For some reason, human beings have a fascination with spiders. Think about it: we love to feature spiders in movies, like the spider attack in Eight Legged Freaks; the giant mechanical spider in Wild Wild West; and the villainous Shelob in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (warning: if you’re afraid of spiders, you probably shouldn’t click that last link). Even one of our most popular superheroes is the acrobatic Spider-man, who got his powers thanks to a radioactive arachnid.
But as much as we like spiders as a society, you still don’t want to deal with them inside your home. If you find too many spiders around your residence, here are five possible reasons why:
- Your home isn’t sealed off
Having leaky windows and doors not only leads to higher energy costs, they also allow pests to enter into your home (including spiders). Make sure the seals are tight, and look for cracks in the walls and foundation of the house. If you find cracks, seal them up with caulking.
- There’s plant life too close to your exterior walls
If you have bushes, plants or grass outside, it should be at least a foot away from the exterior walls. Spiders seek refuge in plants life, and having it right next to your home is like setting up a highway for spiders to use for entry.
- You haven’t taken proper steps to eliminate other pests
Like all pests, spiders come into your home on the hunt for food. And what do spiders eat? Other pests like ants and flies. If you’re not taking precautions to keep other pests out of your home, their presence is going to attract hungry spiders. If you have any pest problems, deal with them now and you’ll soon be depriving spiders of a valuable food source.
- Your house isn’t tidy
A clean house is an excellent pest deterrent, especially for spiders. Spiders love to hide in the dark, so if you have a lot of clutter in your home, such as boxes or piles of newspapers, you’re creating a perfect spider hiding place. Keep the floor free from clutter and vacuum and dust regularly.
- You aren’t proactive when you see signs of spiders
A cobweb high up in the corner of a room can be an eyesore, as well as a hassle to get rid of. But the more proactive you are about dealing with spiders now, the less spiders there will be in the future. Use a vacuum to suck up cobwebs, spider egg sacs and spiders anywhere you see them around the house. A broom can also be used, but a vacuum is more effective.
Taking the precautions above is a great start to a spider-free home.
