Only a dozen of the approximately 40,000 spider species in the world can harm the average human.
But that does not stop the psychological damage that these eight-legged creepy crawlies cause. Over 30.5 percent of the United States population suffers from arachnophobia.
Arachnophobics do one thing first when they enter a room: they look for spiders. They may even find themselves paralyzed by the thought of a spider lurking in that room.
To deal better with this fear, you need to not just understand spiders will most likely not harm you, but you also need to understand how to eradicate those nasty things.
Join us as we explore the world of arachnids and learn how to get rid of spiders.
Types of Spiders
To deal well with spiders, you first must think like a spider. Understand that two types of spiders exist: harmless spiders and harmful spiders.
The majority of spiders fall into the harmless category. Sure, they look creepy and awful with their hairy legs and beady eyes, but they can’t really harm you.
Harmful spiders include the few and far between but also deadly. The brown recluse and black widow both fall into these categories. Research these two little guys and learn what they look like.
Also, be aware that brown recluses and black widows do not exist everywhere.
Every spider has one thing on its mind: survival. They’re not, contrary to Hollywood’s depiction, preying on humans. They want to eat bugs.
So if you do have a spider or spiders in your house, most likely you also have a fantastic source of food for them or just great places to hide.
How to Get Rid of Spiders Indoors
To rid yourself of spiders indoors, you have a few different options. Begin with glue. Glue strips or boards placed around your baseboard will catch spiders quickly.
Select the best spider insecticide (mentioned further down) and then use a hand pump sprayer and rubber gloves to apply the concentrated insecticide.
Think like a spider. Consider either where you’ve seen spiders or where you’re pretty sure spiders exist. Spray around baseboards, door frames, window frames under appliances, and in closets and storage rooms.
Think about places where creepy crawly things hide, the places where you don’t want to stick your hand.
Keep in mind that your fears are reasonable. When you don’t want to clean out that dark closet, you’re probably right. There probably are spiders in there.
So make the corners less dark and dirty by spraying them down with insecticide.
How to Get Rid of Spiders Outdoors
Do not just spray inside your house. Consider how spiders enter your home and then spray those areas outside as well.
You can employ a backpack sprayer or hand pump sprayer for this task.
Begin with the foundation of your home. Spray one foot up from the foundation and one foot out from the foundation.
Do not neglect door frames, window frames, and where cables, pipes, and wires enter the building. And then saturate the areas where you’ve seen spiders in the past.
Remember, you’re attempting to not just rid your structure of spiders but also the food spiders prey on. If you can kill the bugs the spiders eat, they will not stay. So use an insecticide that kills bugs and spiders.
Chemical Solutions
You have two different choices when selecting spider insecticides: a knockdown spray and a delayed spray.
The knockdown spray is typically aerosol pyrethrin-based aerosol spray. This chemical will kill spiders upon contact. It does not leave a residue but it does knock down deadly spiders immediately.
You may wonder, why wouldn’t you want a spray that kills on contact? Remember, every spider you see represents several more.
The delayed spray will kill the spiders you cannot see. This is a concentrated insecticide that will not knock the spider down instantly, but it will leave a lovely residue that spiders can pick up and then take back home. The residue will kill the spiders you cannot see.
Natural Solutions
To ward off spiders naturally, start thinking. Use all of your senses to consider how you can keep Charlotte and her friends away.
Begin with a good cleaning job. Knock down visible webs inside and outside of your house. Then clean your house from stem to stern with strong-smelling, natural cleaners.
Remember that spiders like dark, cluttered corners, so clear out the clutter and make your home brighter with natural light. Give your walls a fresh coat of paint to something lighter and airier.
Clean the outside of your home as well. Remove all unnecessary debris like grass clippings and wood pieces from the foundation of your home. Put a fine mesh wire over the openings like chimneys where spiders could come in.
Then begin to think with your nose. Spiders hate particular smells.
- Essential oils
In particular, think mint. Peppermint oil has proven to be an effective spider deterrent as well as a pleasant and stimulating smell for humans.
- Vinegar
When you clean, use half vinegar and half water mixture in your spray bottle. Spray in the corners, cracks, and crevices inside your home.
- Eucalyptus, Mint, & Lavender
Similar to the peppermint smell, eucalyptus scents have proven to deter spiders. Consider planting a eucalyptus tree as a longer-term solution. Or plant a mint tree, mint plant, or lavender plant near your foundation.
We may find these smells pleasant, but spiders do not.
- Citrus
Use citrus smelling anything to deter spiders. In particular, you can rub lemon peels on boards and window sills and bookshelves or use lemon scented cleaner on a regular basis. Consider burning a citronella candle both inside and outside your home.
- Cedar
Spiders also do not like cedar. Consider lining your clothing closers with cedar. Put some cedar balls or products in your wardrobe or drawers or corners to deter spiders.
- Garlic
Garlic does more than deter vampires, but it keeps spiders away as well. Put whole cloves or crushed cloves into a spray bottle filled with water, and then spray corners, floors, and skirting boards.
If your spider problem has gotten out of control, beyond what you feel comfortable handling, you can always call an exterminator to help.
A Spider-Free Home In Your Future
If you want a spider-free home, consider these means and methods. You don’t have to live with your fears. You can kill them.
Contact us to learn more about how to get rid of spiders as well as other pesky bugs.
Interested in learning more about spiders from previous blog posts? Please visit:
https://synergy2ms.com/harmless-or-cause-for-alarm-a-guide-to-the-spiders-in-mississippi/
The following websites contain excellent information on spiders and their control:
https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/spider-control-for-homeowners/
https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/spiders.htm
https://www.thespruce.com/effective-tips-for-controlling-house-spiders-2656497
https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/spiders/
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