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How to Get Rid of Daddy Long Legs

Michelle Miley

Daddy long legs are harmless to humans but are still an unwelcome pest in many homes. Sealing cracks and removing attractants is usually enough to deter them.

Though they are related to spiders, daddy long legs are not actually spiders but arachnids in the order Opiliones. They typically spend most of their time outdoors but sometimes find their way into cellars and homes. Though urban legends claim that their venom is deadly, daddy long legs are not venomous and pose no danger to humans. In fact, they eat other insects, offering a benefit to humans, so you may want to think twice about getting rid of them unless your house is overrun with the leggy critters.

Stroll Through the Great Outdoors

To get into your home, daddy long legs must first visit your yard. Do some clean up outside by moving wood piles well away from the house and cutting bushes back so that they aren't directly up against the walls. Remove hiding places like unused lawn furniture to make your yard less attractive. Swap the bulbs in your outdoor light fixtures for yellow ones, as these are less attractive to daddy long legs and insects.

Secure the Perimeter

Daddy long legs enter homes through torn screens, cracks in walls and gaps around windows. Keep them out by replacing torn window screens and caulking cracks and gaps. Check exterior doors for gaps and replace the weatherstripping if necessary to seal the space under and around the door. This will help keep both daddy long legs and their food supply from entering your home.

Tip

Be as thorough as you can when sealing cracks and gaps, but don't make yourself insane. You will never be able to completely seal every nook and cranny in an older home, so just address the problems you can. Every sealed crack helps.

Clean House

Daddy long legs absolutely love clutter. Stacks of boxes and piles of old magazines are some of their favorite places, so remove this type of clutter from your home. After a good de-cluttering, vacuum thoroughly around your baseboards, behind furniture and underneath furniture. If you see any daddy long legs, egg sacs or old spider webs, suck them up in your vacuum cleaner too. Be meticulous, vacuuming up under tabletops and around beams in your basement. The more careful you are the more unwanted guests and hiding places you can remove, so clean like your mother-in-law is coming to visit and bringing her white inspection gloves. When you are done, seal the vacuum cleaner bag and throw it away in your outdoor trash can right away.

Treat the Home

Treat the baseboards of your home with a pesticide to kill any daddy long legs that find their way into your newly cleaned building. Boric acid is one low-toxicity option. Boric acid works by contaminating the body of pests as they walk through it. The chemical is later ingested when the insect grooms itself. To apply boric acid, dust a light coating around baseboards and in cracks and crevices. You should barely be able to see the powder when you are done. Do not use boric acid where pets or children can come in contact with it, and never apply it near food-preparation areas.

Tip

Spiders and daddy long legs do not always die as a result of boric acid alone because they hold their bodies off the ground when they walk, but treating your home will kill insects and thereby diminish the food supply for the daddy long legs. If you still see large numbers of daddy long legs after treatment, consider fogging the home or contacting a professional pest control service.

Warning

Pesticides are dangerous to people and pets. Carefully read and follow all the instructions on the label. Is is always better to let a professional handle toxic pesticides.

The Drip Cap

  • Though they are related to spiders, daddy long legs are not actually spiders but arachnids in the order Opiliones.
  • They typically spend most of their time outdoors but sometimes find their way into cellars and homes.
  • In fact, they eat other insects, offering a benefit to humans, so you may want to think twice about getting rid of them unless your house is overrun with the leggy critters.
  • To get into your home, daddy long legs must first visit your yard.
  • Remove hiding places like unused lawn furniture to make your yard less attractive.
  • After a good de-cluttering, vacuum thoroughly around your baseboards, behind furniture and underneath furniture.
  • The chemical is later ingested when the insect grooms itself.