How To Get Rid of Spiders (2024)

Finding a spider in your home can be jarring. But in most cases, getting rid of spiders is more about peace of mind than safety.

Decluttering, reducing insect activity and sealing entry points are the best DIY solutions for unwanted spiders. In the rare instance the spiders you find are venomous and can harm you or your pets, pest control intervention may be necessary.

“The best methods are preventative,” said Jason Bond, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California, Davis.

“Reduce the amount of insects around the home so the spiders don’t have a food source, keep your doors and windows closed, and don’t leave food out that attracts insects, which the spiders come to eat,” Bond said.

Here, we will differentiate between a spider infestation and normal activity, help you identify harmful spiders, share DIY methods for keeping spiders out of your home and provide solutions for pest control.

How do you know if you have a spider infestation?

Spider infestations aren’t typical. Any increase in activity is temporary and typically linked to mating or access to food sources. Frequent encounters with spiders and their webs can feel normal to some and like an infestation to others.

“It can be a common worry for most people that finding one spider inside the house means many more are lurking around,” said Eric Bassett, certified entomologist and vice president of Natura Pest Control in Vancouver, Washington, and co-founder of BugBux+.

“Unlike social pests like ants who are part of a colony, spiders prefer their solitude. Finding one isn’t always an indication that there are more to come,” he said.

However, sometimes, spiders will continue to feed and mate in your home. “A spider or two here and there is quite normal, but if you run into them too frequently in every part of your house and see spiderwebs, you know there is an above-average population,” said Surendra Dara, Ph.D., an entomologist and professor in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University.

If you’re seeing unusually high spider activity throughout your home, we discuss the best ways to address spider removal below.

What are the best ways to get rid of spiders?

The best way to get rid of spiders is to cut off their food source. “Spiders will see no reason to be around if there isn’t food available. Keep out the insects, and you won’t have spiders,” Bond said.

It’s also good practice to block entry points so new spiders cannot take up residence in your home; this will help manage new and existing activity.

You can manually remove one or two spiders (or have your less arachnophobic family member do so for you) or call pest control if you notice an unusually large population.

Remove their food source

Since spiders feed on other insects, getting rid of them means eliminating their favorite snacks first. Getting rid of gnats and keeping mosquitoes away are two of the most effective ways to mitigate your spider population.

“If you keep the house very clean with no insects or other prey, spiders will not have food and will stay out,” Dara said. “Regular vacuuming, keeping the kitchen and other areas clean, using screens for doors and windows, and other hygiene practices will prevent spider infestation.”

Promptly clean up anything that attracts insects, such as uncovered trash bins, standing water and pet waste. Also, consider installing yellow lights outside the house, as insects are less drawn to these.

Seal entry points

“If you already have spiders in your home and are looking for a solution, make sure you start with limiting entry points first,” Bassett said. “Making sure no new spiders will get in will make resolving the existing spider issue much easier.”

Inspect door and window seals for necessary maintenance, such as new caulking and weatherstripping, and install window screens. Seal any other access points, such as holes around pipes or cracks in the walls. Door sweeps can also effectively close gaps under doors where pests can enter.

“For spiders, your home is a climate-controlled sanctuary with no natural predators, and it’s protected from harsh elements. It’s so important to be proactive about sealing up entry points,” Bassett explained.

Clear the clutter

Spiders like to hide in clutter. Keep the outdoor perimeter of your home, your garage and your basem*nt free of clutter to avoid creating spaces for spiders to settle in. When cleaning, vacuum the corners and windowsills of your home where spiderwebs and egg sacs are commonly found. Also, keep your yard clear of wood piles and other hiding places.

Apply natural repellents

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology uncovered mixed results regarding whether peppermint oil, lemon oil and chestnuts repel spiders.

Two of the three spider species in the experiment avoided peppermint essential oil and chestnuts most of the time; however, lemon oil did not affect any spiders. The experiment also notes that any repellent effects were made on keeping spiders away rather than encouraging settled spiders to relocate.

Many stores sell natural spider repellants; opt for peppermint or chestnut oil as a supplemental solution to new spider activity.

Manually remove them

The best way to remove a spider from your home without disrupting the ecosystem or harming the spider is to kindly escort it back outside. “I like the paper plate and paper cup method,” Bond said. “Slowly come at the spider from each side, scoop it up and carry it out.”

Use spider sprays and traps

If a phobia prevents you from carrying a live spider outside, you have a few other options in sprays and traps. However, weigh the pros and cons before opting for pesticides. Glue traps aren’t the most humane form of pest control, and many insecticide sprays could harm animals and humans.

“If you decide to use any products or insecticides, make sure you read the label, follow its directions and wear the appropriate personal protective equipment,” Bassett said.

Various glue traps are available online that you can leave in places with suspected spider traffic. Glue traps will kill passing spiders to reduce the population in your home.

Products such as Raid will kill spiders on contact. However, these sprays emit fumes that could irritate your eyes and lungs. Use caution when spraying insecticides around children and pets.

A DIY vinegar and water solution is an effective alternative; acetic acid is deadly to spiders but not toxic to pets or kids.

Contact pest control experts

If your spider problem is severe — meaning you notice significant spider activity throughout your home or have laid eyes on multiple spiders known to be venomous to humans — contacting pest control is the best solution.

“While most professional products can be purchased by DIYers, professionals typically have years of experience, technical and entomological training, and they know exactly which products to use [and] where based on the type of pest,” said Bassett.

“A professional can usually accomplish a significantly more thorough and effective treatment in much less time than the typical DIYer, and most reputable companies provide recurring programs with warranties designed to maintain protective barriers against spiders all year long,” he said.

Are spiders dangerous?

The majority of spiders you see in your home are not dangerous. “There are over 50,000 identified species of spiders — likely over 100,000 in total on this planet — and an incredibly small percentage of these spiders have venoms toxic to humans,” Bond said.

The most common spider species found in North American homes, such as wolf spiders, cellar spiders and jumping spiders, are harmless. Spider bites are not common, and spiders typically only bite in self-defense.

“Avoid sticking your hand in places you can’t see, and if you find a spider on you, brush it away. Don’t grab it. Spiders rarely bite when they’re walking,” said Bond.

Fewer than three people die from spider bites each year. However, there are two spiders to be aware of, as their venom can harm you, your children and your pets: brown recluses and black widows. “The good news is,” Bond explained, “you will seldom come in contact with them, and it’s easy to know where they are.”

Brown recluse spiders

In the United States, brown recluse spiders are typically found in the South, West and Midwest and are easily identified by the violin shape on their brown body. Though bites are rare, most occur in the summertime when people disrupt their hiding places.

These spiders prefer to live in warm, dark corners and can be found in attics, basem*nts, shoes, cardboard boxes, wood piles and crevices. Awareness can typically mitigate unwanted contact, but contact a pest control specialist if you frequently find brown recluses in your home and yard.

Black widow spiders

Black widow spiders are found throughout the United States and are the most easily identified by the bright red hourglass marking on their black spherical body. Black widows make their webs in dark, dank places such as wood piles, water meter boxes and crawl spaces.

The good news is that male black widows don’t bite at all, and female black widows rarely leave their webs — they prefer to escape than bite. But if provoked or defending her eggs, a female black widow’s bite can be dangerous and require medical attention, potentially including black widow antivenom.

Can spiders be beneficial?

Spiders are incredibly beneficial to insect control. “Spiders are doing you a service by eating the things you don’t want in your house!” Bond exclaimed. “They eat the co*ckroaches and flying insects, like gnats and mosquitos, for you. They’re also an integral part of the ecosystem as a food source up the chain. Birds rely on spiders, for example.”

Spiders get a bad rap; insects are the true household pests. “If we understand the benefits of spiders in maintaining environmental and human health by feeding on insects that harm humans, pets and other animals or those that damage plants, we appreciate their help and develop tolerance to having a few spiders around,” Dara said.

“We need to remember that spiders multiply only when they have their food, and if we keep our surroundings very clean, we have less risk of spider problems,” he continued.

What’s next?

A few spiders in the home aren’t a cause for panic. In fact, spiders help you keep other pests from multiplying in your home.

“Spider silks aren’t just engineering marvels, but are some of the strongest natural materials on the planet, and they’ve built these tools that help you keep your insect population under control. I like to think about those contributions before doing a spider harm,” Bond said.

If cohabiting with spiders isn’t your thing, you can take on their share of the work by keeping insects away. Take inventory of your home and implement preventive measures before graduating to more severe measures, such as traps and insecticides.

Some simple first steps include ensuring there are lids on your garbage bins and cleaning up anything that attracts gnats and mosquitoes, such as standing water and pet waste.

You can also keep spiders from settling in by using window screens and vacuuming your windowsills. Decluttering will eliminate their hiding spots, but use caution when clearing your attics and basem*nts. Shine a light before you reach your hand, as spiders will bite in self-defense.

“If you use any DIY remedies, be aware of any unintended effects it could have on your house or occupants in the home. Some remedies with repellant-based effects can actually increase activity inside the home as spiders flee affected areas,” Bassett advised.

Professional exterminators are available to help with unsafe situations, and most are environmentally conscious. Don’t hesitate to reach out for recommendations, guidance and quotes for service when needed.