How to Get Rid of Spiders in Utah

Spiders can be a severe nuisance to homeowners, not just because they’re creepy, but because they like to leave sticky webs all over homes…both inside and outside!

If you have noticed an issue with spiders around your Utah property (or any property for that matter), there are a number of easy, low-cost solutions you can use to get rid of them. Just be prepared: spider control is an ongoing effort!

Spiders in the Fall

Spiders are a common problem, especially in the fall. Why are spiders so bad in the fall?

Early fall is spider breeding season, so you’re likely to see them around outdoors while they’re looking for a mate. This is also the time of year when spiders (who are cold-blooded) start getting ready to go dormant for winter. They are more likely to pop up inside as they look for places to hide out.

If you need to get rid of spiders in your house or yard, read on to learn why they’re drawn to your spaces in the first place and what you can do to keep them out!

What Attracts Spiders in the House?

Spiders could be drawn to your home for any number of reasons:

• Warmth and shelter
• Food sources
• A secure place for web building

Before trying to control spiders, understand this: spiders will be around. You’re not going to be able to exterminate spiders completely, but you can take some simple steps to ensure their numbers stay down. Couple these simple fixes with some professional spider control services and your chances of seeing spiders inside will be much slimmer.

How to Repel Spiders

It is widely believed that sprays are effective in keeping spiders away. This is especially true when it comes to home applications of essential oils like lemon and peppermint. Generally speaking, sprays don’t work, and this includes essential oils.

While it’s true that there are a couple of select spiders that are repelled by peppermint, lemon is entirely useless, and no essential oil treatment will address all spiders. No spray can do that, essential oil or otherwise.

To repel spiders, focus on making your home as uninviting to them as possible to discourage them from building webs around your home and eventually making their way indoors.

4 Ways to Keep Spiders Out of Your House

Many pest control customers find comfort in the fact that the most effective spider control methods don’t involve chemical applications. All-natural pest control methods are always the best because they cost the least money and involve the least risk.

Use the Vacuum

If you’re finding spiders inside and it’s just a here-and-there issue, the vacuum can be a great tool to reduce their presence. The vacuum allows for quick spider removal without getting too close and can also be used to remove cobwebs.

This method is best for occasional spider invaders, but if spiders are a more severe and recurring issue in your home, it’s probably time to take more proactive measures.

Trim Back Your Landscaping

Spiders that hide in the plants and vegetation around your home would happily use your house for shelter and web building. Eventually, they’ll reproduce nearby, creating a more significant spider issue in the future.

To avoid spiders using your home for web construction, egg laying, and hiding out, keep branches, trees, and shrubs trimmed back away from your home. If you don’t, spiders will use them to access your home.

Shut Off Your Exterior Lights

Like many hungry predators, spiders are opportunistic. They will look for any chance to build a web and catch a meal, and any place that can provide consistent flying insect activity is very appealing to spiders.

If you leave exterior lighting on at night, this will draw flying insects in from all over, and the spiders will follow. By simply shutting off exterior lights when not in use, you will reduce the flying insects around your home and send a clear signal to surrounding spiders: no dinner for you!

Regularly Spider Sweep

A professional pest control company can be very helpful with this step, as they will make sure to spider sweep regularly and will be able to identify specific areas of concern when it comes to spider activity.

If you are interested in attempting a spider sweep yourself, you can use a broom around your home to sweep spiders, webs, and egg sacs off the siding, window and door frames, exterior lights, and along your gutters.

Some people have no interest in performing this service themselves. Maybe you’re short on time, or perhaps you think spiders are nasty, and you’d rather have a pest pro come out to address spider concerns. If that’s you and you live in Utah, Thorn Pest Solutions will come and take spider control off your plate so you can focus on the things that matter most to you.

What to do For a Spider Bite

Spiders don’t often bite, but when they do, it can cause issues for certain people.

While most spider bites don’t cause severe damage, some can, and you should keep an eye on the bite if you’re concerned. If you experience swelling, infection, severe pain, or other symptoms you find concerning, it is always best to get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible.

If you’re not too worried about your spider bite, but it’s causing you some minor discomfort, here are the best ways to deal with a spider bite according to the CDC:

• Try not to worry. First, try to identify or collect the spider responsible for the bite if you can, as this will help with treatment.
• Clean the bite site with warm water and mild soap.
• Apply ice or a cool, wet cloth and elevate it. This will help reduce any swelling.
• Try not to mess with the bite, and do not attempt to remove the venom. This could cause your skin further irritation.

How to Get Rid of Spiders Permanently

There is no way to get rid of spiders permanently, but there are ongoing efforts you can make to keep them outside and away from your home where they belong:

• Don’t be afraid to use your vacuum to remove the occasional interior spider
• Trim your landscaping back from your home or building to avoid giving spiders easy access to your spaces
• Shut off exterior lights, so you don’t draw flying insects toward your home. The spiders will happily follow, hoping to snag a quick bite
• Remove spiders, egg sacs, and webs from around your home with regular spider sweeping

If you want to get proactive with your spider control efforts, or if spiders are an ongoing issue around your Utah property and you can’t stand them, our IPM specialists at Thorn can help.

Not only will we formulate a spider control plan specific to your property, but we’ll also make sure the right steps are taken to reduce the surrounding spider population long-term.