How to Deter Spiders from Your Home: A Complete Guide
If you’re tired of stumbling upon eight-legged intruders around your home, you’re not alone. Spiders can cause fear and discomfort for many households across the UK, not to mention the awful webs they leave behind.
As the seasons change, spider sightings are going to become more frequent as they come into our homes to seek warmth and shelter.
Thankfully, there are ways that you can easily deter spiders from your home and reclaim your peace of mind, too. There are several effective ways to keep spiders at bay without having to resort to harsh chemicals.
From natural remedies like essential oils to practical tips like sealing entry points, numerous simple but powerful solutions make your home less inviting for spiders.
Here, we’ll explain everything you need to know to effectively and safely deter spiders from your home.
Whether you’re dealing with a few harmless house spiders or an ongoing infestation, these tips will help you create a spider-free sanctuary in no time.
Why Do Spiders Enter Homes in the UK?
There are several reasons why spiders seek shelter indoors in the UK. By knowing the reasons they’re coming in, you can use it to help you find ways to keep them out.
- Seek warmth: Basically, spiders want to stay warm and dry, just like us. So, as the temperatures drop, they’re coming inside as a means of survival.
- Food sources: They look for insects like flies, ants, and moths, which are often drawn to human habitats.
- Humidity: Certain species of spiders prefer humid environments, which you’re going to find in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Mating season: Autumn is the mating season for many spider species in the UK. As a result, male spiders become more mobile, looking for a partner, which can result in them in your home looking for hiding places they can find and court a mate.
- Light sources: Spiders might not necessarily be attracted to light, but their prey is. Light attracts flies and moths, which in turn draws spiders closer to your home.
- Easy access points: Small gaps and cracks in your home are going to draw spiders in easily.
How to Prevent Spiders from Entering Your Home
Knowing how to deter spiders from your home involves a combination of practical maintenance, cleanliness and some strategic deterrents. Basically, you’re going to have to put in a bit of effort to keep these eight-legged crawlies out of your space.
Seal entry points
Block access points, such as tiny gaps, cracks, and openings by windows, doors, vents, and pipes entering and exiting your home.
Keep your home clean and clutter-free
Spiders thrive in dark, undisturbed areas, so reducing clutter and following a cleaning schedule can prevent them from nesting.
Regularly vacuum, especially in corners, under furniture and along your skirting boards.
Keep surfaces clean, and wipe away any crumbs or food spills that might draw in other insects. This, in turn, encourages spiders to visit.
Take care of your outdoor spaces
Maintaining your garden is another way to deter spiders from your home. Keep plants, shrubs and bushes trimmed back by your home, as they can offer bridges for spiders to climb directly into your home.
Keep woodpiles, logs or any garden debris from your home’s exterior walls, and keep on top of leaf litter, too.
Install window screens
Physical barriers like window screens can prevent spiders from entering. You can still open your windows for fresh air and ventilation but don’t give spiders open access to your home.
Reduce indoor humidity
Spiders are often attracted to moist environments, so reducing moisture levels will make your home less appealing to them. Use dehumidifiers and check for leaking pipes or taps.
What scents keep spiders away?
Certain scents naturally repel spiders, and using these in your home is a useful way of keeping them out of your home:
- Peppermint oil
- Citrus scents
- Vinegar
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Tea tree oil
- Cinnamon
- Cedarwood
What keeps spiders away? Natural remedies to try
There are a number of ways to deter spiders from your home, naturally. Here are some ideas to try to keep them away.
Essential oils
Spiders are sensitive to strong scents, which makes essential oils a great option for deterring them. Peppermint oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and lavender are all good choices. Mix drops of the oils with water and spray around doorways, windows, and skirting boards—basically any spaces where you find spiders lingering or are likely to enter the home.
Citrus peels
Citrus scents are a great deterrent for spiders, as they’re not fond of them. You could put citrus peels in place on windowsills, in corners of the home or by doorways to help stop spider activity. The only problem here is that they will dry out after a couple of days, so they’ll need to be regularly replaced.
Vinegar Spray
White vinegar is another natural remedy for deterring spiders. Its strong scent is repulsive to them. What’s more, it’s a natural cleaner. So when you mix it with a little dish soap and clean your home, you’ll be helping to keep the spiders at bay, too.
Conkers
Conkers is a highly debated natural remedy for keeping spiders at bay, but many people swear by it. The theory is that conkers contain a substance that spiders don’t like, so they’ll stay away from them. They’ll need to be replaced every few months once they’ve started to dry out.
Herbs and plants
As we’ve mentioned above, certain scents naturally repel spiders. So, instead of spraying these scents in the form of essential oils, you could grow them in a small pot and keep them around your home. Grow mint, lavender, rosemary or eucalyptus. Not only will your home benefit from a little greenery, but their scent will also work to keep the spiders away.
Garlic cloves
Spiders don’t like the smell of garlic, which makes it a great natural option to keep them out of your home. However, the strong scent is probably not going to be something that you’d want in your home, either.
What do spiders hate most?
Knowing what spiders hate most is a great starting point for helping to keep them out of your home. Use one or more of these as a way to keep your home spider-free:
- Strong scents
- Dry and clean environments
- Strong air currents—as they naturally disturb their webs
How to remove spiders already in your home
Try our top tips for removing spiders already in your home without causing harm.
Glass and paper
The old glad and paper method is a simple and human way to capture and remove spiders. This effective method involves placing a clear glass over the spider and gently sliding the paper underneath the cup to trap it. Release the spider far from your home so it doesn’t have a quick route back in.
Vacuum with caution
If you’re not a fan of getting too close to a spider, a vacuum cleaner might be a better option. To do it safely, you’ll need to use the hose attachment and a low-power setting. Once you’ve captured the spider, take the vacuum outside, remove the bag or canister, and dispose of it away from your home.
Spider catcher tools
There are a number of spider catcher tools on the market that can be really handy when it comes to removing arthropods from the home. These gadgets are designed to help you catch spiders from a distance and release them outside.
Dealing with Spider Webs
Spider webs should be removed as soon as you notice them to prevent spiders from settling in. Use a long-handled duster or vacuum to remove the webs. Once you’ve removed them, it’s a good idea to clean the area using a natural repellent spray to help deter spiders from rebuilding in the same spot.
Professional Spider Control
While natural remedies and DIY methods can sometimes be effective at keeping spiders at bay, there are times when you will need to call in a professional.
If your home has a significant spider infestation that’s difficult to manage, seek professional spider control to gain their expertise, tools and knowledge to tackle spider issues effectively and safely.
Living Spider-Free in Your Home
Knowing how to deter spiders from your home involves a combination of prevention, natural remedies, and, if necessary, professional intervention. You can reduce the chance of a spider invasion by sealing entry points, maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment, and using natural repellants. For severe or recurring spider problems, it’s time to bite the bullet and call professional pest control services. Use our tips and guidance to keep these eight-legged creatures at bay.