5 DIY Spider Repellents to Keep Spiders at Bay

When it comes to house pests, spiders are understandably one of the top concerns for homeowners. It’s important to have safe and effective ways of controlling them; methods that don’t throw off the balance of the natural ecosystem. After all, get rid of all the spiders, and you may suddenly find yourself with other pest issues, like a large influx of mosquitoes and flies.

As long as you know what you’re doing, spiders are one of the easiest pests to manage naturally. With these pet-safe, kid-friendly, all-natural spider control methods, you can have peace of mind knowing that you’re keeping spiders out without harsh chemicals. Just be prepared: the neighbors may want to know your spider control secrets!

5 All-Natural, Pet-Safe DIY Repellents to Keep Spiders Out of the House

Realistic expectations are very important when it comes to DIY pest control. Without realistic expectations, it’s easy to run for the nearest hardware store treatment or homemade spray, but these products are often overly-harsh, with hidden risks and less-than-spectacular results. Even widely-touted natural solutions like peppermint oil provide little relief when it comes to spiders.

Spiders and other pests benefit from living near humans and, like it or not, we benefit from having them around, too. You will likely still see spiders around from time to time, especially if you live in a wooded area or if your home has lots of vegetation around it. Rest assured: this is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Total spider eradication shouldn’t be the goal.

Now, when things get out of balance and spiders start showing up in large numbers and leaving sticky webs all over the place, that’s when things can get frustrating. Understand that effective spider control isn’t about spraying, it’s about biology, and these simple, all-natural, biology-based methods will help restore web-free harmony around your house.

Method #1: Turn off Your Lights

It’s no secret that spiders are out to catch insects for their next meal. To repel spiders around your home, aim to make your home less appealing to them, starting with their preferred food sources.

When interior and exterior lights are left on at night, sun-seeking insects flock toward the light hoping to enjoy the warmth and rejuvenation of the sun. Lucky for the spiders around your house, insects aren’t bright enough to realize your porch light is not the sun.

As the insects are drawn to the light, the spiders come for the insects, constructing webs in doorframes and around windowsills where unsuspecting people are likely to walk into them face-first.

To naturally and effectively repel spiders from your house, start by turning off your inside and outside lights at night.

Method #2: Keep an Eye on the Flies

A fly problem inside or outside the home can be a big attractant to surrounding spiders. While keeping the porch light off is a great, easy way to start reducing flies and repelling spiders, sometimes it isn’t enough.

If you’re seeing spiders around, they’re getting their food from somewhere. Play pest detective and ask yourself what might be providing spiders with the flying insects they need to survive.

• Animal poop: If there is an accumulation of animal poop in your yard, the flies can smell it from miles away.
• Dead animal: Sometimes, a raccoon, rodent, bird, or other wildlife critter dies nearby, attracting flies and other animals to the area. If you start unexpectedly seeing flies, keep your eyes (and nose) open for a possible carcass.
• Compost: A compost pile is very appealing to many kinds of flies, including fruit flies and house flies. Outside, there’s not much that can be done besides keeping your compost away from the house. Inside, make sure your compost is kept in a tightly sealed container.
• Kitchen and bathroom scum: Scum built up in your drains can create a breeding ground for small flies like drain flies and fruit flies. Make sure to keep your drains clean, including your garbage disposal.
• House plants: If you are an experienced plant parent, you probably know that fungus gnats may be tiny, but they can cause big headaches. Keep your plant soil from being overly moist, and you’ll reduce another possible spider food source.

Method #3: Block Them Out

Repelling spiders naturally is a multi-step process. Once you’ve started reducing spiders around your house by addressing their potential food sources, it’s time to start formulating a plan to seal them out long-term.

Inspect your doorways and window frames, sealing any gaps or holes with caulk, or packing them tightly with steel wool. You could opt for spray foam if your only goal is sealing out spiders, but don’t expect spray foam to keep holes sealed against rodents.

Often overlooked, the garage door sweep should be intact. Check that the corners of the door sweep have not been chewed by rodents and that it has a tight seal against the pavement.

Baseboards—especially in the basement—can be caulked to prevent spiders from coming up behind them.

Lastly, consider putting drain screens and covers on your sinks, bathtubs, and floor drains. Spiders will not come through drains that are used regularly, as the water keeps them out, but if you have drains that go unused for extended periods, these may be worth covering.

Method #4: Perform Regular Spider Sweeps Outside

After spiders are sealed out and it’s harder for them to find food around your home, it’s time for the final step in your DIY spider repellent journey: spider sweeping.

Spider sweeping will be key to keeping spiders away from your home in the long run. A spider sweep is a professional spider control tool that involves removing spiders, webs, and egg sacs from your home using a long-handled cobweb brush.

Think about it this way: with a spider sweep, you’re not only removing spiders and their webs, but you are removing and disrupting egg sacs, which prevents hundreds (maybe thousands) of future spiders from hatching.

When spider sweeping, focus on areas like:

• Around window and door frames
• Between the house and vegetation
• Along gutters
• Near exterior lighting

If you have an accumulation of dense, sticky cobwebs, these may be better handled by a pressure washer, especially in areas like the space below your deck.

While spider sweeping is an easy DIY spider repellent, for some it’s a little too up close and personal. If you’re not feeling up to performing your own spider sweep, find a local, trusted pest professional to do it for you.

Method #5: Use the Vacuum Inside

If, after all your efforts, you’re still seeing an occasional spider invader from time to time, don’t be afraid to use your vacuum—it's a great pest control tool.

While you may want to avoid having to get closer to the spider in your home, think of it this way: by removing an adult spider from inside your home now, you are repelling them long-term by reducing the chances that the spider will crawl away and reproduce.

If you’ve tried everything and you still can’t keep the spiders at bay, it may be time to consult with a trusted pest professional. They will be able to help you troubleshoot where your spider issue is coming from, and give you property-specific recommendations to help reduce and repel them.

Are Spiders in the House Dangerous?

Given that there are thousands of species of spiders in the United States alone, you may be surprised to hear that most house spiders found inside are harmless.

While most spiders are not dangerous, there are certain species that are cause for concern, including:

• Sac spiders
• Brown recluse
• Black widow

The majority of venomous spiders (even the most dangerous) prefer to stay hidden. They don’t hunt humans, and they don't want to risk getting crushed or eaten by a predator. Wear gloves and sleeves when clearing clutter and debris, as spiders may be hiding nearby.

If you spot a spider inside, the best way to handle it is to give it space and remove it with the vacuum cleaner.

If you’ve been bitten by a spider, try to save the sample if you can, especially if you’re worried the spider could be dangerous. A bite alone is not even enough for identification. In fact, bites and lesions are often misdiagnosed as spider bites, when they could be something else.

Spider bites can be painful and can swell. If you have been bitten you should ice the bite area, document your symptoms, and contact a healthcare professional

What Spiders Are Commonly Found Inside?

There are many species of spiders that can be difficult to identify from each other, but generally speaking, some of the most common house spiders found around the home are:

• Common house spider
• Cellar spider
• Harvestmen (daddy long-legs)
• Wolf spider
• Funnel weaver
• Jumping spider

Generally considered non-dangerous, these spiders are more a nuisance than anything, and can actually be invaluable for controlling populations of nuisance insects like mosquitoes, gnats, fruit flies, and house flies.