Creepy-crawly spiders may be great for fun Halloween decorations and convenient for catching bugs outside your front door…but they’re not a creature you want to share the interior of your home with. Spiders can quickly invade your property, spinning webs in unused corners and startling you by unexpectedly scurrying across surfaces. If you’re tired of sharing your home with these eight-legged pests, here are some spider prevention tips for homeowners:
- Turn off your porch lights.
Porch lights attract tons of insects that are delicacies for your run-of-the-mill spider. If spiders are drawn to the bugs around your porch lights, they are likely to be just a short distance away from an entryway that would give them easy access to the interior of your home. Keeping the lights off reduces the number of bugs attracted to your property, which in turn will encourage spiders to build their webs elsewhere to catch their tasty treats.
- Seal potential points of access.
Like many pests, spiders are opportunists. If they see an opportunity to enter your home, they will likely take it – especially if there’s potential for a steady food supply and an easy life protected from predators. Keep up with basic home maintenance by routinely examining the exterior and interior of your property for cracks, holes, and gaps that may provide access for spiders to get in. Seal around windows and doors and check to see if a door sweep is needed to prevent them from slipping underneath.
- Clean up.
Spiders love a home where they can build their webs and remain undisturbed by inconveniences such as someone sweeping or dusting cobwebs. Cleaning regularly will discourage spiders from setting up camp in dusty corners and un-swept rafters around your porch.
- Use essential oils.
Certain scents are said to naturally repel spiders, such as peppermint, tea tree, rose, and lavender. Essential oils can be evenly distributed throughout your home using a diffuser – so not only will you repel spiders, but as an added bonus your house will smell incredible.
- Hire a professional.
If you have a serious spider infestation in your home, it’s time to call a professional. A pest control service that uses an Integrated Pest Management approach will perform a full evaluation of your home to determine what the problem is and the best course of treatment. Your designated pest control pro will also give you options as far as preventative treatment for the future to ensure you don’t have a recurring problem with spiders once the problem has been eradicated. While many spiders are not harmful to humans and actually perform a service in controlling other populations of insects, it’s just not pleasant to live alongside them. If you have tried do-it-yourself options and have come up short when it comes to spider control, it is time to call a professional. If you need a spider removal pro in the Salinas, CA area, Target Pest Control is ready and willing to provide a free estimate for spider elimination and prevention in your home.
