Natural pest control tips for spiders

Spiders live a simple life. They live to eat, make webs and reproduce. While arachnids are the villains in scary movies and nightmares, there are only four types of venomous spiders in the U.S.: the yellow sac, brown recluse, hobo spider and black widow. Most other spiders are harmless and can even help earn their keep by providing minor pest control such as keeping insect populations down inside your home.

If you don’t like the idea of hosting a free, live-in insect exterminator, you can try using natural pest management techniques to eliminate or shoo spiders out of sight and into spots that are more useful, such as your yard. (If you think you have encountered a venomous spider, however, call a pest control company to help you handle the situation safely.)

Techniques for getting rid of spiders naturally include:

Saline solution

Salt is a natural type of spider poison, so it makes an effective pest control aide. Dissolve an ounce of salt (1/8 cup) in a gallon of warm water, and pour the saline mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the salty solution directly onto a spider to kill it. Saltwater is also effective at killing spider nests.

Crushed chestnuts

Spiders detest fresh chestnuts. To send a spider running the other way, place freshly crushed chestnuts at spider entry points.

Vinegar and coconut oil

If there’s an area of your home that is chronically draped with cobwebs, clean out the webs and spray the area with a mixture made from a cup of white vinegar and a teaspoon of coconut oil. This natural mixture will encourage spiders to hang out somewhere else.

Essential oils

Some of your favorite essential oils are deadly to spiders, even in the smallest quantities. Add a fresh scent to a room and exterminate spiders by mixing a quart of water with a drop of one of the following essential oils: lavender, citronella, peppermint, citrus, tea tree or cinnamon. Simply spray the spider with the mixture you created.

Spider control

It's important to understand that while DIY methods may offer a quick solution they are not always the most effective. A lot of DIY solutions do not completely remove the pest. For proper pest removal and for more information on Western Exterminator's spider control methods, call 800-937-8398 or contact us online.