Cobwebs keep showing up in the corners, and you're tired of finding a spider on the wall when you least expect it. You're not alone. Most of getting rid of spiders comes down to taking away what drew them in. A food supply. Hiding spots. Gaps they can slip through. Handle those and the spiders stop having a reason to stay.
Quick answer
To get rid of spiders, remove their food source by controlling the insects they eat, then knock down webs and egg sacs, clear clutter, and seal entry points. Spiders are predators drawn indoors by flies, ants, and gnats, so reducing those bugs is what makes them leave for good.
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Why spiders show up indoors
Spiders don't care about your kitchen crumbs or your trash the way ants do. They're predators. What pulls them inside is other insects. Flies, gnats, mosquitoes, ants, moths, all of it is food, so a home with a quiet insect problem is basically a stocked pantry for spiders.
Understand that before you reach for a spray. Knock down the webs and nothing else, and the spiders usually come right back, because the conditions that attracted them haven't changed. Clear out the bugs they eat. Then you've removed the reason they stay.
Start by removing webs and clutter
Spiders like undisturbed places, and the darker and quieter, the better. Garages, basements, closets, and the corners where stuff piles up are prime real estate for them. Cleaning on a regular basis makes your home a lot less welcoming.
Knock down webs and egg sacs the moment you spot them, inside and out, then vacuum the area around them. Check the ceiling corners, behind furniture, under appliances, and along baseboards. Clearing clutter takes away the dark harborage spiders depend on, especially stacked boxes and storage you rarely touch.
- Vacuum floor and ceiling corners on a regular basis
- Sweep away cobwebs and egg sacs the moment you see them
- Clear out stored boxes and switch to sealed plastic bins where you can
- Clean behind couches, curtains, and large appliances
Cut off their food source
Spiders follow the bugs, so the most effective spider control is insect control. Keep seeing spiders? You very likely have a population of smaller insects you're not noticing.
Tighten up the basics that draw insects in. Take the trash out on a regular basis, don't leave food scraps sitting out, and keep your kitchen and pantry clean. As the insects in your home drop off, so does the spiders' food supply, and they have less reason to linger.
Rethink your exterior lighting
Outdoor lights pull in flying insects after dark, and where the insects gather, spiders follow. A porch or garage light left on all night sets the table right outside your door. So a lot of webs end up around entryways.
You can keep the light without feeding the spiders. Mount fixtures away from doors and windows, put outdoor lights on motion sensors so they aren't on all night, and try warm-toned or yellow bulbs, which draw fewer insects than bright white ones.
Natural deterrents that can help
Some homeowners have luck with simple, low-cost deterrents around problem spots. None of these will solve a real infestation on their own. They can discourage spiders from settling into specific corners, though.
Test any spray on a hidden spot first. Vinegar and citrus oils can mark some finishes and fabrics.
- A 1:1 white vinegar and water spray applied to corners and crevices
- Citrus peels rubbed along baseboards and windowsills
- Peppermint or mint tea bags tucked into areas where spiders gather
- Whole chestnuts left along windowsills, which last a long time without rotting
How to get rid of spiders with help from a local pro
If spiders keep returning no matter how much you clean, that points to an insect problem feeding them that you can't see. It's also worth calling for help if you spot a species that warrants caution, like a brown recluse or black widow.
A licensed local pro can identify which spiders you're dealing with, find and treat the harborage areas, and go after the insect population underneath so the problem doesn't bounce right back. A professional in your area will also set up a protective barrier and recommend exclusion fixes to keep new spiders out for the long haul.