If you’re afraid of spiders, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s estimated that 1 in every 10 people has arachnophobia, or a phobia of spiders. Something about their 8 legs and many eyes really creeps people out! Even if you’re not one of the many people who have a fear of them, no one really wants spiders wandering around their home. If you’ve seen more than one spider in your house recently, you might even have an infestation. There are a few things that you might be doing that attract spiders to your home, and we’ll go over them in this blog so that you can remedy them. However, keep in mind that some spiders can actually be dangerous to try to deal with on your own. Make sure you’re not dealing with any poisonous species before you try to get rid of them by yourself. If you’re not sure, or if you’d rather have a professional handle the issue, call your local pest control company for help. Whichever way you choose to get rid of your current spider infestation, here are some things you can do to make sure you don’t have another one in the future.

Close Access Points

The first thing you can do to make your home a spider-free zone is closing any entryways they might be using to get inside. Look along your walls for holes and cracks that tiny spiders might be climbing through and fill them with caulking right away. Next, patch any holes in your screen doors or windows. While you’re working on your windows and doors check that they fit snugly in their frames. If there is a space between your door and it’s frame, spiders and other pests can use this as a way to get into your home and set up camp.

Clean Up

Spiders aren’t only attracted to food and sugary drinks that might’ve spilled without you noticing. They’re also attracted to general clutter. Spiders love finding spaces that aren’t frequently disturbed. This can be anything from a stack of boxes in the corner of a room, to a pile of newspapers in your garage. Anything that makes a dark, quiet spot for spiders to hide in is making your home a target for spiders. Try to keep things up off the floor as much as possible, even in the garage. Shelves are great tools to make your home less attractive to spiders.

That being said, you should still clean up any spills and crumbs that might have accumulated in your home. A good cleaning goes a long way in keeping pests out of your home, including spiders.

Move Shrubs and Wood Piles

If you have bushes or shrubs right next to your house’s exterior walls, this might be making your house an even bigger target for spiders. Spiders (and other pests) hide out in bushes and shrubs, and if yours are right near your home, they might be climbing out of their bushes and heading indoors whenever it gets a little colder outside. The same goes for wood piles. Try to keep your greenery and wood at least 2 feet away from your home.