There are many reasons why we find a spider or two in the house or car, the top reasons can be because there’s too much clutter, there’s easy access from the outside, or the place is not clean, among others.
Why Do You Find Spiders in Your House, Car, or Tub
1. Too Much Clutter
Spiders love to lurk in the shadows of your clutter. They enjoy a good hiding spot among your junk to keep them safe from the elements. This includes the pile of magazines, newspapers, and other stuff crammed in a spot. Storage areas, the basement, attic or garage with tons of unused things are also top candidates where spiders like to hide and stay.
Quiet and undisturbed areas are special for spiders as these are possible spots to hunt flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and others.
2. Easy Access or Too Many Openings from the Outside
If you frequently find spiders in your house, another reason is easy access or too many openings from the outside. If you haven’t done so yet, make a thorough inspection of both the inside and outside of your home for gaps or cracks where spiders can get into.
Inspect the windows and doors and seal up any gaps you can find. Installing screens is also an excellent idea to prevent spiders from coming in. Check the walls of your home as well and use caulking to seal any holes that could possibly be where spiders enter from. If the holes or gaps need more than just caulking, call in assistance to do the job.
When it comes to spiders in your car, they’re mostly found tucked behind the side-view mirrors and in the air vents. You can also find them under your hood. These spots are ideal for spiders to hide during the day and return to their webs come night time.
3. Wet Spots
Spiders are attracted to water and moisture. They need water to survive, but don’t necessarily like a damp environment. The main reason is that wet spots most likely have an abundant supply of insects.
This explains why you sometimes find a spider in your tub, bathroom, or kitchen sink. The wet or damp areas give spiders plenty of hunting opportunities.
4. Dark Places
Aside from the wet spots, these eight-legged creatures love the dark because they prefer to be left unbothered and alone. This gives spiders security against threats or harm.
Aside from that, spiders have poor eyesight, thus, they rely mostly on their senses to survive and hunt. With fewer distractions in dark and secluded places, spiders can depend on their senses better.
5. Bright Lights
Just like with water, spiders don’t necessarily like lights. The only reason they’re drawn to bright lights is that it’s an excellent spot to find many insects. While we cannot avoid not using lights at home, it’s a good idea to keep your outdoor lights off when not needed. Another option is to direct the light away from the house instead of toward it.
6. Dirty Areas
Maintaining cleanliness in your home is key to healthy and organized living. Aside from that, it’s also vital to keep spiders and bugs away. That’s one more reason to clean up your mess and keep your space tidy.
Spiders and other bugs are drawn to dirt. This is because they feed on flies and moths, which also take refuge in dirty rooms or spaces. So if you started noticing spider webs in your room or other parts of the house, this means the spot is most likely dirty, if not crammed with stuff.
Make sure to thoroughly clean your home every week. Vacuum regularly under the couch, bed, and other furniture pieces around the house. Take the time to clean the light fixtures and the ceiling where spiders typically build their webs. Don’t ignore the floor, too. Mop the spills and sweep the crumbs. The cleaner your home is, the smaller the chance you’ll see spiders in your home.
7. No Preventative Measures
Keeping your room or car clean is necessary to keep spiders away, but do extend the effort outside your house. Make sure there are no access points to your house where spiders can easily crawl through. Aside from that, maintain your shrubs and trees by cutting them regularly. Keep any stacks of firewood a good distance away from your home. Keep in mind that spiders love a crammed, hiding spot.
Investing in a professional pest control service on a regular basis is also helpful. These professionals are experts in locating spots where spiders live that can put you at risk if you handle it alone. They know the right steps to take to exterminate spiders found in your home. Having experts around is also a good chance for you to learn more about how to keep spiders away from your house.
Are These Spiders Dangerous?
Spiders commonly found in homes pose very little threat to humans. They may bite when harmed or feel threatened, but these bites are harmless. The worst condition you can experience is minor irritations.
When these house spiders bite, they won’t inject venom. It’s because spiders with venom only use it for hunting and not for self-defense. So whenever you see a spider in your room or car, instead of worrying about the threat, focus more on how to keep them away.
How to Get Rid of Spiders in the Room or Car
There are many ways to get rid of spiders, and these methods can either kill them or simply ward them off. The easiest method, however, to get rid of them is with a vinegar spray.
Once you’ve located where these spiders frequently stay, you can use a spray mixture to get rid of these creatures. Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray on areas these spiders are hiding or staying. You can also spray directly on a spider you see.
“Why vinegar?” you might ask. It’s because it has acetic acid that is said to burn or kill spiders upon contact. Another option is to place small bowls of vinegar in possible spider hiding spots to ward them off.
When it comes to getting rid of spiders in your car, peppermint or citrus oil works wonders. Spiders hate the smell of peppermint and citrus and they will avoid areas with these scents. Apply some oil around your side-view mirrors, the vents, and the gaps. You can also mix 20 drops of oil with 1.5 cups of water and spray it around your car like how you would a car freshener.
You can also do this in your room and other parts of the house. Not only will your place smell good, but the scent will definitely keep spiders away.
Other Ways to Get Rid of Spiders
Although most house spiders are harmless to humans, it’s still uncomfortable to have them around—especially near us. Here’s how to get rid of spiders safely:
- Spiders that are easiest to deal with are those that build webs. To get rid of them, vacuum the web along with the spider and eggs. Dispose of them right away so the eggs don’t have a chance to hatch.
- If you want to keep the spider/s alive, release them back to nature. Using a glass or container, you can capture the spider and release it several feet away from your home. Make sure to clean the area where it came from.
- When all else fails or you simply can’t do it yourself, call an exterminator. This is especially important if you’re dealing with a poisonous spider such as the black widow. Professionals know best how to exterminate unwanted and dangerous spiders.
How to Prevent House Spiders from Returning
Getting rid of spiders is only half of the story; preventing them from coming back makes the other half. Take these extra measures so you won’t have to worry about another spider inside your house or car:
- Target what they eat. Make sure your house is not infested with crickets or other insects. Instead of controlling the spiders, control their prey. This means the more insects you have at home, the more chances of having spiders around, too.
- Consider changing the lights. Observe if your lighting around the house greatly attracts these insects. If they do, consider switching to yellow bulbs.
- Keep your space clean. To prevent spiders from nesting in your room or car, it’s important to maintain cleanliness. Seal all the gaps as well to prevent them from entering conveniently.
- Avoid clutter. Don’t create hiding spots for spiders to stay. This means getting rid of clutter around the house, especially in secluded areas where it’s dark and quiet. This also includes the garage and basement. If you need to store some stuff, use clear plastic bins with secure covers instead.
- Clean unnecessary damp or wet areas. These are places insects like to breed and live, making them possible hunting spots for spiders.
- Call the pros. Invest in pest control services to make sure there aren’t any spiders left. This also ensures appropriate measures are taken to prevent them from returning.
Spiders may not be the top insects we deal with daily but definitely the ones that scare us most. While they’re not typically dangerous, it’s not nice to have them hanging around with us nearby. To keep these crawlers from invading our space, it starts with understanding what attracts them to stay in our homes in the first place and take the necessary actions. Also, it won’t hurt to get help from the experts.