How to get rid of spiders in the house: The ultimate guide to removing creepy crawlies
SPIDERS are among the creatures most people feel uncomfortable sharing their house with. They particularly thrive in mild weather and seem to always find a way to enter your home. But how can you get rid of them? Why do spiders come into our houses? Spiders tend to flock to shelter in late summer and […]
SPIDERS are among the creatures most people feel uncomfortable sharing their house with.
They particularly thrive in mild weather and seem to always find a way to enter your home. But how can you get rid of them?
Why do spiders come into our houses?
Spiders tend to flock to shelter in late summer and early autumn to find a mate and prepare for the winter.
As days become shorter and the weather gets colder, they tend to enter houses to look for somewhere warm to stay.
They usually seek out white walls and surfaces so they can stand out to potential mates.
Spiders lay eggs which hatch into miniature spiders and then grow (after shedding their skins several times) into the adults, according to Pest UK.
The female spider in all species is larger and heavier than the male.
Many spiders have acute vision, especially the ‘Hunting ‘spiders that stalk their prey.
How do I get rid of spiders?
Requests for spider controls are more common in autumn and early winter, when the spider population is at its peak.
The most effective way to control spiders is to limit their food source, experts at Rentokil say.
This should include clearing away dead flies, woodlice, millipedes, centipedes and other crawling insects.
While pest control specialist will usually charge around £150 to £200 per day, the cost can change depending on the treatment needed.
Here are some of the most common ways to get rid of the creepy crawlies.
Insecticide
To get rid of spiders, Pest UK apply a residual insecticide externally around windows and doors as well as inside on walls and ceilings concentrating on the wall/floor and wall/ceiling junctions.
Removing creepers and vegetation from external walls can also help as they are often used as shelter.
The most common sprays used are Effect Microtech CS and K-Othrine WG250.
They kill spiders as they walk over the spray and their effect usually lasts for up to three months.
Spider traps
Rentokil sells DIY spider traps to catch and control light spider infestations.
Declutter your home
Spiders will have fewer places to hide if you keep clutter to a minimum.
Also, make sure you clean surfaces and vacuum often as bits of food may attract other insects, which could in turn attract spiders.
Keep windows closed
Spiders tend to enter houses at night as they aim to look for a warm place once the sun sets to find food and mating opportunities.
Closing your windows at night may help to keep them away.
Natural deterrents
Spiders detest the smell of citrus fruits, so you could place slices of lemon or lime across your windowsills and doors as a natural bug repellent.
You could also use other essential oils such as peppermint, cinnamon or tea tree oil to keep the spiders away.
Alternatively, a water and vinegar spray will have a similar effect at deterring spiders.
Wash windows
Cleaning windows with ammonia and water helps to prevent the creatures from getting inside.
Deter all insects
Use lighting in a way that is less attractive to the insects – flies – that spiders feed on.
Fill in gaps
Filling in walls, around pipework and under doors can deter entry.
Are there dangerous spiders in the UK?
There are more than 35,000 species of spiders worldwide, but approximately only 650 of these are found in the UK.
Although they are mostly beneficial to our environment, many people do have a fear of spiders, known as arachnophobia.
Thankfully, the majority of spiders that are native to the UK are not harmful to humans.
But there are still regular cases of venomous spiders leaving people with nasty nips.
The false widow spider is the most common of these creepy crawlies to pose a bite threat to Brits.
Other common spiders capable of biting people are the cellar spider and the woodlouse spider.
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Their bites are painful and have been known to cause swelling for a few hours, according to Science Focus.
In 2014, a 60-year-old woman died after being bitten by a false widow spider.
However, the cause of death was due to a bacterial infection from the puncture wound, rather than the spider venom itself.
