Queen City Homeowners' Complete Spider Control Guide

There are a surprising number of spider species in Queen City and the surrounding area, but only a few of them tend to get into our homes. Their reasons for getting inside are few. If you understand what attracts spiders to the exterior of your home and what brings them inside, you can deter spiders to a point that is well below your threshold of comfort—assuming your threshold is not zero. Let's take a look at how this works.

Why You See A Spider In Your Bathroom

One of the most common places you'll run into a spider is on the floor or wall of your bathroom. You probably have a few ideas about why this is the case. Obviously, moisture plays a role. Spiders need moisture in order to survive, and bathrooms are typically moist places. But they don't have to be. Here are a few tips that can reduce spider sightings in your bathroom.

• Repair any leaky faucets or a leaky showerhead. The constant droplets of water left in a sink, tub, or shower can bring spiders out of hiding.
• Use your fan when you take a bath or shower. This vents the moisture and reduces the humidity level that makes your bathroom comfortable for spiders.
• Refrain from taking baths and showers right before bedtime. Your goal should be to have dry surfaces in your bathroom during the night when spiders (and the insects that spiders eat) are likely to be active.

Why You See A Spider In Your Kitchen

When you find spider webs in your kitchen, or you notice spiders hanging out, it is likely because you have a food source in your kitchen. No, we're not talking about the food you eat. We're talking about the food spiders eat. When you have a flying insect problem, you're likely to have spider problems as well. Spiders eat fruit flies, fungus gnats, house flies, drain flies, carpet beetles, Indian meal moths, and more. The list of insects that can cause trouble in your kitchen is quite long. Here are a few quick tips for reducing insect issues in your kitchen:

• Repair and maintain working screens.
• Refrain from keeping exterior doors open for long.
• Clean routinely.
• Clean up spills quickly.
• Deep clean around appliances at least once a year.
• Keep trash in a covered container.
• Check your pantry foods and throw out items that are past due.
• Store fruit in the fridge.
• Store your pantry foods in sealed plastic containers.

Why Spiders Get Into Your Home

Once you've taken steps to reduce moisture and insect food sources on the interior of your Queen City home, the next step is to consider exterior attractants. The more spiders you have living near your home, the more spiders you're going to have appearing on the inside of your home.

• Make sure your exterior trash is covered.
• Remove trash weekly so the smell doesn't attract insects (which spiders come to eat).
• Reduce exterior lighting. Many insects are drawn to lights during the night and spiders come to eat those insects.
• Keep your gutter clear of obstructions. If you have a damp perimeter, it will promote insect and invertebrate activity. This will, in turn, attract spiders. And, of course, spiders are also attracted to the moisture.
• Reduce unnecessary vegetation in your landscaping, such as weeds and grass.

After you've addressed attractants, the next step is to consider entry points. While it is impossible to keep spiders from getting into your home, it is worth the effort to try.

• Replace weather stripping and door sweeps if you see gaps.
• Seal gaps around pipes and wires.
• Seal cracks in your foundation.
• Fill in wood damage caused by wood-destroying organisms.
• Make sure your vents are covered and protected.