There are over 2000 types of spiders in Australia, thankfully most of them are not actually dangerous to humans, but that doesn’t mean you want to share your home with them!
Seeing a spider in your home is enough to make most of us shudder in fear, so it’s understandable to want to find a quick fix to get rid of spiders. Although it is impossible to get rid of every single spider in your home, there are things you can do to eradicate and help prevent spider infestations.
In this post, we cover some helpful do-it-yourself, natural, and over-the-counter options to getting rid of spiders in your home along with any fallbacks or downsides compared to a professional treatment.
What attracts spiders to my home?
Spiders are a natural part of life in Australia – they are everywhere! And although that doesn’t mean we want them to be a part of our life at home, it is important to understand what factors contribute to spiders making their way into your space.
- If the weather outside is too hot, cold or wet, chances are our eight-legged friends will seek shelter indoors.
- If a spider in your home is in mating season, it may perform a sound ritual that will attract other mating spiders to your home.
- Damage to your home gives spiders an easy way to enter your home.
- Spiders prefer dark, secluded areas, which is why we find so many in our basement and garages.
- If your home is susceptible to pests, it will naturally attract spiders who will be drawn to the easy food source.
Our team knows everything about spiders in Australia! If you have questions about spider-proofing your home, reach out to us today. We’re always happy to help!
Signs You’re Dealing With A Spider Infestation
Our pest control technicians often see two types of spider infestations in homes:
- Webbing spider infestation
- Crawling spider infestation
Common Signs Of Webbing Spiders
As the name suggests, webbing spiders create webs, so the most common sign of a webbing spider will be webs in the nooks and crannies of your home. Spiders like to make their homes in hard-to-find places, so if you’re looking for signs of a spider infestation make sure to check:
- Behind plant pots
- Underneath furniture
- In ceiling corners
- Behind doors
- Under cabinets next to skirting boards
Basements, attics, crawl spaces, and anywhere cluttered or messy will also attract spiders. If you are worried about a spider infestation, thoroughly checking these areas for signs of webbing is a good idea.
Spider infestations can also start outside when spiders make webs and lay eggs in bushes, grass, or trees around your home. Spider hatchlings can make their way inside looking for food and a new place to set up their own webs. Look for webbing around the perimeter of your home as this can be a surefire sign that you are dealing with a spider infestation.
Our Deluxe or Supreme Pest Control Packages include spider treatments for the inside and outside perimeters of your home, as well as a thorough inspection for any signs for webbing.
Common Signs Of Crawling Spiders
As the name suggests, crawling spiders are found usually crawling on the floor and up along skirting boards or walls. Therefore, that heart-stopping feeling you get when you unexpectedly see a spider in your house is an obvious sign that it could be dealing with a spider infestation.
Though most spiders tend to try to stay out of sight, any spider sighting should warrant a check for an infestation. Here in Australia, there are thousands of types of spiders, most of which are harmless but be warned that there are some that can be dangerous to your family and pets.
If crawling around your basement with a flashlight looking for spiders sounds way too creepy, or you are worried you may be dealing with a dangerous variety of spiders, contact us right away to help you take care of it!
To find out what kind of spider you are dealing with, check out our Spider Identification Chart.
5 Ways To Get Rid Of Spiders Inside Your Home
If you’re dealing with a spider infestation inside your home, the following methods may be helpful to get rid of them, although we recommend a professional spider control treatment to help get rid of them — for good!
1. Set out spider traps or spider catchers.
Spider traps are non-toxic sticky glue traps that can be placed in high-traffic areas to catch spiders. Spider traps are easy to use and can be folded into a circle making them more child and pet-friendly, but they do have limitations.
Although you can bait a spider trap, unless you have the proper knowledge about what kind of spider you’re dealing with, your baiting efforts will likely be unsuccessful. Spider traps also do not have any residual effect, which refers to their inability to have the spider carry baited poison back to the nest (and thereby eradicate the infestation). Traps can catch a spider or two but are also not very effective when dealing with a spider infestation.
2. Remove webs when found.
As soon as you notice a spider web it is important to remove it. Spiders multiply quickly, so where there is one, others will soon follow. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove webs, and consider an extendable pole with brush ends to get to those hard-to-reach places.
Removing the web will temporarily destroy the spider’s home, but be warned that if you only get rid of the web and not the spider it will simply make its home elsewhere.
Book an appointment if you would like help with spider control in your home.
3. Try natural remedies like peppermint oil or vinegar.
Many people like to use natural remedies as a way to get rid of spiders. Spiders taste and smell with their legs, so they are naturally repelled by certain oils and odours. Spraying surfaces, cracks, and corners with a mixture of peppermint oil and water, or vinegar and water can help deter spiders from entering your home.
Although peppermint is a safe and natural way to get rid of spiders, remember that peppermint oil can be harmful to cats. And although these ‘natural insecticides’ will not cause any harm, they are considered a deterrent rather than a solution to getting rid of spiders.
4. Keep your home clean, tidy, and clutter-free.
Spiders love clutter. It gives them a lot of dark places to hide and attracts other pests which make for a convenient food source. If you want to get rid of spiders in your home then make sure it is consistently clean, tidy, and uncluttered. Remember to pay special attention to the dark corners under or behind furniture, and hard to reach ceiling corners as those are prime spider real estate!
Keeping your home clean is an important step in getting rid of spiders, but remember that spiders are a natural part of life, so a clean home is not a guarantee of a spider-free home.
5. Try over-the-counter insecticides.
Spraying a store-bought insecticide on skirting boards and common points of entry can be a useful way to rid your home of spiders. Depending on the type of insecticide, the spider may also bring back some of the poison to the nest which can help get to the root problem of a spider infestation.
However, store-bought insecticides tend to be one size fits all and are not made to target spiders or particular varieties of spiders, making it difficult to know which ones will be effective. Insecticides can also be harmful to children, pets, and are best used with caution. Professionals are trained on how to use, mix, and apply insecticides and have access to higher quality products that are safer for you and your family. When dealing with insecticides, we always recommend seeking professional help.
We only use high-quality products that are tailored to your pest problem, reach out to our team of professionals today!
5 Ways To Get Rid Of Spiders Outside Your Home
Although not many of us like sharing our home with spiders, it is important to remember that they are a natural and beneficial predator that contributes to keeping down the insect population outside of our homes.
Consider not getting rid of all spiders as they are helpful, but if you absolutely have to or if they are dangerous try these outdoor spider removal methods:
1. Consider natural biological spider control.
A good way of keeping spiders out of specific areas is to plant certain plants that naturally repel spiders like:
- Eucalyptus
- Lemon Balm
- Lavender
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Chrysanthemums
Plants like bottle brushes will also attract native birds which will help keep down the insect population in your yard.
Planting native plants is a great way to deter spiders and other unwanted insects while still supporting the natural environment.
2. Maintain the perimeter of your home for excess shrubbery.
Even when you are outside, spotting a spider near your front door can be upsetting. The best way to get rid of spiders is to make sure they are discouraged from hanging around your house in the first place!
Keep your exterior walls tidy and free from vegetation and debris by clearing away any compost, leaves, and woodpiles. Trim back or remove shrubbery that is close to the house (avoid thick shrubbery altogether), keep weep holes clear, and fill in any cracks on walls, doors and windows. If you like to leave your windows or doors open, install snug-fitting screens or consider installing auto shutters.
Maintaining the perimeter of your home is not a guarantee that spiders will not still find their way in, but by reducing the number of spiders around your home you’ll inevitably reduce the number that comes inside.
3. Keep up with yard maintenance.
Yard maintenance is an important part of keeping spiders and other pests away. Keep your lawn mowed, rake up clippings, keep trees and bushes trimmed and away from the house, deck or pool, and use proper composting bins. Consider decluttering your shed to get rid of any tempting piles of wood or clutter that would attract spiders and other insects. Lastly, watch for webbing in the trees outside your home! Be diligent about removing webs in trees, and consider trimming back if the webs seem out of control or problematic.
If you are looking to reduce the number of spiders (and other pests) in your yard or home, check out our pest value packages which can be used to treat multiple types of pests!
4. Keep outdoor lighting to a minimum.
Lights attract bugs and bugs attract spiders. Turning off outdoor lights will help attract fewer bugs for spiders to snack on.
Additionally, by not contributing to the amount of artificial light in our night sky you will naturally reduce the disruption to migratory birds (who help out by eating all those spiders you’re trying to avoid).
5. Try outdoor insecticide sprays.
Over-the-counter outdoor insecticides are not as effective as professional treatments but can be useful to spot treat spiders or spider nests.
However, as we mentioned before, we always recommend seeking professional help when it comes to using insecticides. Wind can cause the product to drift into other areas (including your eyes or skin) and the type of insecticide you use may do more harm than good to the surrounding vegetation and insect population.
Our team is highly trained and we use only the best products that are safe for you, your family, and the environment. Reach out to our team today if you would like help with spider control.
Do you want expert help to get rid of spiders in your home?
Contact our professional spider control technicians to book a treatment. We provide a 12-month indoor guarantee when you book one of our pest control value packages. Book your appointment today!
