How to get rid of spiders

How to get rid of spiders

Ultimate guide on How to get rid of spiders in your house

Spiders are arachnids, a class of arthropods that includes scorpions, mites, and ticks. According to National Geographic, spiders are made up of 45,000 species found in different habitats worldwide. They come in different types and shapes, such as the cartoonish butt spiders that have high jumping stamina as well the cannibal spiders that look like the pelicans. Despite their relative harmlessness it is important to get some familiarities on some home remedies on how to get rid of spiders that you can utilize to prevent a spider infestation in your home.

Spiders can range in size from the tiny Samoan moss spider, which is .011 inch long, to the massive Goliath bird eater, a tarantula, shaped with a leg span of almost a foot.

They are considered fearsome creatures due to the venom they carry but are rarely harmful to humans. Some species in the U.S., such as the brown recluse and black widow, are considered more dangerous to a certain degree, but most other species are harmless and considered helpful in controlling insects that may cause crop damage.

As already stated, not all spider species are a danger to humans. Some are harmless and even considered beneficial. If you are unsure of the type of spider you are dealing with or you are faced with a severe infestation, it would be wise to get in touch with a Spider Exterminator near you.

We will explore below the type of spiders typically found in the U.S., home remedies for getting rid of spiders, things that attract spiders to homes, and how to prevent spiders from entering and infesting your home.

Types of spiders.

There are about 3500 species of spiders in the U.S., most of which are considered harmless, and some are even considered medically beneficial.

Black widow spider

Black Widow Spiders are black and shiny, have a telltale red hourglass on the underside of their abdomen, and are primarily found in the U.S. along the Southern Regions. They can be spotted underneath stones or decks in sheds and barns.

Brown recluse spider

Brown Recluse Spiders are light dark brown and are typically found in Texas and Georgia. In homes, they hide in the dark in baseboards and moldings. They can also be found in closets and attics. Jumping Spider

American Yellow Sac Spider

The yellow sac spider is found or originates in Africa and Eurasia and is native to North America, the Caribbean, and downward through South America. They live in leaves, Grass, trees, or structures. They will sometimes bite people in defense of their eggs. The dangerous venom (called cytotoxin) can destroy cells or impair their function. The most common symptoms are localized redness, swelling, itching, and pain around the injection site. Rarely, skin lesions may also form around the bite, resulting in tissue death, making it one of the most dangerous spiders. Symptoms usually resolve within seven to 10 days without too many long-term complications, but it is not a pleasant experience.

House spiders

House spiders are mostly found indoors and are almost everywhere in the U.S. They are often seen hiding in garages, sheds, and Outdoors. They can sometimes be found in spinning webs around windows.

Wolf spider

The wolf spider is dark brown, large, and hairy with long legs. They are a native of the U.S. and can also be found in other countries. This spider species builds their homes under stones, timbers, and furniture in search of prey.

Long Bodied Cellular Spider

With its light brown skin, skinny legs, and trim body, the long-bodied cellular spider is found throughout the U.S. They settle in basements and humid and moist areas. They can also be found on windows, ceilings, sinks, cabinets, and eaves.

Tarantulas

The big Tarantula is known for their distinct catching style of insects, small lizards, and other spiders. They are usually found in dry areas of deserts and rainforests, and have an exoskeleton that they shed as they grow. They can give a painful sting which can be toxic to humans.

Home remedies to get rid of spiders

Although it is a big task to eliminate all spiders in your home, you can significantly minimize them by applying these simple home remedies to reduce your spider infestation problems.

  • Apply Vinegar – The scent of vinegar drives away spiders and can serve as a natural remedy to keep spiders away. This could be done by applying mixed vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spreading it to the corners of your house, kitchen, and ceiling.
  • By Using Mint – Spiders hate the scent of mint. Mint is an excellent natural repellent that quickly deals with insects and pests. Add peppermint essential oil to water in a spray bottle and apply it all over your home. In addition, planting mint leaves in your home can act as a significant deterrence for spiders.
  • Apply Citrus – Citrus can also be effective for spiders. Place citrus leftover peels at possible spider locations in your house, and once the scent hits them, they will start to vacate. Putting citrus fruits on your kitchen countertop is a great way to keep spiders out.
  • Place Horse Chestnuts – Placing a few Horse Chestnuts on your window sills or along baseboards will keep spiders from hanging out there. Chestnuts are proven to last a long time before going bad.
  • Apply Diatomaceous Earth – Due to the diatomaceous earth’s nontoxic nature, it can be a good choice for spider repellent. The Diatomaceous contains silica which absorbs moisture out of pests, causing them to dehydrate. It can act as an excellent spider repellent when sprinkled around the home.

What attracts spiders to homes

Spiders, like any other creature or insect, need food to survive. They infest people’s homes for prey, such as houseflies or insects. Due to their unique hunting styles, spiders build their webs in ceilings, basements, or kitchen areas where they believe they can trap these insects.

Insects:

Spiders feed on insects ranging from ants, fleas, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and moths.

Water

While some spiders can spend a long time without water, others prefer to be where they can find food and water, which might be why some spiders can be spotted in kitchens and bathrooms, etc.

Domestic waste

Because waste attracts insects, spiders find it to be a great spot to trap their prey in homes, whether indoors or outdoors.

Fruits

Some spiders crawl on bananas or oranges as a hiding ground; for this reason, it’s always advisable to take a closer look when discarding these leftover fruits.

Warmth

Spiders, like humans, like a warm shelter in the cold season, and that warmth is found in homes.

How to keep spiders away

Seal all entry points.

One of the best ways to keep spiders away from your home is by sealing and blocking all their possible entry points on cracked walls, holes, open windows, etc. Once you start noticing signs of spiders, start determining potential entry points and blocking these entry points.

Clean your home regularly

By cleaning your home regularly and keeping things tidy, you’re preventing spiders from finding places where they can hide. Cleaning basements, stores, and kitchens will prevent them from nesting and building their webs in these places. Also, clean your gardens and the outside perimeter of your home.

Destroy their webs.

Check their webs and destroy them quickly to prevent them from nesting. Use a garden hose on roofs, vacuum their entire webs, and spray the area afterward to prevent them from returning.

Set spider traps.

Set bait glue traps to catch and kill spiders by placing the traps in high-traffic areas. Keep surprises away where kids can see them and check and change them often.

Use store-bought insecticide.

You can purchase spider insecticides from your local home improvement or pest store and apply them along your home’s interior baseboard and under furniture. They prove to be effective for medium to large-size infestations.

Use spider catcher.

A spider catcher is a good option for a more humane way of dealing with spiders; it’s a hand-operated device that captures spiders without harming them, allowing the property owner to release them safely outside. In combination with vinegar and peppermint oil, a spider catcher can be very effective.

Clean up landscaping.

Remove vegetation from the perimeter of your house. There are instances where you may need to clean and trim trees that are within your home. If your spider infestation is severe, it’s advisable to consider transplanting trees and other plants so that they’re further from your home.

Remove hiding places.

Please eliminate anything that could be a hiding or breeding place for them. Reducing clutter both inside and outside your home will help prevent spider infestation.

Clean leftovers.

Leftover food can attract insects and therefore act as a hunting spot for spiders to chase their prey. So clean regularly and do the dishes after eating to avoid spiders coming to look for food.

Turn off outdoor lighting.

It’s advisable to turn off outdoor lighting since it can attract pests like moths, which will attract spiders.

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