Why are spiders difficult to control? Outdoor treatment is necessary to control spiders which are migrating inside or to eliminate spiders on boats, inside garages, on docks, porches, under eaves, and other areas on the outside of the building. Spiders often become particularly numerous on such exterior surfaces of homes and buildings built near lakes. They spin webs to catch and feed on the many flying insects which come out of the lake. Chronic spider problems result, for which there are few good management options except reducing any night lights that are attracting flying insects.Get rid of all needless clutter and excessive moisture to help control spiders. Spiders – as well as the insects they prey on – require a regular water source to survive. Fixing and insulating pipes is an important step. Using a dehumidifier in crawl spaces, basements and attics also helps to make your home inhospitable to spiders and the pests upon which they feed.
Spiders walk on the tips of their eight legs and keep their bodies away from most surfaces. They also do not groom themselves like most insects. This makes it difficult for most pesticides to work effectively on spiders. Many pest control products labeled for spider control may kill some spiders with direct contact, but are rendered useless when it comes to residual control of spiders.
Do you want to know how to get safely and effectively get rid of spiders? Long term control of spiders indoors and on board may involve nothing more than vacuuming up all of the spiders, their webs and egg sacs - I have done this on the exterior of schools and have achieved a full year of control in the North. Kill spiders with a vacuum. Break out the vacuum hose and all its spider-killing attachments as often as necessary to remove webs, egg sacs and spiders. Focus on suspected sites, corners, window sills, along trim, closets, behind furniture, and any dark, protected areas. When finished, remove the vacuum bag (or contents) and seal it in a plastic bag and toss it in an outside trash can - or simply use a wet vac with some soapy water and discard the entire contents into a toilet and flush it all away.
There is another non-toxic method that repels them so completely they run away and often do not come back. It is not an insecticide, and it is basically safe around people and pets. Pets and a few people may not like the smell, but it is non-toxic when used correctly. Spiders TASTE through their feet. I know what spiders do NOT like the taste of, what will repel spiders and what will keep them away. Spiders do not like the taste of citrus! Lemon, orange, lime, all citrus products repel most spiders. They do not kill them, but they do discourage them from setting up home wherever they "taste" these essential oils.
In order to make your own spider repellent you will need:
An empty quart spray bottle
A tablespoon of any citrus essential oil- lemon, lime, orange, citronella.....
A quart of water
Real essential oils must be used, not synthetic fragrance oils, which do not "taste" or repel like real essential oils. You can purchase inexpensive essential oils in many stores. Lemon oil seems to be the strongest smelling, so try that one first. Essential oils are aromatic volatile oils extracted from the leaves, stems, flowers, and other parts of plants. In the case of citrus essential oils, they are extracted from the peel. They are not oily, despite their name, but watery feeling. Essential oils can stain some fabrics, so be careful if you spray them around furniture or clothing. Fill your spray bottle and spray the fragrant mix into all cracks and crevices, around exterior windows, sills and doors inside and outside, and in the basement, crawl space or the mopboards of a slab home. Rain can wash exposed spray away pretty quickly outside, so frequent applications may be necessary. In dry areas and during a drought this spray should continue to repel spiders for an extremely long time. A lemon essential oil mix that I sprayed in my basement in the beginning of this year is still working! There have been no new spiders observed wherever I sprayed.
Essential Oils - Warning- do not use around cats..... Do not allow direct contact with pets. Although essential oils are non-toxic when used in certain applications, there are some exceptions. Essential oils can irritate the nasal passages of pets, and are especially annoying to cats. Cats should never have direct contact with essential oils of ANY kind, as their livers cannot metabolize them, and it can cause liver or kidney damage. Keep your pets out of the way if you choose to spray this spider repellent where they tend to gather, and for heaven's sake, don't spray it directly on your pet. Severe skin irritation will result.
Other spray alternatives - You can also spray vinegar diluted and sprayed in spider areas. You can also spray an ounce of Safe Solutions peppermint enzyme cleaner (and add a few drops of citrus essential oils) to a quart of water.
Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE). Diatomaceous earth is made of the fossilized remains of ancient algae called diatoms. It is a food-grade, pet and child friendly dust that can be used in the same fashion as other insecticidal dusts. When spiders (or any creature blessed with an exoskeleton) walk over a thin layer of DE, they leak fluids, dehydrate, and die. Apply DE as a perimeter barrier around your home. You can also dust wood and rock piles. Indoors, use DE in basements, crawl spaces, cracks and crevices, door and window thresholds – anywhere you’ve seen spider activity.
Physical Controls: Keeping the spiders out
Get rid of spider entry points. Exclusion – also known as pest-proofing – is an essential part of spider control and indeed all pest control. Here are some things you can do to keep spiders out of your home. Apply weather stripping to all doors and windows. Also, it is a good idea to install door sweeps. You need a tight seal to keep spiders out. Repair all window and door screens using silicone caulk or screen patches. Windows are a common spider entry point, so be sure that each layer, from screen to glass to trim, is sealed completely. Buy some outdoor sealant and a caulking gun. Walk around your home looking for cracks and crevices around your foundation and fill them in. Next look at your siding. You may need a specialized sealant depending on your siding material and color. Be sure to check the lowest edge of your siding for cracks and holes. Lastly, fill in all holes created by utilities: cables, wires, pipes, faucets, outlets, plumbing…etc. Concrete, mortar or expandable foams are also options for filling in holes. Screen all vents leading into the home.
Get rid of spider harborages (hideouts). Once you’ve worked to spider-proof outside, head indoors and start again. First stop is the basement, crawl space, or lowest level. Fill in any cracks or crevices in the foundation and around windows. Find the same utilities you sealed around outside (pipes, plumbing, wires, etc.) and seal them inside. Work your way up from the basement. Spiders hide in cracks in trim, flooring, behind outlets, countertops – any dark secluded space. Of course it would be difficult, if not impossible, to seal all such areas inside the home. Focus your energies where you’ve seen the most spider activity and where your duct tape or spider traps have caught the most spiders.
Read my free Spider Control Chapter at http://www.thebestcontrol2.com .
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