How To Get Rid Of Spiders On House

Let’s be real for a second. You’re just minding your own business, maybe pouring a bowl of cereal, when you spot it. A spider, hanging out on your ceiling like it pays rent. It’s not the spider’s fault, but your brain immediately goes, “Nope, we’re moving.” You don’t need a horror movie; you need a game plan.

The good news? You don’t have to nuke your house from orbit. Spiders are just looking for a cozy Airbnb with good snacks (bugs) and dark corners. If we make your home less appealing than a Motel 6, they’ll pack their eight tiny suitcases and leave.

Step 1: Stop Being Best Friends With Their Grocery Store

Spiders are basically furry pest-control folks who never clock out. They show up because you’ve got a buffet of flies, moths, or ants. If you want to get rid of the spider, you have to get rid of the spider’s food first.

Keep your kitchen counters crumb-free. Wipe up sticky spills like you’re hiding evidence. A clean house is a boring house to a spider. It’s like walking into a restaurant with an empty menu—they’ll just turn around and leave.

Why your vacuum cleaner is your secret weapon

The vacuum is the unsung hero of spider wars. When you see a web that looks like a neglected hammock, don’t just admire it—suck it up. Webs are like spider real estate listings; if you destroy them, they get the hint.

Also, vacuum the corners of your ceilings and under the sofa. You’d be surprised how many spider egg sacs are chilling there, plotting a tiny, hairy invasion. A weekly vacuum session is like evicting them before they even sign the lease.

Step 2: Seal Your Fortress (No More VIP Access)

Spiders are masters of sneaking. They can fit through gaps thinner than a credit card. I once saw a spider slide under my door like it was a secret agent in a bad spy movie—it was both impressive and horrifying.

Grab some caulk or weatherstripping and seal cracks around windows, doors, and baseboards. Don’t forget where pipes come in under the sink—that’s the spider’s secret subway entrance. Once you block those, you’ve basically taken away their keycard.

The great outdoor purge

Check your house’s exterior. If you have woodpiles, bushes, or ivy touching the siding, you’re basically rolling out a red carpet. Spiders love to climb up a bush and then hop onto your window like it’s a jungle gym.

Trim back shrubs so they’re not hugging your home. Move firewood away from the foundation. You want your house to look like a clean, lonely island that’s hard to reach—not a botanical garden attached to a spider highway.

Step 3: Natural Repellents That Actually Smell Okay

You don’t need harsh chemicals that smell like a science lab. Spiders hate certain scents because they walk through their lives with their feet (which are also their noses). Peppermint oil is the king of spider deterrants—it’s like us walking into a room full of skunks.

Mix 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Spritz it along window sills, door frames, and dark corners. The smell is pleasant to us, but to a spider, it’s like trying to relax in a hot tub filled with lemon juice. They’ll scram.

Other scents they dislike? Vinegar (a classic) and citrus. You can wipe down baseboards with a vinegar solution. Just don’t overdo it, or your house will smell like a salad dressing factory. You want to be the landlord they hate, not the one who makes them sick.

Diatomaceous Earth: The Jedi Trick

This is a powder that looks like baking soda but acts like microscopic ninja caltrops. Sprinkle it along baseboards and behind furniture, especially where you’ve seen activity. It’s safe for pets and kids, but to a spider, it’s like walking on broken glass—it dehydrates them.

The spider picks up the powder on its legs, and within a day or two, it’s a dry, sad little speck. It sounds mean, but it's better than them surprising you while you’re brushing your teeth. You have to pick your battles.

Step 4: The “Relocation” Debate (Good Luck With That)

Every article tells you to be a gentle soul and “catch and release” spiders. That’s great in theory until the spider sprints up the glass and you fling the entire cup across the room. I’ve tried this. I ended up screaming and my cat looked at me like I was a disgrace.

If you see a spider and it’s not daddy longlegs (the harmless ones that eat other bugs), just squish it or vacuum it up. Sorry, nature. You can’t be a pacifist when a huntsman spider is staring at you from the curtain rod. It’s them or your sanity.

When to call in the pros

If you’re seeing a spider parade every night—like a massive brown recluse or black widow hangout—it’s time to surrender and call an exterminator. This is the nuclear option. But for most of us, a little peppermint, a lot of vacuuming, and some strategic caulking is enough.

Just remember: you’re the one paying the mortgage. The spider is just a creepy squatter with bad fashion sense. Take back your home, lock the doors, and enjoy your cereal without an audience. You’ve got this.