There are many species of spiders on earth, most of which are harmless to humans. However, they are a feast for the eyes.
If you have a spider infestation at home and don't know how to get rid of it, I recommend reading on.
In this article I will give you helpful tips on how to get rid of spiders.
Table of contents
what are spiders
Spiders are eight-legged creatures that feed on insects such as earwigs, cockroaches, moths, flies, and mosquitoes.
They spin webs that they use as homes and shed their egg sacs. The nets are also traps for insects trying to eat.
These webs are often woven around the high corners of roofs and the branches of trees. When away from their webs, you can find them in damp areas. Under the kitchen sink is one of those places, especially if you have a leaky drain.
They aren't particularly dangerous to humans, but they are annoying pests. Your networks make your home look terrible.
These pests prefer to crawl along wall surfaces and often hide in cracks. There are about 3,000 species of spiders in the United States alone.
Spiders are eight-legged creatures that feed on insects such as earwigs, cockroaches, moths, flies, and mosquitoes.
They spin webs that they use as homes and shed their egg sacs. The nets are also traps for insects trying to eat.
These webs are often woven around the high corners of roofs and the branches of trees. When away from their webs, you can find them in damp areas. Under the kitchen sink is one of those places, especially if you have a leaky drain.
They aren't particularly dangerous to humans, but they are annoying pests. Your networks make your home look terrible.
These pests prefer to crawl along wall surfaces and often hide in cracks. There are about 3,000 species of spiders in the United States alone.
They are not difficult pests to get rid of and you can do it yourself.
What Attracts Spiders to Your Home?
Knowing their attraction is the first step in learning how to get rid of spiders.
Like all other pests, some things can attract spiders into your home. Food is a big factor, but so is humidity.
If you have leaky plumbing, whether it's under the kitchen sink or the toilet, spiders will be attracted to it.
Not only do they need the moisture themselves, but other insects may find themselves near these damp areas. These insects serve as food for spiders.
Another thing that can cause a spider to enter your home is harsh outdoor weather. When it's too hot or too cold outside, spiders often take refuge indoors.
They can enter through attic cracks, pipes or open windows.
They like dark, secluded places, so they may also be attracted to piles of wood, boxes, or old books.
Are spiders harmful to humans?
Spiders generally have no interest in hurting humans and only bite when threatened.
However, most house spider bites are not dangerous. All spider species have venom, but they are mostly deadly to insect prey rather than humans.
That doesn't mean that dangerous spiders don't exist, because they do exist. The Black Widow, Brown Recluse, and Funnel Web Spider have dangerous bites.
If you're ever bitten by a spider, identifying the species will help you determine what type of treatment you need.
If you are bitten by a less venomous spider, you should first wash the bitten area with soap to remove the venom. You can use ice to press on the area to relieve pain. You can also use essential oils for an instant treatment at home.
When a venom bites youSpider species like the brown recluse, the first thing to do is call a doctor.
You can also use antivenom and other antibiotics to neutralize the venom and disinfect the bite area before arriving at the hospital.
What keeps spiders away?
There are many ways to stop spiders from entering your home. Let's look at them one by one.
1. Seal entry points to your home
As we mentioned earlier, spiders can take refuge in your home when outdoor weather conditions become unbearable. The temperature in your home is ideal for them, and they will find ways to get inside. They can also come for food and water.
Denying them entry in the first place is the best way to avoid encountering spiders. Frequently leaving doors and windows open allows spiders and other pests to invade your home. The solution to this would be to put mesh screens on all your windows to keep spiders out.
The trellis must be tightly woven to prevent spiders from getting through.
They can also occasionally enter your home through cracks in the walls and in your attic. If there are gaps, spiders can crawl in. You can use caulks to seal the cracks and keep them at bay.
Repair or replace broken plumbing, especially ones that lead directly into your kitchen or bathroom.
The following article might interest you
- How do you get rid of wolf spiders?
2. Eliminate hiding places and food sources
Spiders will make your yard a home if it's full of places to hide. Compost heaps and bush areas are among their favorite outdoor hiding spots.
Keep in mind that overgrown bushes and clumps can attract other insects into your home and spiders can search for them. To make the area unattractive to spiders, clear away dead piles of wood and cut back shrubbery in your yard.
The less litter and hiding places around your home, the lower the spider population will be.
3. Dim the outdoor lights
Most insects are attracted to light, so reducing numbers outside your home would be a good remedy.
Indeed, lighting does help your home look better and improves visibility at night, but reducing the amount keeps insect populations in check.
You can install your lights further away from your home. This maintains night vision but keeps spiders away. Another tip would be to turn off the lights when you are about to go to bed.
You can also use yellow sodium lamps as they are less attractive for a chandelier.
4. Get a bug killer
ABug-Zapperit is an ideal weapon against spiders. Insect killers are death traps for insects. They have built-in lighting that attracts them, and they get electrocuted if they make contact.
You can place the zapper outside in the yard and other possible entry points to keep them out of your home.
5. Eliminate dead insects
Spiders don't mind eating dead insects.
So if you have any lying on your deck, you have provided them with a free meal.
Bug killers can kill pests, and that's a good thing. But it also means there will be dead bugs all over the ground.
Be sure to sweep or vacuum the bugs every morning. Keep your deck and patio clean at all times.
This tactic alone does not guarantee that spiders will stop invading your home, but it will help reduce their population and help you get rid of them.
The less food your home provides, the more disinterested the spiders would be.
What is a natural way to get rid of spiders?
There are several non-toxic spider repellents that you can use to get rid of spiders. Maybe you already have some of them in your kitchen or bathroom.
Below is a list of non-toxic ways to get rid of spiders.
1. Vinegar
White vinegar can be used as a spider repellent. You can put some vinegar in a spray bottle and apply it directly to the areas where spiders are most active. This includes the windows, walls, under the sink and on the ceiling.
Spiders don't like the smell of vinegar. Although you might also find the smell offensive
2. Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a much better spider repellent than vinegar, especially for those who prefer sweet-smelling scents.
Peppermint oil is an essential oil that has an attractive smell to humans, but spiders hate it. You can spray a few drops of peppermint oil around their active areas to scare them away.
You can also put some in a pot of water and bring to a boil. The steam carries the scent throughout the house and makes spiders uncomfortable. On the other hand, you can also fill the solution in a spray bottle and apply it to the appropriate areas.
This is a two-in-one win for you. Firstly, the oil gives your home a pleasant smell and secondly; scares away spiders at the same time.
3. Citrus fruits
Another natural spider repellent is citrus fruits. These include oranges, lemons and limes. Spiders hate the smell of citrus fruits and would stay away from them as much as possible.
You can get lemon peels and squeeze the juice all over the house. Make sure to apply it to spider nest sites and their favorite crawling surfaces.
Citrus fruits also have a pleasant smell, so it won't bother you.
4. You
There is hardly an insect on earth that can endure the smell of garlic. It is perfect for humans due to its medicinal properties and can also be used to repel harmful insects. Garlic contains sulfur and can be used to repel spiders.
You can buy garlic powder and mix it with some water and then put it in a spray bottle. Shake well to mix well before spraying around net areas and other crawl spaces.
After the water has evaporated, the powder remains. Spiders do not come near areas mixed with garlic.
You can also take some garlic cloves and crush them into a paste. Mix well with some water and sprinkle around your favorite areas.
How do I get rid of a spider infestation in my home?
If spiders have already invaded your home, removing the spiders is the only option.
Follow the tips below.
1. Use insecticides
This is one of the quickest and most effective ways to get rid of a spider.
A chemical-based insecticide kills spiders within seconds of contact. They usually come in aerosol cans and can be applied directly to the spiders. You can also spray in the rooms of the infested room to kill the spiders.
Care should be taken when spraying chemical-based insecticides. They are poisonous to insects, but not good for humans either.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves to prevent your fingers from coming into contact with the insecticide. A face mask would also be helpful to prevent you from inhaling the contents.
Keep everyone out of the room where you are spraying. Keep the spray bottle out of the reach of children and pets, even after use.
2. Bug-Zapper
Like other insects, spiders are attracted to lights, and insect killers have bright lights built into them. Unfortunately for spiders, they are also electrocuted by zappers if they make contact.
If you have an indoor spider infestation, you can install insect killers in the infested areas. It's a safe and effective way to get rid of spiders.
3. Smash them
This is another method you can use to disinfect your home from house spiders. Hit them with a fly swatter when you see them. This will kill them on the spot.
You can sweep them up or dispose of them with a vacuum cleaner.
4. Vacuum
Get a mini vacuum cleaner and suck them up when you see them. You can also use the vacuum cleaner to get rid of cobwebs.
Be sure to go all over the house and look out for their cobwebs. It would help if you looked for them in the attic as well. Make sure you keep it clean and free of hiding places at all times.
Suck up any webs you find. Also, place the vacuum in front of any crevices you can find, as they like to hide in those spaces.
Keeping your environment clean usually helps reduce spider populations.
Sticky traps can catch spiders and other insect pests. They are small boards, dry on one side and glued on the other. Place sticky traps at your favorite crawl spots to catch as many spiders as possible.
This isn't the most effective form of spider control, but it does help reduce their population.
5. Call pest control
If you have a spider phobia and have no intention of approaching them, the best way to get rid of them is to ask a professional pest control service for help with your spider problem.
This will cost you more than a DIY approach, but working with professionals goes a long way.
Pest Control vs. DIY Spider Removal
Pest control professionals are experts. Therefore, they would have no problem managing spiders in their home. Although this would cost more than a DIY approach, many people still prefer it.
On the other hand, the DIY approach would cost you less, but unless you're a pest control expert, you may not be able to handle a full-blown spider problem.
Diploma
Spider problems are not difficult to treat.
There are several ways to remove them from your home. Maintain a clean environment and seal entry points. You can also use natural repellents against them. I hope this article on how to get rid of spiders has been useful to you.
Watch after!