A fear of spiders is fairly common in the world today. It’s been estimated that nearly one in every ten adults is afraid of them! Although they’re small, something about spiders seems to send a shiver up our spines. In reality, most spiders don’t pose a physical threat to us. Most species native to the United States aren’t venomous. However, it can be difficult for the untrained eye to tell the difference between a dangerous spider and a harmless one. When dealing with a spider infestation, it’s important to be careful, especially around bigger species. The best thing you can do is call your pest control company right away and have them take care of the issue for you. Pest control experts will be able to identify the spiders and let you know what kind they are, as well as getting rid of the infestation and putting some steps in place to prevent them from coming back. If you don’t have an infestation, here are some of those steps that you can practice now, so that you never have to deal with this creepy, crawly problem.

Clean Up Clutter

One thing that’s universally true about spiders, dangerous and non-venomous alike, is that they love hiding. If you’re creating areas in your house that are cluttered, you’re basically welcoming spiders to come in and set up shop in various parts of your home. Take a look around your house for spots that might make a dark, quiet undisturbed little corner for them to hide in. Move things around to eliminate the hiding spot. Put any boxes you have on shelves, so that they’re up off of the floor as well.

Close Access Points

While you’re walking around your house looking for potential spider hiding spots, also be on the lookout for the source of the problem: access points. Spiders can fit through the tiniest gaps or cracks in your walls. Fill any holes you find with caulking. Another place to check is the doors and windows of your home. I’m sure you’re not leaving the doors and windows wide open in hopes of letting spiders in, but if your doors and windows don’t fit properly into their frames, you may as well be. Check your window sills and door frames to make sure they don’t allow any light or air through. Even the smallest gap can allow spiders to make their way inside.

Eliminate Things That Attract Them

There are a few things that attract spiders that you might not realize. If you have a wood pile, it should be kept outside and as far away from the walls of your house as possible. Also, if you have shrubs or bushes near your home, try to make sure they stay trimmed so that they don’t touch the walls of your home. Spiders tend to hide in these places. If you keep them too close to your house, the spiders might start making their way into your home from there when the weather changes.