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Q: I keep finding spiders all over my house, and I’m not sure how they’re getting in. Why are there so many spiders in my house? What should I do about it?
A: Finding spiders in your home can be an unsettling experience. Are you wondering, “Why are there so many spiders in my house?” If so, searching for the answer is the first step in preventing the situation from worsening. If you see more than just a few spiders in your home, you’re probably ready to take the steps needed to get rid of them. Solutions can be as easy as reducing household clutter, maintaining window screens, or keeping landscaping trimmed and tidy, but some cases might require a pest control professional. Read on for some possible reasons you’re seeing these unwelcome visitors.
Spiders have easy access to the inside of your house.
The best way to prevent spiders from getting inside is to make the home challenging to get into. Eliminating as many cracks, holes, and crevices as possible in doors, windows, siding, flooring, and the foundation will block them from getting inside. Also, take a look at where cables and wiring attach to the house. If there is an opportunity to get inside a home, spiders will take it.
Window screens are damaged, or there are cracks and holes in the walls.
Damaged window screens are another entry point for spiders. Check the window and door screens in the home to see if any are torn or loose-fitting. Replace any damaged screens or fix holes or gaps with weatherstripping. Seal cracks or holes in the walls or foundation with caulk. Sealing up any potential entryways will make it much more difficult for spiders to get inside.
Uncleanliness invites spiders into your home.
Spiders like to hide in dark, dusty, or dirty areas. Cleaning your home regularly, especially under furniture like chairs, couches, and beds, will deter spiders. Vacuum and dust in high and low corners where spiders weave their webs. Keeping the kitchen clean will reduce the number of other insects in your home that spiders eat. The cleaner the home, the less likely it is that you’ll see spiders.
The grass around the house might need to be trimmed and maintained.
Plants, flowers, trees, and grass near the side of a house should be kept trimmed. Any greenery or plants that touch the outside walls can encourage spiders to explore inside.
There is a steady food supply in your home.
Spiders eat insects. If there are insects inside a home, spiders will have a steady food supply. Keeping your home clean by sweeping up crumbs and wiping down the kitchen every time you use it is one way to make your home less inviting to insects. Inspect your home for water sources, places to hide such as piles of old magazines or cardboard boxes, or open containers of pet food. If you get rid of the spiders’ food supply, you can get rid of the spiders.
The climate is controlled inside your home.
Spiders like dark and comfortable spaces. If it’s cold outside, the chances are that spiders will make their way inside where they can be warm and cozy. They will also search for a way to cool off inside if the outside temperature is too hot. Some spiders prefer damp spaces and others prefer dry areas.
It’s mating season.
Spider mating season starts in the late summer and early fall when many spiders will leave their web searching for a mate. Some of them may move inside, and once there, they’ll mate and nest in comfortable spots. But while you might see more spiders in your house around this time, Rod Crawford, curator of arachnids at the University of Washington’s Burke Museum says that “spiders actually prefer the milder, damper weather of late fall and early winter.”
You brought them inside without knowing.
Spiders are good at hiding, and it’s common for them to hitch a ride on firewood, camping equipment, vegetables, patio furniture, toys, or pets. Before bringing anything inside the home, check for spiders or other pests.
You’re not keeping up with pest control.
Taking simple preventative measures will help with pest control. Keeping trees, plants, and grass trimmed, sealing cracks and holes, keeping the house clean, and inspecting items you bring into your home will go a long way. A pest control professional can also suggest the best methods for preventing spiders in your house or getting rid of an infestation.
