There are a lot of different types of pests that can make their way into your home and cause problems. Perhaps none are more prevalent and annoying than spiders. You don’t need to have an acute fear of these creatures for them to be a pain and hindrance to you and your family. But if spiders do cause fear and anxiety for you or anyone in your home, you won’t rest easy at night. The good news is that there are effective ways to eliminate spiders from your property and keep them away. Implementing these tactics can help you feel more at ease in your place.
Keep the House Clean
Spiders love clutter and messes. If your home is dirty and you have piles of junk and debris lying around, spiders will have plenty of places to hide. Removing these areas of refuge can drive spiders away from your house. The best approach is to vacuum thoroughly on a regular basis. Make sure you hit every room of your home, especially in the basement. Don’t just vacuum in areas of heavy traffic, but also hit the corners. Vacuum under and behind furniture as well. Also, get rid of unnecessary stacks of materials, such as boxes, newspapers, and old clothing. Get in the habit of cleaning every square inch of your house, and you may be amazed at how fast your spider problem goes away.
Seal Openings
Spiders don’t require a lot of space to make their way into your home. It can be difficult to keep them away, but you can minimize the chances of this happening by eliminating small cracks in your home. Apply sealing products around windows and doors, especially older ones. If these areas are sealed, check to make sure the seals are tight. Have a professional exterminator in Los Angeles inspect your home’s foundation or other spots where arachnids may be entering your place. Vents can be another area of concern and a popular spot for spiders to use to infiltrate your house. Placing mesh covers or screens can solve this concern.
Use Traps
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to take care of spider problems. Local home improvement stores sell sticky tracks to catch spiders and keep them from wandering freely in your house. These traps consist of a board and glue or other similar materials that prevent spiders from going any further. These are non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about small children or pets if they get into them. Plus, you’ll be able to see which areas of your home spiders like the most. Make sure you place the traps in a variety of places, including the basement, attic, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
Vinegar
There are various natural products to fend off spiders. Some of these may be in your kitchen cupboard or cabinets. Vinegar is one of the most popular and effective. Simply mix vinegar and water in equal parts and place the mixture in a spray bottle. Directly hitting spiders with this concoction will burn and kill them due to the acid in the vinegar.
Peppermint Oil
Another natural solution is peppermint oil. If you mix 20 drops of this essential oil with 32 ounces of water, you can create a spray that will chase spiders away. Spiders hate the smell of this mixture and will leave the premises if you spray it liberally. Focus on areas where spiders commonly hang out—in corners, behind furniture, along floorboards, and close to entrances in your home.
Get a Pet
Sometimes, you can fight animals with other animals. You can get rid of animal pests with animal friends such as a cat. Cats are known to hunt spiders and drive them out of their hiding places. Plus, cats are effective at taking care of other pest problems.
Call a Professional
When these methods are not producing the results you want, or if your spider problem is becoming an infestation, it may be time to call a professional exterminator. You may also want to go this route if you have poisonous spiders such as black widows or brown recluses on your property. Exterminators have the skills and equipment to find spiders in your home and kill them and their nests. A professional will first inspect your house to identify where spiders are living and how they are entering your house. The technicians will use pesticides and repellent to eliminate the spiders. These tactics can also discourage other spiders from coming into your house.
Having spiders in your home can be unsettling and unnerving. Seeing an occasional spider may not be enough cause to panic. If you are consistently encountering arachnids, though, it’s time to apply some of these tips into practice. If you do, you should see results and eventually have a spider-free home once and for all.