How to Safely Get Rid of Spiders from Your House

While spiders help keep pests like flies and mosquitoes away, nobody wants to have them as houseguests.

Spiders are not comfortable to live with and many people are afraid of them. According to Statistic Brain in 2015, 30.5 percent of the U.S. population has a fear of spiders, which is known as arachnophobia.

Plus, these creatures leave lots of webs and dead insects inside the house, and some can even be dangerous to you, your family or your pets.

Most spiders live outdoors, but they often make their way indoors in search of food or shelter. They come into the house through cracks and under doors. The problem is more common during late summers and early fall.

If spiders are setting up camp in your bedroom or hiding out in your closet, you can safely get rid of them using some nontoxic methods.

Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of spiders from your house.

1. Vacuum Clean Your House

It is important to keep your house clean and clutter-free to prevent any kind of insect infestation, including spiders.

It is important to clean common spider-attracting areas, such as stacks of storage boxes, piles of newspapers and old magazines, under-bed storage and crowded under-sink storage.

While vacuuming, make sure to eliminate all the spider webs, along with the spiders and their egg sacs.

• Each week, vacuum behind and beneath the bed, cupboards, sofa, chairs, nightstands and other furniture to clean up any webs.
• Use your vacuum’s hose attachment to clean air ducts and registers.
• Use an extension dusting pole to clean ceilings, light fixtures and corners.
• Keep your bookshelves clean and clutter-free.
• Cover your vents and kitchen chimney with fine mesh insect screens.
• Fill up cracks and holes with caulk to prevent spiders from finding their way indoors.
• Keep boxes, old equipment and other items neatly stored on shelves, particularly in garages and basements.

2. Peppermint Oil

When it comes to repelling spiders, one of the best options to try at home is peppermint oil. Spiders simply cannot tolerate its strong smell and it compels them to run away from your house.

As an added bonus, peppermint will make your house smell nice.

• Pour 3 cups of water in a spray bottle. Add 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in it to help spread the water evenly on the surfaces you intend to spray it on. Mix in 1 tablespoon of peppermint oil. Give the spray bottle a nice shake. Spray this solution on all the possible places where you expect the spiders to be. Repeat once daily for a few days.
• Soak cotton balls in peppermint essential oil and place them in the cracks and gaps around doors and windows. Change the cotton balls daily until you stop noticing spiders in your house.
• You can even grow peppermint plants in your kitchen garden.

3. White Vinegar

White vinegar is another efficient natural spider repellent.

Just like peppermint, spiders hate the strong pungent smell of white vinegar. It will drive away all the spiders in no time. Its acetic acid can even burn and kill spiders upon contact.

Moreover, this nontoxic method is safe for you as well as your pets.

1. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
2. Spray this solution on any area where spiders can hide.
3. Also, spray it directly on any spider you see.
4. Repeat once daily until the spiders are completely gone.

4. Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) powder is made from naturally-formed fossils of microscopic water-dwellers called diatoms.This powder can solve all kinds of pest problems, including spiders.

It has microscopic razor-sharp edges that can abrade the skin of a spider when it walks over or through it. Once cut, the fluid leaks out of the spider’s body, which causes the creature to dry out and ultimately die.

1. Put a fine layer of DE around cracks, corners, windowsills, basements and anywhere else you expect spiders to be.
2. Also, lightly spread DE around the perimeter of your home to keep spiders from coming in.
3. Repeat once daily until all the spiders are gone.

Note: Do not wet the DE or it will not work.

5. Eucalyptus

To do away with spiders, you can even use eucalyptus. Spiders do not like its strong smell and they will soon start looking for a new residence.

Both eucalyptus leaves and essential oil can be used to drive away spiders from your house.

• Put fresh or dried eucalyptus leaves in your closets, drawers, shelves or any other place where you suspect having spiders.
• Spray windowsills and entryways with a solution of ½ cup water and 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
• Apply a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the corners and cracks and other spider-prone areas.

6. Horse Chestnut

To deter spiders, you can also try horse chestnuts. This is a popular old wives tale that happens to be effective. Horse chestnut shells contain a chemical that is toxic to spiders.

1. Poke holes in some horse chestnut or split them in half to release their odor.
2. Place them in each corner of the house and in places where you frequently notice spiders.

Instead of horse chestnut, you can use chestnuts, walnuts or the fruit of the Osage orange tree.

7. Tobacco

Though it sounds weird, tobacco is another secret weapon to show the door to spiders.

These creepy creatures simply cannot tolerate the smell of tobacco and this discourages them from entering the house.

• Soak 1 to 2 tablespoons of tobacco in a cup of hot water for about 30 minutes. Strain it and mix the juice of 1 lemon in the water. Spray the solution all around the house.
• Put chewing tobacco in areas where you have noticed these pests in your house.

Repeat daily until you are sure that your house is free of spiders.

8. Salt

One efficient and natural tool to eliminate spiders from your house and prevent further infestation is salt. Another plus point is that it is an inexpensive as well as readily available solution.

1. Dissolve 1 ounce of salt in 1 gallon of warm water.
2. Stir until the salt dissolves completely.
3. Pour the saline mixture into a spray bottle.
4. Spray the solution directly onto a spider to kill it.
5. Also, spray around entry points as well as nests.
6. Repeat daily for a few days.

9. Citronella

Citronella can be used as an insect repellent for spiders as well as mosquitoes. Spiders hate its smell and will avoid the places with such things.

Citronella is safe and nontoxic to humans and pets.

• Fill a half-quart spray bottle with water. Add 5 to 10 drops of citronella oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon dishwashing liquid in it. Give it a nice shake. Spray it on every surface or place where you have seen spiders. Repeat once daily.
• You can even burn a few citronella candles in the rooms where you often spot spiders.

10. Keep Outdoor Lights Off

To discourage spiders from entering your home, you need to keep your outdoor lights off.

Light attracts bugs that are an appetizing and easy food source for spiders. So, when the outdoor lights are off, spiders will look elsewhere for food.

Along with turning the outdoor lights off, block indoor lights by using opaque blinds or shades. You can even switch to yellow sodium vapor lights, which are less appealing to insects.

Additional Tips

• Move vegetation away from the foundation of your house, as it serves as an ample hiding spot.
• Get rid of mulch, stones, leaves or other debris near your home.
• Don’t stack firewood along your home’s foundation.
• Do not leave grocery bags in a pile on the floor.
• Avoid leaving your dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
• Replace all the broken screens of windows and doors.
• You can also opt for glue boards that are easily available in the market.
• In the case of a heavy spider infestation, it is best to contact a team of professionals.