How To Keep Spiders Out Your House

Last Tuesday, I reached for my coffee mug in the dark kitchen, and my hand landed on a fuzzy, eight-legged speed demon. I screamed—a little, maybe a lot—and nearly launched the mug into the sink. The spider just sat there, cleaning its legs, looking at me like I was the intruder. That’s the thing about spiders: they don’t pay rent, but they act like they own the place.

If you’re anything like me, you don’t mind spiders in the garden. But the moment they set up a web in your bathroom corner? War. Full-on, no-holds-barred, “I’m burning down the house” war. Lucky for you, I’ve turned my arachnid paranoia into a research obsession.

Here’s the truth: spiders come inside for three reasons—food, warmth, and water. Cut off those, and they’ll pack their tiny bags and leave. You don’t need toxic chemicals (and honestly, who wants to breathe that stuff in?). You just need to outsmart them.

The First Line of Defense: Seal the Fort

Spiders are basically tiny, flexible Houdinis. They can squeeze through a gap the width of a credit card. Walk around your house today with a caulk gun and a flash light.

Check every window, door, and pipe entry point. Look for cracks in the foundation, gaps under the garage door, and holes where cables come into the wall. Seal them with silicone caulk or weather stripping.

Bonus points if you laugh maniacally while sealing each hole. I won’t judge. It helps.

Kill the Buffet: Get Rid of Other Bugs

Spiders are carnivores. They’re not here for your leftovers; they’re here for the real pests: ants, flies, moths, and earwigs. If you have a bug problem, you have a spider magnet.

Keep your kitchen counters crumb-free. Take out the trash regularly. And for the love of all that is holy, don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. That’s basically a bug rave, and spiders are the bouncers.

Consider a bug zapper near doors or sticky traps in corners to monitor what’s crawling around. Fewer snacks for spiders = fewer spiders. Math doesn’t lie.

Light Strategy: Turn Off the Welcome Mat

Outdoor lights near doors are spider nightclubs. Bugs flock to them, and spiders flock to the bugs. Switch to yellow or sodium vapor bulbs—they’re less attractive to insects.

Even better, install motion-sensor lights that only turn on when you actually need them. Spiders hate surprises almost as much as you do. Keep it dark, keep it boring.

The Essential Oils Trick (It Actually Works)

I was skeptical too, but then I tried it. Spiders breathe through their skin, and strong scents really irritate them. Peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, and citrus are their kryptonite.

Mix 15 drops of peppermint oil with water and a squirt of dish soap in a spray bottle. Spritz it around windowsills, door frames, baseboards, and behind furniture. You’ll smell like a candy cane factory, but spiders will nope right out.

Reapply every few days—the scent fades fast. And yes, I spray it near my bed. A minty pillow is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Declutter Like You’re Moving Out

Spiders love clutter. Boxes, piles of clothes, old newspapers—these are five-star spider hotels. They provide darkness, humidity, and hiding spots.

Go through that stack of magazines from 2016. Recycle them. Vacuum under the couch right now. Shake out curtains and blankets you never touch. Spiders don’t like open, clean spaces—they feel exposed.

Pro tip: Store off-season clothes in vacuum-sealed bags. No spider will ever survive that plastic coffin.

Vinegar: The Nuclear Option

If you spot a web and want to send a message, wipe it down with white vinegar. The smell lingers and repels spiders from rebuilding. It’s cheap, non-toxic, and you probably have it in your pantry.

Just be careful—vinegar can stain some surfaces. Test it on a hidden spot first. Also, your house will smell like a salad for an hour. Worth it.

Irish Spring Soap: The Bizarre Myth That Works

I’m not making this up. Lots of people swear by grating a bar of Irish Spring soap and spreading the flakes around windows and doors. The strong fragrance (which smells like a grandpa’s laundry) supposedly sends spiders packing.

I tried it in my basement window wells, and honestly? I saw fewer webs. Placebo or not, it smells better than mothballs. Worst case, you just smell very, very clean.

Get a Cat (No, Seriously)

My cat, Greta, is a spider-hunting machine. She watches corners like a tiny, fluffy security guard. She doesn’t eat them (thankfully), but she does bat them until they freeze or flee.

Not a cat person? Get a gecko or a chicken if you have a yard. Chickens are ruthless spider assassins. But if that’s too much, just stick to the peppermint spray.

When to Give Up (And Just Coexist)

Let’s be real: you will never have a totally spider-free house. They’re tiny, persistent, and they don’t pay attention to blog articles. One or two is fine—they eat mosquitoes and other annoying bugs.

If you see a daddy longlegs in the corner, consider it a friendly roommate. If you see a huntsman on your pillow, scream and call a friend. I make no apologies for this double standard.

The goal isn’t a sterile fortress. It’s spider-free zones where you sleep, eat, and shower. The rest of the house? That’s negotiation territory.

Now go seal that crack under your door. I’ll wait. You’ll thank me when you’re sipping coffee in the dark tomorrow morning—without a surprise guest on your mug.