Spiders: How Do I Get Rid of Them for Good?

Did you know that there are more than 43,000 different spider species worldwide? Only a small number of them are known to have venomous bites, including black widows. Fortunately, the majority of spiders you will encounter here in North America are more of a nuisance rather than a danger.

If spiders scare you, there are several things you can do to keep them out of your home. On average, the spider exterminator cost can run anywhere from $150 to $500.But here are some steps you can take at home to get rid of spiders for good:

Spiders: How Do I Get Rid of Them for Good?

Remove Places Where Spiders Can Hide

Spiders are generally attracted to areas in your home that are typically quiet where they can remain undisturbed for most of the day. These include storage rooms, unused guest bedrooms and bathrooms, basements, attics, and garages. These eight-legged interlopers are also commonly found in closets, underneath furniture, inside houseplants, and wall cracks or corners.

Make Your House Feel Less Welcoming to Spiders

Now that you know what spiders look for, you can start driving them away. Spiders love clutter, as it gives them a perfect place to hide. So, eliminate their perceived sense of safety by decluttering your home.

If you’ve spotted spiders, likely, they’ve already left egg sacs in the dark corners of your property. To eliminate these egg sacs, you need to vacuum everywhere. Pay close attention to sheltered points, such as beneath worktops, under the cabinets, drawers, and furniture, or backs of cupboards and doors. It’s also highly recommended to frequently remove noticeable cobwebs and dust on all surfaces, especially the walls and ceilings.

You can keep spiders at bay by regularly treating your home. A clean and tidy place deters spiders and other unwanted guests, as it gives them fewer places to hide and breed.

Contact Professionals

For major infestations, such as those commonly found in older homes where spiders have been breeding for decades, calling a professional exterminator may be your best bet. Nowadays, many pest control companies have turned to non-toxic extermination techniques that are safe for use around children and pets. So, make sure to ask about these methods.

It’s also best to call a pro if you find an infestation of venomous spiders on your property. Eradicating these types of dangerous spiders on your own may cause them to become aggressive and bite. Your attempts may also only send them into other potential hiding spots that are more difficult to reach.

Prevention Is Key

The best way to get rid of spiders is to keep them from entering your house in the first place. Spiders thrive in an environment where there’s easy access to food and water. So, avoid leaving crumbs to accumulate somewhere. Spiders don’t eat them, but their prey will. Remember that spiders survive on insects. So, if your house has ants, flies, wasps, and more, spiders will find a way to access your home. Clean up your counters and yard regularly to reduce these food sources.

Equally important is to fix leaky pipework and fill in gaps and cracks in walls, ceilings, and doors to deter entry. Also, remove any potential sheltering sites like garden bags, firewood stacks, and compost piles. Spiders also enjoy taking up residence in leafy shrubs and vegetables. So, it’s highly recommended to move your potted plant’s several feet away from your property.

It’s also worth noting that, like moths, spiders are attracted to light because that’s what draws their prey. It’s best to keep the screen of your windows and doors closed. It would also help to replace your regular light bulbs with warm-colored light-emitting diode (LED) lights. These are lights that emit yellow or orange hues rather than cool blue light. Investing in motion detector lights is also a good idea.

There are several ways to deal with a spider infestation. If getting rid of them the natural way isn’t your style, you can buy spider traps and commercial sprays. Just keep in mind that any of the abovementioned methods only eliminate spiders if you find the root cause of the problem and address it once and for all.