It's not uncommon for people to freak out when they find a spider in their home, especially when there's more than one. It's understandable why you'd want to kill it since you don't know what it does and where it's going after being trapped inside. Worried about these hairy eight-legged creatures invading your house? Meet these tips on how to keep them from creeping into your home and living there too long.
What should you do to keep those spiders out?
- Keep them outside. Spiders are sensitive to temperature and humidity. If there is plenty of water around the house, they will not go inside looking for it
- Seal off the entryways that allow access inside your home. This is important because if you don't block their paths, they'll just run through any openings (near doors and windows) that happen to be near their favourite hunting grounds.
- Make sure they don't have any easy access points like holes in the wall or cracks around pipes or loose wires by sealing these areas up as well.
What should you do if you find a spider in your home?
If you find one in your home, it's best to leave it alone. Monitor the area for a few days and see if the spider is active or not. If this is the case, you may want to consider using natural repellent to keep them out of your house. You could use peppermint oil, citrus scents, or essential oils.
If the spider has been there for a few days but has not yet shown signs of activity, then take action. Pick up the spider with a pair of tongs and relocate it outside where they belong. One way to accomplish this is by screening or nettings like those typically used by birders to capture birds and mammals inside their homes and garden areas.
If the spider hasn't been in your home for more than 24 hours, then try spraying it with hot water from a squirt gun or cold water from a bucket. This will suffocate the spider and slow them down so you can catch them easier before they escape outside again.
But if you're feeling brave and want to kill the spiders on sight (if there are lots), then don't use tongs because they might be hard to handle without getting bitten in the process. Use an empty spray bottle, saran wrap, or an old newspaper instead.
How can you prevent spiders from coming back to your home?
- Don't leave any crumpled paper or other trash in the corners of your home.
- Keep your home clean. Don't clutter up the floor.
- If you've located a spider in your home, don't kill it. Instead, use a spray bottle to get rid of it without harming yourself or anyone else.
- Throw away any fruit that's about to go rotten. Spiders love these types of fruits because they have high sugar content.
- If you're really struggling with spiders, try using sticky traps like this one to catch them before they become an issue.
