A spider encounter is the stuff of nightmares if you’re one of the many, many people out there suffering from arachnophobia. But if you have a full-blown spider infestation in your home, you may actually consider moving – or burning it down altogether. Luckily, you don’t really have to take such drastic measures. There are a few easy solutions to dealing with the spiders in your home that will help you feel safe and keep future infestations at bay.
First of all, remind yourself that spiders actually prefer to be outside, so they’ve most likely stumbled into your home by accident. They didn’t set out to find their way inside so that they could attack you in your sleep. In fact, the chances of a spider biting you are incredibly rare. Spiders aren’t typically aggressive toward people, and usually will only bite if they feel threatened. Think about it: you’re a massive, breathing, vibrating monster to a tiny spider. They are most likely much more scared of you than you are of them.
The best way to guarantee that no more spiders come in to join the ones that have already taken up residence is to do a very thorough check and make sure there are no points of easy entry. If you happen to find any, seal them up quickly. Gaps around windows or doors can be sealed with caulking or weather stripping, cracks in foundation can be filled in with caulking or another similar substance, and any torn window screens should be replaced.
On the outside of your home, make sure all landscaping is well maintained and trimmed back from the walls of your home. Vegetation is a great hiding spot for spiders, so the more you have, the more likely it is that spiders will take up residence. Keep your yard and flowerbeds free of debris, and make sure mulch is laid out in a thin layer.
Inside your home, take the time to clean up and get things as tidy as possible – and then keep it that way. In your kitchen, be sure to keep food put away, and counters and floors free of crumbs and spills. While these things may not tempt spiders, they certainly will tempt other insects. And those insects are mighty appetizing to a hungry spider. All throughout your home keep things as clutter-free as possible. Piles of books, clothes, newspaper, toys, and the like serve as a great hiding spot for spiders to set up camp.
Now that you’re doing what you can on your own to ward off spiders and keep out future infestations, it’s time to call in the professionals. A pest control expert will know the best way to kill off the spiders that are currently taking up residence in your home, and how to make sure you aren’t faced with another infestation in the future. While there are many do-it-yourself methods and products on the shelves, a professional exterminator is your best bet at ridding your home of the problem for good. If your infestation is quite large, the DIY approach probably won’t even get the job done. A qualified pest control technician will have the knowledge and experience to take care of the infestation, once and for all.
Going forward, it’s a good idea to have routine pest control services conducted in your home. Combined with the preventative measures that you will be taking on your own, this will be sure to keep out large infestation in the future. For your safety and peace of mind, it’s worth any time, effort, or investment that you may have to put in.
