How To Keep Spiders Out Of Your Bed

You Are Not a Spider’s Airbnb

Let’s be real: nobody wants a spider crawling into bed with them. It’s the ultimate bedtime horror show. You’re just drifting off when you feel that tickle on your arm. Suddenly, you’re a ninja, launching yourself across the room.

But here’s the good news: spiders are lazy. They don’t like your bed any more than you like them. They’re just looking for a cozy dark cave. Your job is to make your bed feel like a terrible five-star hotel.

First, let’s talk about why they even bother. Spiders don’t feed on humans. They don’t want to bite you. They’re actually terrified of your tossing and turning. A sudden midnight elbow? That’s a spider apocalypse.

The Great Bed Detachment

Your bed must become an island. Pull it away from the wall. At least two inches is your magic number. This breaks their little spider bridges. They hate crossing open floors—too much danger from you, the giant, and the ceiling fan.

Next: tuck your sheets like a maniacal hotel maid. Pull your fitted sheet tight. Tuck the flat sheet and blanket under the mattress. Leave no flaps. Your bed should look like a neat, sealed burrito.

Why? Spiders climb the bed frame, then the sheet, then you. If the sheet is tucked, they hit a wall. They’re not climbers; they’re explorers. They’ll give up and wander elsewhere.

Fun Spider Fact #1

Did you know spiders have eight eyes? Yet they’re practically blind. They rely on vibrations. That’s why they hate your movement. You are a human earthquake. Use that power.

So, when you get into bed, make a little ruckus. Shake the blanket. Stomp your feet. This sends a “DANGER, GIANT” signal through the mattress. Spiders will think your bed is haunted by a stomping monster. Good.

The No-Fly Zone: Linens & Laundry

Wash your sheets weekly—and I mean it. Sweat, dead skin, and crumbs are a spider’s gourmet buffet. They’re not eating your leftovers. But the tiny bugs that eat your leftovers? That’s their dinner.

Spiders are basically tiny exterminators. They follow the food chain. You drop a cracker? Ants come. Ants come? Spiders come for the ants. Don’t be a restaurant.

Also: shake out your blankets before bed. Especially if you have a duvet that touches the floor. A quick flap sends any hitchhiking arachnid flying. It’s like a spider ejection seat.

Fun Spider Fact #2

Spiders can hold their breath for hours. But they don’t breathe through their mouths. They use tiny lungs on their belly. So spraying that pillow with peppermint oil? That’s not a breath issue. But they hate strong smells.

Use peppermint oil. Mix 15 drops with water in a spray bottle. Mist around your bed frame, headboard, and baseboards. It smells like a candy cane factory. Spiders think it smells like chemical warfare. They’ll pack their tiny bags.

The Headboard Trap

Your headboard is a spider city. It’s dark, dusty, and close to your warm, breathing head. They love it. Vacuum your headboard once a week. Use the brush attachment. Get behind it, too.

Pay attention to corners. Spiders are corner-obsessed. They think a 90-degree angle is paradise. Run a duster along the top edge. If you see a web? That’s a spider’s “Vacancy” sign. Destroy it.

Pro tip: dust your baseboards with a lemon-scented cleaner. Citrus is spider kryptonite. They taste through their feet. Imagine walking into your kitchen and stepping on a lemon. Gross, right? That’s how they feel.

The False Ceiling Trick

Spiders drop from ceilings onto your bed. It’s the classic horror movie move. So check the ceiling above your bed. Look for webs or tiny specks. If you see a speck? It might be a spider waiting to parachute down.

Use a long-handled duster to sweep the ceiling weekly. Even better: use a vacuum with an extension hose. Suck up those webs before they become a spider freeway. You are the spider traffic controller.

Fun Spider Fact #3

A spider can travel up to 30 feet on a single silk thread. They ride the wind like a tiny pirate. So one spider might float in from your window. That’s why you close the window an hour before bed. Or at least use a screen.

The Bedside Moat

Create a spider-repellent moat around your bed. Not literal water—that’s messy. Use diatomaceous earth (food grade). It’s a fine powder that looks like flour. To a spider, it’s like walking on razor-sharp glass. It dries them out.

Sprinkle a thin line around your bed legs. Do it on the floor, not the mattress. It’s safe for pets and humans. Spiders will take one look and say, “Nope.” They’ll turn around and bother your roommate instead.

No diatomaceous earth? Use cedar chips. Put them in a small sachet and tuck it under your mattress. Spiders hate cedar like vampires hate garlic. Bonus: it smells like a forest. Your bed becomes a cozy, spider-free cabin.

The Ultimate Trick: Be a Bad Host

Remember: spiders want dark, quiet, and dusty. Your bed should be bright, noisy, and clean. Leave a nightlight on in the corner. Spiders avoid light like teenagers avoid chores.

Make your bed every morning. Yes, really. A messy bed with wrinkled sheets is a spider hotel. A smooth, tucked-in bed says, “Checkout is at noon, and you’re not a guest.”

And finally: relax. Most household spiders are harmless. They’re actually the good guys—eating mosquitoes and flies. But you’re the main character in your bedroom. The bed is your kingdom. Keep it spider-free, and sleep like a champion.