How to Get Rid of Spiders

Spiders typically enter homes in search of food, shelter or a suitable place to build a web. They may get inside through cracks around doors and windows, gaps around pipes and utility lines, damaged screens and other small openings.

Spiders are often found in quiet, undisturbed areas where insects are available. Common hiding spots include:

• Basements and crawl spaces
  
• Garages
  
• Attics
  
• Closets
  
• Storage areas
  
• Corners and ceilings
  
• Behind furniture
  
• Around doors and windows

Seeing an occasional spider indoors doesn't necessarily mean you have an infestation. However, regularly finding spiders or webs may indicate that conditions in and around your home are attracting spiders or the insects they feed on.

• Use a vacuum with a hose attachment to remove spiders, webs and egg sacs from corners, ceilings, window frames, baseboards and other areas.
  
• Regular cleaning also eliminates undisturbed hiding places. Pay particular attention to cluttered storage areas, closets, garages and basements.
  

• Spider traps are a pesticide-free option for catching spiders that travel across floors and other surfaces. Most are glue traps that capture a spider when it walks across the adhesive surface.
  
• Place indoor spider traps along walls, behind furniture, near doors and windows and in other areas where you've noticed spider activity.
  
• Keep traps away from children and pets and follow the manufacturer's placement and disposal instructions.
  

• Spider killer spray can be useful when you need to treat spiders or areas where they're commonly found. Products vary, so check the label to confirm whether a spray is intended for direct contact, crack-and-crevice treatment, perimeter treatment or another application.
  
• When using spider killer spray indoors, follow the product label carefully. Don't apply more product than directed and keep children and pets away from treated areas as specified on the label.
  

• One of the most effective long-term strategies for controlling spiders is reducing their food supply. Spiders prey on flies, moths, mosquitoes, ants and other small insects.
  
• Clean up food and drink spills, store food in sealed containers and empty trash regularly. Repair window and door screens and address other areas where insects can enter your home.
  
• You can use Triazicide insect killer for lawns outdoors, according to label directions, to control listed lawn insects and help reduce insect activity around your home that may attract spiders.
  

Preventing spiders from getting inside can be easier than removing them later. Inspect your home's exterior for possible entry points. Depending on the location, use an appropriate caulk, sealant or other material to close gaps around:

• Window and door frames
  
• Pipes and utility penetrations
  
• Exterior vents
  
• Siding and trim
  
• Foundation openings 

Install or replace weatherstripping and door sweeps where necessary. Also, repair damaged window and door screens.

• Basements can provide the dark, quiet and relatively undisturbed environment that many spiders favor. If you're wondering how to get rid of spiders in a basement, start by reducing hiding places and addressing moisture and insect activity.
  
• Vacuum webs, spiders and egg sacs regularly. Reduce clutter and consider storing belongings in sealed plastic storage containers rather than cardboard boxes.
  
• Check basement windows, exterior doors and foundation penetrations for gaps. Seal openings with a material appropriate for the location.
  
• Address leaks and excessive moisture that may contribute to conditions favorable to insects. A dehumidifier may help control humidity in damp basements, but it won't directly eliminate spiders.
  
• Place indoor spider traps along walls, near potential entry points and in areas where you've noticed spider activity. If the product label permits it, a spider killer spray or a home bug barrier may also be used in appropriate locations.
  

• Consider contacting a licensed pest management professional if you're regularly finding large numbers of spiders, can't locate where they're entering or continue to see significant activity after taking preventive measures.
  
• Professional assistance may also be appropriate if you suspect poisonous spiders are present or if reaching the affected area would put you at risk.