How to Control Spiders

While spiders are a necessary part of the ecosystem, there may be times when it is necessary to control their populations. Maybe you have spiders routinely showing up inside your home, or maybe you have a large population taking over your property. The majority of spiders are harmless to humans, but there are breeds such as the black widow or the brown recluse than can be deadly. You would not want to find one of those under your bed sheets or taking up residence in the sandbox your children play in. In these and other such cases, population control is critical.

caulk

pressure sprayer

Remove potential spider habitats that are directly adjacent to your home. These include places that are easy for spiders to hide in, such as rocks, wood piles, compost piles and old boards.

Caulk any cracks or spaces where spiders can get into your home.

Seal all the screens and doors in your home. Check to make sure that screens don't have any holes in them. If they do, replace or repair them.

Limit storage areas in your home containing many boxes and infrequently used items; these make good spider habitats. Spiders will gravitate to cluttered areas that are not often touched by humans.

Spiders especially like dark, out-of-the-way places such as crawl spaces, basements and attics.

Vacuum spider webs around the home on a regular basis. By eliminating their webs, you eliminate spiders' ability to capture prey, thereby threatening their survival.

Kill any visible spiders by squashing them. It is best to use a glove or paper towel instead of touching them directly.

Hire a professional pest controller to come into your home and spray insecticides to kill any remaining spiders.

Remove as many potential spider habitats on your property as possible. Abandoned sheds and piles of unused or little-used items, such as rocks or wood, are likely places. Pay particular attention to areas on your property where you see a large number of spider webs.

Remove excess vegetation from the property. Spiders prefer shade and seek out areas where there are many plants. Clearing out some of the foliage and letting more sunlight shine through on your property can greatly reduce the number of spiders dwelling there.

Replace your outdoor lights with "bug-zapper" lights. By eliminating insects they feed on and drawing them away from areas with webs, these lights can reduce spiders' ability to feed. Without this food source, they'll go somewhere else.

Spray spider-infested areas with a pressure sprayer. The powerful stream of water will destroy the webs and kill the spiders.

Call an exterminator to spray pesticides to kill off any remaining spiders if you still find you have a problem with them.

Exercise caution around potentially poisonous spiders. Learn to identify dangerous spiders such as the brown recluse and the black widow, and be prepared to call in professionals for help with a serious infestation.