How To Get Rid Of Brown Recluse Spiders In My House
Brown recluse spiders are not only unnerving to look at, but they are dangerous. Their bites can create necrotic wounds that often require medical attention. That’s why so many homeowners want to know how to get rid of brown recluse spiders in their houses.
The best way to get rid of brown recluse spiders in your house is to use chemicals like deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin. Natural deterrents like mint, eucalyptus, and lavender can also keep brown recluses out of your house. Declutter your house and scatter diatomaceous earth on the ground to repel brown recluse spiders.
Call a pest control service if you notice brown recluse spiders. However, it’s also worth looking at the tips we have provided, as you can never be too safe. Follow along as we explore how to get rid of brown recluse spiders in your house.
What Attracts Brown Recluse Spiders?
Moisture, darkness, and insects attract brown recluse spiders. They also love overgrown plants and weeds that provide great hiding spots. This can eventually draw brown recluses into your home as they crawl through door gaps.
Messes inside your home can also attract brown recluse spiders. As the name suggests, they are reclusive and love to remain hidden. They typically hide and reproduce in mounds of clutter, such as piles of clothes.
Keep the humidity level in your home between 30% and 50% to avoid attracting brown recluse spiders. Anything over 50% can attract spiders and increase the risk of mold.
How To Keep Brown Recluse Spiders Out Of Your House
1. Use The Right Chemicals
Many homeowners understandably believe any standard pest control spray can deter brown recluses. Sadly, that isn’t the case, and some sprays and bug bombs specify that they don’t affect brown recluse spiders. The best sprays and chemical deterrents for brown recluse spiders include deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin.
Spraying spots that would otherwise attract brown recluses, such as cluttered areas and dark corners is important. Seek out webs, egg sacs, and places you have seen brown recluse spiders in your home. However, you must be careful when spraying for brown recluses if you have pets.
Some chemicals that harm spiders can also harm dogs, cats, and other pets. Carefully read the directions and look for information about how long it takes the spray to dry. Once it’s dry, you can often safely let your pets roam the house. However, it varies between chemicals, so you must refer to the brand’s recommendations.
2. Use Natural Deterrents
Many homeowners prefer to use natural methods to get rid of brown recluses at home. Luckily, you can take advantage of brown recluse spiders’ sense of smell to deter them. Brown recluse spiders hate the smell of citrus, mint, lavender, cedar, and eucalyptus.
They also hate the smell of vinegar, which you can place in dishes to fill the air with the scent. It helps to scatter some mint and lavender oil around the perimeters and corners of rooms. You can put several drops of mint oil in a spray bottle, fill it with water, and spray problematic areas.
You can also fill a diffuser with mint or eucalyptus oil and let it fill the air with the smell. However, some essential oils, like mint, are bad for dogs and cats. Carefully research essential oils if you have pets to ensure you don’t harm them.
3. Clean Your Home
Brown recluse spiders love clutter more than anything else, and they are unlikely to abandon cluttered areas. Not only does decluttering reduce stress, but it can also help get rid of brown recluse spiders in your house. People commonly find brown recluses in basements because these areas are sometimes more cluttered than the rest of the house.
Without clutter, brown recluses don’t have many great places left to hide. However, you must be careful while decluttering a home that has brown recluse spiders. There is a chance that you may inadvertently move an item with a brown recluse perched on it. Brown recluses often bite when startled and touched, so this is risky.
Pay close attention to each item you move and inspect everything first. It’s also a great idea to shine a flashlight beneath your furniture before cleaning the floor. Make a list and clean one room at a time, starting with especially messy areas.
4. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is one of the best ways to repel brown recluse spiders without using strong chemicals. This unique pest repellent is made of fossilized diatoms, which are best known for making up most of the ocean’s silica. Their fossilized remains are collected, treated, and turned into the powdery substance diatomaceous earth.
It is best known as a pest control method, used to kill everything from fleas and ticks to bed bugs and spiders. The powdery texture makes it easy to scatter along the walls and corners of rooms. Diatomaceous earth also carries less risk for household pets, but it’s still worth asking a veterinarian.
The only downside of diatomaceous earth is that it can get quite messy. Because it’s a white powder, it’s easy to track it throughout the house and make a mess. You can minimize this problem if you apply the powder in low-traffic areas of your house.
5. Treat Your House For Insects
Brown recluse spiders enter homes in search of food and water. In their case, food refers to insects like moths, crickets, flies, and cockroaches. One of the best ways to keep brown recluses out of your house is to get rid of the other insects.
Insects come inside when it gets cold, and that’s partly why some people find brown recluse spiders in their houses during winter. It’s worth calling a pest control service to treat your home for insects and brown recluse spiders alike. This may require two visits, as pest control professionals often use different chemicals for brown recluses.
You may even want to invest in a monthly or yearly pest control plan if you constantly struggle with pests. Monthly visits cost as little as $40 and can help you save a fortune on pest control. Without bugs to eat, brow recluses are unlikely to stay in your home. That’s especially true if you spray for brown recluses as well.
When Are Brown Recluse Spiders Most Active?
Brown recluse spiders are mostly active between March and October. Naturally, they prefer warm weather, as that is when their prey is most active. However, you may find brown recluses in your home throughout fall and winter.
That’s when they come inside for warmth, food, and water. Homeowners who leave outside lights on at night may inadvertently attract brown recluses. The lights attract insects into your home, which in turn attract brown recluses.
Be extra mindful between May and July when brown recluse spiders reproduce. This is when you will likely find egg sacs both inside and outside your home.
Summing It Up
Call a pest control service to spray your house for brown recluse spiders. Natural deterrents like eucalyptus, mint, and citrus can also help keep brown recluses out of your house. Regularly clean your home and keep it free of clutter so spiders are less likely to nest in your home.
Related Guides:
Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
More by Nick Durante
