Are you noticing a lot of spiders in your home? These pests love to spin their webs indoors to keep warm throughout the winter. Here are some spider prevention tips to try to keep these pests from entering your home.
Seal up your home. Patch up cracks and holes leading from the outside in to prevent spiders from finding their way indoors.
- Use caulk to fill in large gaps of space in closed doors and windows. Also apply caulk around wires, cables, faucets, and electrical components, since all of these must run to the outside.
- Replace or fix torn window screens. Spiders can easily find their way in through even the smallest holes.
- Cover your vents and chimney with fine mesh insect screens.
- On a similar note, block indoor lights from shining through your windows by using opaque blinds or shades.
- Consider switching to yellow sodium vapor lights. These are less appealing to insects and less likely to draw in a food source for your spiders.
- Do not leave leftover food lying around. Food crumbs will attract other pests like ants, which, in turn, will attract spiders.
- Regularly sweep and vacuum your floors. Wipe down your counters and tables, and avoid letting your dirty dishes sit out for more than a few hours.
- Pick up as much clutter as possible. Old newspapers and piles of dirty clothes make the ideal hiding place for spider species that thrive in darkness.
- Use plastic storage containers. Airtight plastic containers are difficult for spiders to crawl into, but cardboard boxes are fairly easy.
- This method works best when trying to get rid of a few spiders. It may not be very efficient if you have a large spider population living in your home.
- You can also use a broom to sweep away webs.
- Rather than killing spiders, you should transport them outside if possible.