Some people suffer from arachnaphobia, or an intense fear of spiders. But even those of us without the actual phobia might feel pretty uncomfortable around the eight-legged creepers. It’s perfectly normal to want a spider-free home, especially since a few of them can be venomous and actually do some serious damage if they bite you. Here are some steps you can take to discourage spiders from taking up residence in your home, and get rid of them if they do come in uninvited.

Decrease the clutter. Like many other pests, spiders prefer places that provide good hiding or nesting spots. Take steps to de-clutter your closets, storage areas, laundry room, and so on.

Seal up entry points. Spiders need an open doorway into your home, but of course doorways for insects can be quite small! Work on sealing up tiny cracks and holes around doors and windows that can allow spiders access to your home.

Try sticky traps. Many home improvement or gardening stores sell sticky traps for spiders. You place these traps along baseboards, in closets, or other areas that tend to attract spiders. Spiders get stuck when they walk across the surface.

Do keep in mind that your pets can also get stuck to these traps, and you might catch something other than spiders! Be ready to dispose of them and replace as needed. Sticky traps can work for catching adult spiders, but won’t do much against nests of baby spiders.

Insecticides. At some point you might resort to spraying insecticides against spiders. In this case you should consult with a professional pest control service, so that we can apply the correct insecticide in the right places so that spiders come into contact with the chemicals. It is always wise to consult a professional regarding which chemicals are safe around your family and pets. Give us a call if spiders are a concern for you, and we’ll help you get rid of the creepy crawlies.