How To Keep Spiders Away Permanently

Let’s be honest: nobody invited spiders to live in their home. They show up like unannounced relatives who refuse to leave, stringing cobwebs in corners and staring at you from the ceiling like tiny, eight-legged critics. You scream, they scurry, and the cycle repeats. But here’s the good news: you can evict them permanently without burning the house down.

First, stop being a spider hotel manager

Spiders don’t move in because they like your taste in throw pillows. They come for the all-you-can-eat buffet of other bugs. If you have flies, ants, or moths, you’re basically running a five-star diner for arachnids. Cut off their food supply, and they’ll pack their tiny bags.

I once ignored a fruit fly infestation in my kitchen. Within a week, a wolf spider the size of my thumb was living behind the toaster, looking at me like I owed him rent. Lesson learned.

Clean like your mother-in-law is coming over

Vacuuming isn’t just for dust—it’s a spider’s worst nightmare. Spiders hate vibrations and open spaces. Run the vacuum along baseboards, under furniture, and in corners every few days. It sucks up their webs, their eggs, and their will to live.

Don’t forget the garage and the basement. Those are spider suburbs where they raise families. Give those areas a good once-over, and they’ll start looking for a new neighborhood.

Seal their secret passageways

Spiders squeeze through cracks you didn’t know existed. They’re like tiny Houdinis with bad intentions. Check windows, doors, and pipes for gaps. Use caulk or weather stripping to block their entry points. If a credit card can slide under a door, a spider can waltz right in.

I once found a spider in my bathroom sink. I have no idea how it got there. Probably used the secret spider subway system. Seal those gaps, and you’ll cut their commute short.

Use natural repellants that don’t smell like a chemistry lab

Spiders hate peppermint oil more than vegans hate a steakhouse. Mix 15 drops of peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle, and mist your windows, door frames, and baseboards. It smells like a candy cane factory threw up in your house—but spiders flee.

Other detestable scents include: citrus (lemon, orange), vinegar, and cedar. Rub lemon peels on window sills, or drop a few cedar chips in closets. It’s cheaper than an exterminator and more fun than explaining to your cat why you’re screaming at a tiny dot on the wall.

Outdoor defense: don’t let them get close

Think of your yard as a spider’s audition room. Trim bushes and trees away from your house, because spiders use branches like tiny bridges. Remove piles of wood, leaves, and rocks near the foundation. They love damp, dark hideouts—so deny them.

I had a friend who kept firewood stacked against her wall. She didn’t know she was running a spider motel with free breakfast. After moving the wood, her spider population dropped faster than my motivation on a Monday morning.

Window screens are your shield

Inspect your window screens for holes smaller than your pinky nail. Spiders can squeeze through tears you wouldn’t notice. Patch them, or replace them. This also keeps out moths, which keeps the spider buffet closed.

The vinegar and citrus trick

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray along baseboards, corners, and under furniture. The smell dissipates quickly, but spiders hate the residue. It messes with their little spider navigation systems.

I tried this once, and the next morning I found a daddy longlegs sitting by the front door, looking sadly at the vinegar line. It looked like it was rethinking its life choices. Good.

Diatomaceous earth: the ninja dust

Buy food-grade diatomaceous earth at a hardware store. It’s a fine powder that shreds a spider’s exoskeleton when they walk over it. Sprinkle it along baseboards, behind appliances, and near entry points. It’s harmless to pets and humans—but spiders meet their maker in a very polite, organic way.

Be careful not to inhale it yourself. Trust me, coughing up a cloud of fossilized plankton is not a great conversation starter.

Finally, the “find the prime real estate” approach

Spiders love clutter. Boxes, piles of laundry, stacks of magazines—they all scream “cozy condo!” Reduce clutter, and you reduce hiding spots. Keep storage items in sealed plastic bins, not cardboard boxes. Cardboard is basically a spider apartment building with no inspections.

Last month, I cleaned out a closet I’d ignored for two years. I found three spiders, two webs, and a long-lost sock. The sock didn’t survive, but my sanity did.

The permanent mindset

Keeping spiders away permanently isn’t a one-time event. It’s like brushing your teeth—annoying, but worth it. Stick with the routine: seal cracks, repel with oils, clean regularly, and deny food. You’ll still see the occasional spider, but they’ll be lost tourists, not squatters.

And remember: spiders are mostly harmless. They eat pests you don’t want. So if you see one, don’t panic. Just politely show it the door—or the business end of a peppermint spray. Your home, your rules.