DEALING WITH THE BIG 5

The “Big 5” Natural Ways To Keep Spiders Out Of Your Home

by Karen Bradshaw

Spiders are a natural part of many ecosystems, but, they often like to pay us a visit inside our home, and they are not always welcome. There are many reasons that people do not want these creepy crawlies inside their homes, for the majority of people it is a fear of these creatures, especially the larger varieties such as the huntsman spider or the venomous types like the red back spider.

But whatever you reason for wanting the spiders out of your home, the wisest thing to do is to remove or deter them using a natural remedy because this way, you are not going to cause harm to these essential creatures. In this article, we are going to take a look at the 'BIG 5' ways to combat the problem of spiders in the home.

How do I get rid of spiders?

5 simple tips to keep our eight legged friends/enemeies at bay.

1. Use A Spider Catcher Vacuum

If you find a spider in the home, rather than reaching for the nearest boot and giving it a swift wallop, why not opt for a more humane choice by using a spider catching vacuum? These handheld devices, use a light suction to 'vacuum' up the spider, without hurting it and trapping it inside an attached container. You are then able to release the spider back outside, leaving you both to get on with your lives. These are excellent even for the most tense arachnophobes since they allow you to catch the spider whilst keeping him at arm's length, and once he is inside the device, there is no way for him to get out unless you release him.

2. Make A Natural Spider Repellent

There are a vast array of natural substances that spiders do not like the smell of and these are great to use in a natural repellent which you can use around the home in order to deter the spiders from coming in. Many people swear by different ingredients and depending on where you live and what kinds of spiders are nearby, may depend on what works best. But as a rule of thumb, the following ideas are pretty effective.

Make your own spider repellent LIKE A BOSS! (see below)

How to make your own spider repellent.

1 Peppermint oil repellent

Peppermint oil can be added to water in a spray bottle which you can then spray around the house, especially at entrance points such as doors and windows but also around any cracks in the wall where spiders might get through. Simply add 15-20 drops of the oil and top up with water. If you prefer, there are other essential oils that spiders will flee from, these include lavender, tea tree, cinnamon and rose. You might even use a combination.

2 White Vinegar repellent

White vinegar mixed with water at a 50:50 ratio can be super effective for warding off creepy crawlies. Mix the two liquids in a spray bottle and use in the same way as we discussed with the essential oil spray. It is important to be mindful of what surfaces you are using this spray on as those which have been varnished can be damaged by vinegar.

3 Citrus repellent

It is said that spiders will evacuate at the scent of citrus so a great way to rid your home of them is to rub a citrus peel such as lemon, lime or orange along window sills, skirting boards and any other areas where spiders may appear. If you do not fancy rubbing fruit all over the furniture, you could always purchase some citronella candles to burn both inside and outside the home, these will give off a citrus fragrance that will not only deter the spiders but other creepy crawlies as well.

4 Cedar repellent

By placing items made from cedar around the home, you will notice a dramatic drop in the amount of eight-legged visitors. Spiders do not like cedar and so using it to deter them can be very effective, just ensure that you sand the wood from time to time in order to keep the scent optimal.

5 Garlic repellent

Garlic can be used as a natural repellent for spiders by adding whole or crushed cloves into a spray bottle of water and spraying it around entrances and places where spiders are likely to hide out. It is worth being aware that this remedy can be a little strong smelling and so you should alter the amount of garlic depending on how much of a smell you can handle.

3. Keep Your Home Clean And Tidy

Spiders like dark and dusty places where they can hide out, so if you have a lot of clutter, you are essentially creating some sort of spider hotel. It is vital that you keep your home as clean and clutter free as possible. This is somewhat of a task, especially if you have a big family but by organising your things and making sure that everything has its place, you can greatly reduce the amount of arachnid lodgers in your home. Cleanliness is also important, make sure that you regularly vacuum, especially in the corners of rooms and remove dust and dirt as frequently as you can.

If you need extra storage, try investing in some plastic containers which have lids as these will be much more difficult for spiders to get into and they will likely wander off to try and find a more easy to enter accommodation.

4. Keep Your Garden Tidy

Much like the inside of your home, you should also make sure that there are as few places for spiders to hide in your garden as possible. This can prove to be more difficult since the outside is their natural habitat but by keeping things as neat as possible, you are giving the spiders fewer options, and less spiders in the garden means less
spiders trying to enter the home.

TIP 1: Do not have anything up against the walls of the house where spiders might be likely to hide such as grass clippings or compost, leaves, wood piles or plants.
TIP 2:Check your exterior falls for any cracks through which spiders might enter. If you find any,
fill them up with a silicon filler.
TIP 3: The same goes for your windows, make sure that all your window screens are in tact and if anything is broken, be sure to fix it. If you have any vents, cover these with mesh so that the spiders cannot get through this way.

5. Call A Professional

If you have a serious infestation of spiders or your natural remedies don't seem to be doing the trick, it might be time to call in the professionals. Pest controllers are fully trained to be able to deal with these creatures and rid your home of them, so they certainly know what they are doing. This is the best option for those who simply want to get the job done or who have tried everything else and need a last resort.

Conclusion

There are always going to be spiders in the world and we have to learn to live alongside them, but that doesn't mean to say that we have to literally live with them. There are many ways in which you can combat an infestation of spiders or simply deter them from entering your home in the first place. By using a natural method to do this, you can rid your home of spiders as well as taking their welfare into consideration and not harming them in the process.

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