Spiders. We know they don't mean us any harm (most of the time) but it's hard to be rational with their 8 legs dangling all over the place!
If you're afraid of creepy crawlies, it can be really helpful to know how to keep them out of the home. Good news - today we're sharing 15 effective home remedies that will help you to get rid of spiders in the house (and they're surprisingly easy!)
Don't forget to share this with other arachnophobes too!
Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in May 2015 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in August 2018.
Different types of spiders
We do have plenty of spiders in the UK, but one thing to be thankful for is they rarely bite, and those that do won't cause any prolonged symptoms.
Some of the most common spiders in the UK include Giant House Spiders, Daddy Long Legs, Money Spiders, Lace Web Spiders, False Widow Spiders and Cardinal Spiders.
Why do spiders come inside?
Believe it or not, spiders don't always come inside. In fact, only 5% of house spiders have ever been outside.
House spiders grow in numbers when egg sacs are carried in on furniture or building materials. From there they mate, and generally live in or under the same house throughout their entire life.
You may be wondering why you see more spiders at certain times of year, if they're not coming from outside. There's an explanation for that - male spiders come out in search of females during the mating season, which is usually late Summer, but varies for each species.
How to get rid of spiders in the home
If you really dislike spiders, the above news may come as quite a shock. All is not lost, however. We're sharing loads of easy ways to banish spiders from your house below.
1. Move the bins
Unlike humans, spiders love flies. Bins are like food courts to spiders, as flies love to hang around rubbish.
Wheel your bins to new places as far away from your house as possible, and keep them closed at all times to keep spiders well away from your windows and doors.
2. Use Horse Chestnuts
There's little understanding as to why this method works, however it has been suggested that Horse Chestnuts contain certain chemicals that spiders find unpalatable.
Place horse chestnuts in the corners of your house where you experience high traffic levels of spiders. Cut a few holes in them if you can to further release any chemicals.
3. Get a cat
Your four-legged friend Fluffy is an experienced hunter and will take care of any spiders that have the audacity to crawl around the floor or on the furniture.
This is one of the best ways to banish spiders without chemicals. If you haven't already got a furry pal to help, what are you waiting for?
4. Grow eucalyptus
You might like the smell of eucalyptus, but spiders do not. Consider growing eucalyptus as a houseplant or outside to discourage them from setting up camp in your home.
This is a wonderful natural way to get rid of spiders in the home.
5. Turn off outdoor lights
Lights attract insects, who attract spiders that will want to eat them.
Prevent this potential buffet feast from happening by switching off those lights tonight.
6. Deter those creepy crawlies with cinnamon
That strong Christmas scent isn't just for the holidays!
It's also perfect for keeping spiders away, so grab yourself a cinnamon candle to burn and say farewell.
Don't forget to check out the many other benefits of cinnamon for more great ideas!
7. Lemon Peel
Spiders hate citrus.
Rub lemon peel all over your windowsills, bookshelves and anywhere they might like to hide. This is an easy way to move them along, and out of your home!
Discover other weird ways to use fruit and veg peel in our other article.
8. Vinegar
Grab a spray bottle and mix white vinegar and water together. Go around the house and spray your mixture into all the little crevices around your home to deter spiders - it'll work a treat.
Don't worry about the smell, that will disappear as soon as it dries.
Discover more weird uses for vinegar in our other article.
9. Peppermint
If you're really worried about the smell of vinegar, try peppermint!
Fill up a spray bottle with water and add 20 drops of peppermint essential oils. Head to the cracks and corners of your house and spray the mixture into them to get rid of spiders without killing them.
Another option is using a peppermint tea bag. Once you've brewed the tea, leave the squeezed bag in the room that's prone to spiders to deter them.
10. Clean up
Dust, vacuum and de-clutter your home regularly to keep four-legged friends out of the house.
It's not the quickest method, but keeping your home cleaned regularly will mean spiders don't get a chance to build webs and set up shop in your home.
11. Clean the garden
The fuller your garden, the easier it is for spiders to build webs and set up camp.
If you've got lots of plant pots and foliage around your house that spiders love to build webs in, then it's time to clear and prune.
12. Seal up the cracks
How do those spiders get in anyway?
Spiders will gain entry to your home through cracks and openings around windows and doors.
Prevent them by sealing up the cracks with sealant.
13. Get rid of old drink vessels
Spiders are big fans of old bottle and cans so recycle them as quickly as possible before they move in.
14. Keep pet food covered
You know how much flies love to buzz around your Summer BBQs? They'll find the same appeal in meaty pet food.
Grab some plastic boxes and place them over pet food to prevent it from attracting flies and other bugs, which will in turn, lure spiders into your home.
15. Bleach
Bleach is useful for many things - one of which is a homemade pesticide.
Spraying diluted bleach onto areas where spiders are lurking will soon get rid of them.
16. Lavender
Lavender might smell lovely to us, but spiders aren't such fans!
Fill a spray bottle almost full with warm water, then add 7 drops of lavender essential oils and 1 tbsp washing up liquid. Shake to combine, then spray into areas spiders are a problem (windows, doors and the base of walls are usually a good place to start).
This is a nice one for the bedroom, as it will make the whole room smell gorgeous!
17. Wash fruit
Fruit attracts flies, which attract spiders. Grapes are particularly appealing to insects, so spiders are more likely to make their web amongst and around them.
Although most farmers now used pesticides which should prevent this, organically-grown produce may be more likely to house the odd four-legged friend or two.
To be on the safe side, always give fruit a clean when you bring them home from the supermarket.
Hope you've enjoyed the tips!
Please share with your friends & if you have any other tips, let us know in the comments below...
I had two cats the female did get spiders i always knew as i would find just the legs the next day yuk but she passed away her brother now about 20 however is useless and has been fired apprentice style on many occasions when i have put spiders right in front of him and he looks at me with a gormless expression as if to say "AND" he wont even chase moths useless lol
Ha ha Liza - I like that he has been fired 'Apprentice-style' - maybe you need to a get a kitten now - (any excuse!)
I have four cats and one of the girls loves finding spiders and in the porchway where the webs and woodlice creap from, she will literally lick the corners clean and eat whatever comes out. Lol it’s not that we don’t feed her but she just loves spiders and woodlice and webs in the corners of the porch.
Hi Michelle! Sounds like the best cat ever - can we borrow her?
Our cat is a wonderful huntress. Hardly seen any spiders since we got her and those we do aren't alive for long :P
Hi Phillip! What are cats for, eh?
I know many of us don't like spiders in the house but you really should leave them be. They pose us no harm whatsoever (unless you have venomous ones in your Country). They should be thought of as friends as they do a fantastic job eating all the nasty little bugs, cockroaches and flies that lurk in our homes that DO carry health risks such as typhoid, gastroenteritis, salmonella and many parasites including intestinal worms. Spiders are spooky but not dirty. You will rarely have ant or insect invasions if they are predated on by a resident spider! I leave them be and it irks me that my cat's hobby is rolling them into little dead spider balls! Save your efforts and remedies for dealing with insects that DO pose health risks but if you leave the spiders alone you probably won't have to. I have one living just inside my backdoor in the skirting, a quick inspection shows he has stopped many little bugs getting much further into my house this week!
Hi Amanda! Thanks for sharing this view. It's great to hear that you're able to cohabit with your spiders. I think most people would be too spooked, but maybe if they read this they might change their minds!
Why would you want o rid your home of spiders? They keep flies and other bugs away. It's a shame that fear is and ignorance is responsible for the way the majority of people react to things they don't understand. Please don't publish articles like this as it does nothing to help teach people about the creatures that will help us. We humans don;t own this planet, we share it, and we have to learn how to share.
Thanks for sharing your view, Judith.
can you use essential oils? if I put in a spray eucalyptus essential oil and levander with water and spray it all over the house (I know it is good when you got cold and flu) would that be better than grow the tree in your house?
Hi Lilach! It's well worth a try. Peppermint oil also works great for deterring spiders. Good luck!
Hi Joanne - Re #17: You mentioned spiders being attracted to grapes. I always keep mine (the grapes!) in the fridge. They taste better colder, too. I'm always finding huge spiders in the bath. Do they come up through the plug hole? Would wiping the inlets with eucalyptus oil, lemon peel, vinegar, peppermint or bleach, as you suggested, keep them away? I don't have a cat but a dog who loves to chase flies and moths, etc. I'll have to introduce her to a spider and see what happens.
Hi Sandy! Thanks for commenting. Apparently, spiders can't get in through plugholes, because the U bend stops them. There's no concrete evidence to confirm this anywhere so I would wipe the inlets, as you said, to keep them away.
Thank you so much really appreciate this spider article. Iv tryed conkers but the spiders are every where. Will be trying these
Hey Raz! We're so glad you found it useful!
I have a spider and a fly problem.
Hi Jan. Could you please tell us a little bit more about the problem?