Immediate Home Remedies to Get Rid of Spiders

Spiders have pale blue blood.

Spiders are beneficial eight-legged creatures that eat insects and an important biological control for many insect pests. While a few species are poisonous, most spiders don’t bite unless they’re trapped against your skin. For these reasons, it’s not usually necessary to control them. If it does become necessary, several home remedies will give you immediate results.

Dusts

Two types of abrasive dust, diatomaceous earth and boric acid, can be used to control spiders. Diatomaceous earth works by dehydrating spiders that come in contact with it,killing them within hours. Boric acid works by killing spiders that ingest it. Apply these dusts only to wall voids, attics and other places that are out of the way. Use natural diatomaceous earth, not pool grade, for controlling spider problems.

Sprays

You can make your own spray to eliminate spiders in your home by mixing 5 tbsp. of natural liquid soap with 5 tbsp. of citronella oil in 1 qt. of water. Researcher Shawn Bassler at Washington State University reports that this mixture kills spiders on contact. Mixing 1 qt. of 5 percent white distilled vinegar with 1 tsp. of coconut oil also makes an effective spray. Many herbs contain volatile oils that are good insecticides. Oil of clove and nutmeg, for instance, contain eugenol, a fast-acting insecticide for spiders. Volatile oils work as contact insecticides so they may have to be reapplied. The Environmental Protection Agency considers eugenol a minimum risk pesticide that causes minimal or no damage to those using it or to the environment.

Vacuuming

The best way to get rid of spiders is to vacuum them up, states the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Spiders have soft bodies, and the suction from the vacuum cleaner usually kills them. Vacuuming even works better than many pesticide sprays, which aren’t always effective against web-sitting spiders or egg sacs.

Other Ideas

Use a strong stream of water to wash spiders and webbing off the outside of buildings. Replace outdoor lighting with yellow or sodium vapor lights to reduce insects that are attracted to lights, eliminating the food available to spiders. Catch spiders with sticky traps used to control cockroaches along baseboards.

References

• Colorado State University Extension; Spiders in the Home; F.B. Peairs, et. al.; December 2008
• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture; Eliminating Spiders Around Homes & Buildings; Mike Potter
• Utah State University Extension Entomology; Hobo Spider; November 2002
• National Pesticide Information Center: Boric Acid
• Washington State University Spokane County Extension: Pesticidal Dusts
• Washington State University; Pest Control at Washington State University Tri-Cities; Shawn Bassler

Resources

• Monterey Bay Spice Co.: Natural Pest Control
• FAO Corporate Document Repository: Description of Components of Nutmeg
• Clemson Cooperative Extension; Less Toxic Insecticides; Karen Russ; August 2005
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Structural and Public Health Pests--Spiders