going to bed at night. To heal spider bites, make a paste of water and baking soda, add 5-6 drops of your favourite essential oil and apply it.

Use the raw product itself: You can directly use the peels of lime/lemon and citrus over areas like skirting boards and bookshelves. Replace them every two days for maximum effectiveness.

Other home remedies

They include:

• Cedar plant/cedarwood chips
• Garlic (whole/crushed cloves) 
• White vinegar and water spray solution (50:50) (avoid using on varnished surfaces)
• Chestnuts/walnuts
• Bleach and water spray solution (avoid using on varnished surfaces)
• Anti-spider pouches

How To Get Rid Of Spiders In Houseplants?

Spiders usually live in dense colonies beneath the houseplants’ leaves and feed on them. This causes the leaves to turn yellow, look dried/stippled and fall prematurely. It’s essential to get rid of them before they infest your other houseplants.

Adopt any of the following methods to get rid of spiders in your houseplants:

• Check all your houseplants for spider mites and then separate the ones which you find already infested 
• Raise the humidity level in and around your houseplants by lightly watering/misting them every two days as spiders tend to multiply in dry conditions. Alternatively, use a humidifier or keep a water container near your plants 
• Create your own homemade spider-repellent solution or spray by following these instructions: 

• Mix 1 tsp of mild liquid dish soap and 1.5 tsp of pure neem oil concentrate with 1 liter of lukewarm water (note: avoid abrasive citrus-based dish soaps, laundry detergents, and dishwashing powders as they burn leaves)
• Pour the above solution into a spray bottle and shake well
• Test the spray solution over a small part of your houseplant (top and underside of leaves) first to eliminate the chances of any damage; once successful, use it on the rest of the foliage and other houseplants as well 
• Reapply the homemade spray every three-seven days till your plants become completely infestation-free

Hope this blog post has given you enough tips and tricks to keep those eight-legged creatures out of your home for good. Keep in mind that we’re just a call or an email away if you’re looking out for more such quick home care guides.

Also Read:

• How To Clean Kitchen Tiles
• How to Clean Bathroom
• How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets