10 Ways to Keep Spiders Out of the House for Good

Like any living creature, spiders are constantly searching for three things: food, water, and warmth. Your home automatically provides warmth, and food and water are likely a short distance away.

While it is common for spiders to catch prey in their webs, they are actually omnivorous and will feed on pollen and fungal spores in addition to insects, ants, flies, mosquitos, and moths. So even if your home is free of other pests, spiders may still take up residence.

Keep an eye out for increased spider sightings as temperatures drop in the fall and start employing these tried-and-true spider prevention methods today.

Implement these tools and check spider elimination off your annual to-do list!

Tiny hairs on spiders’ legs sense vibration and scent. When they encounter the strong aroma of certain essential oils, they become overwhelmed and retreat. Spiders do not like the smell of:

To keep spiders out of the house using oils, add five drops of the essential oil to a 16-ounce spray bottle along with six to seven drops of dish soap. Fill the bottle with water and shake gently to combine. Spray baseboards and other spider-prone areas once a week through the fall and as needed after that.

Since spiders detect scent with their bodies, they generally don’t like strong smelling odors. Luckily, some aromas that are pleasing to humans are absolutely dreadful to spiders.

Try putting cedar mulch or tobacco leaves in bags and placing them in corners or hanging them in closets.

Other fragrant spider deterrents that aren’t quite as pleasing to the human nose include turmeric, baking soda, garlic, vinegar, and bleach.

You can sprinkle turmeric powder or baking soda near spider-prone areas or create a highly effective paste by mixing turmeric with water. Remember that turmeric is bright yellow though and will stain almost anything.

To utilize garlic in your fight against spiders, mince or crush 4 or 5 garlic bulbs and wrap it in a cloth.

Squeeze it hard to get garlic juice and drop the entire cloth in a spray bottle. Spray around corners and baseboards once a week or as needed.

The acetic acid in vinegar makes it a particularly effective spider repellent. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray around baseboards and other heavily populated spider areas. You can also spray it outdoors on cracks and crevices that insects and spiders could use to get inside.

Note: vinegar may affect the polish on furniture, so it’s best to move it completely out of the way before spraying.

You can also spray bleach straight onto spider-prone areas to keep spiders out of the house. Similar to turmeric and vinegar, remember that bleach is highly potent and will discolor fabric and other materials.

Yes, it’s obvious, but a clean home is generally a spider-free one. Spiders prefer spaces with plenty of coverage, so putting away dishes, clothes, and trash minimizes potential hiding spots.

Plus, regular cleaning eliminates the dust and small food particles that attract insects, which spiders may follow inside.

Spiders aren’t exactly a welcome guest and that means they likely aren’t using the door to enter your home. Cover and seal any cracks, crevices, and gaps with caulk or other appropriate methods to minimize entry points.

When you spot a spider, blast it with hair spray. This will immobilize it temporarily, giving you the opportunity to kill it or transport it outdoors.

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Pets are good for more than just cuddles. Cats in particular are great for deterring spiders, though they won’t be able to eliminate an entire infestation.

Native to Australia, eucalyptus trees are the perfect addition to your garden or landscaping. They work double duty, omitting a fresh fragrance while deterring spiders. If planting trees isn’t an option, consider running an oil diffuser indoors to disperse the scent of eucalyptus essential oils.

Ladybugs are one of many beneficial garden animals that seem like pests. They feed on the same insects spiders do (plus caterpillars and larvae that destroy garden plants), and are much more efficient at catching their prey. With ladybugs around, spiders will have to look elsewhere for food.

Maintaining a welcoming environment for ladybugs will not only keep spiders out of the house, but it is also part of a natural, integrated pest management approach to gardening.

Insects and flies (a spider’s delight) are attracted to ripe fruits. Rather than store your fruit openly on the counter, wash and cover it to minimize the potential of a spider outbreak.

While they may require some extra effort, these techniques are sure to keep spiders out of your house for good. And if you feel stuck in a web of spider sightings, contact us for professional-grade spider elimination.