How to Get Rid of Spiders in Your Home

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Your Home

Spiders are a common concern for homeowners in Central Illinois, especially for those worried about brown recluse spiders. While most spiders are harmless and even beneficial, having too many in your home is understandably unwelcome. Here is how to reduce spider populations effectively.

Reduce Their Food Source

Spiders go where the food is, and their food is other insects. By addressing other pest problems in your home, you can reduce the prey that attracts spiders. Keep your home clean, seal entry points, and address any existing insect infestations.

Remove Webs Regularly

Regularly removing spider webs discourages spiders from settling in your home. Use a vacuum or broom to clear webs from corners, ceilings, and around windows and doors. This also removes egg sacs, preventing new spiders from hatching indoors.

Seal Entry Points

Spiders enter through cracks around windows and doors, gaps in siding, openings around pipes and wires, and torn window screens. Seal these entry points with caulk, weatherstripping, and screen repairs to reduce the number of spiders getting inside.

Reduce Outdoor Habitat

Spiders often enter homes from nearby outdoor habitats. Keep vegetation trimmed away from your home's exterior. Remove woodpiles, leaf litter, and other debris near the foundation. Switch outdoor lighting to yellow or sodium vapor bulbs, which attract fewer insects and, consequently, fewer spiders.

Use Sticky Traps

Glue boards or sticky traps placed along baseboards, in closets, and in storage areas can help capture wandering spiders. They also serve as monitoring tools to help you gauge the severity of your spider problem and identify which species are present.

Declutter Storage Areas

Spiders, especially brown recluses, thrive in cluttered, undisturbed areas. Clean out closets, storage rooms, basements, and attics regularly. Store items in sealed plastic containers rather than cardboard boxes. Shake out clothing, shoes, and linens that have been stored for a long time.

Professional Spider Control

If spiders are a persistent problem, or if you are concerned about brown recluse spiders, professional treatment is the most effective solution. Terminix offers targeted spider control services throughout Central Illinois and Western Indiana. Contact us today for a free inspection.