Do you feel like spiders are taking over your home or business — or already have?
Having a few spiders around is often a good thing for your home, as strange as that sounds. We’ll take a closer look at the benefits a small number of spiders can offer later on.
However, there’s a big difference between an occasional spider sighting and an infestation. You deserve to have an indoor space that isn’t playing host to hundreds or thousands of spiders. That’s true whether it’s your office, storefront, or home.
The practical tips below can help you deal with spiders on your own. If you still find yourself struggling with an infestation? The professionals at Wingman Pest Control can help with comprehensive spider treatment.
What You Should Know About Spiders in Michigan
Michigan isn’t exactly a hotbed for dangerous spiders, but there are a few venomous species to be aware of.
The Detroit Free Press highlights five relatively common and scary-looking spiders in Michigan. It explains that just two can be dangerous to humans:
- The brown recluse. The brown recluse spider isn’t native to the state but has been found here. These spiders are venomous, but also timid. They generally don’t seek out confrontations with people.
- The northern black widow. This spider is more common in the western part of Lower Michigan. However, it can be found in other areas. Its venom is extremely strong.
No matter the type of spider, it makes sense that you don’t want an infestation in your home. What if you just see a few of them from time to time?
Are Spiders Pests?
Venomous spiders are more than just pests. They present a real and rare but potentially serious health risk if you are bitten. In this specific case, you should kill spiders.
Some other types of spiders will bite people as well, like the hobo spider. Their venom doesn’t cause serious health problems. However, you shouldn’t have to deal with any kind of biting insect or spider in your home or business.
Excepting those harmful and very pesty types of spiders, having a few inside your home shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. They’re harmless to humans. Many types of spiders will eat common pests, like mosquitoes and flies. Spiders help keep your home free from more annoying and dangerous insects, Insider explains.
How to Get Rid of Spiders in Your House
Keeping spiders out of your home can be a relatively simple process. While these tips won’t clear up every infestation, they’ll help in many cases.
Cleaning and Vacuuming
Spiders either lay eggs in egg sacs or carry their eggs with them until they hatch. A thorough cleaning, focusing on vacuuming in corners and dark areas, will help you remove those eggs. That means fewer spiders in the future. This is a good way to get rid of spiders in your basement. you’ll need to dump the contents of your vacuum into an outdoor trash bin. This helps to avoid the eggs hatching indoors.
Preventing Spiders Outdoors Helps Keep Numbers Down
Wondering how to get rid of spiders outside? It’s not realistic to think you can keep all spiders away from your patio or backyard. But a few simple adjustments can help to stop them from entering your home.
We recommend keeping supplies (lumber, building materials), trash cans, and outbuildings clean and tidy. This prevents spiders from making a home in them, then working their way into your building.
You should keep trees, shrubs, and other vegetation trimmed. That way, they don’t touch your home and provide a bridge inside that can attract spiders. Keeping outdoor lights off except when needed will cut down on insect activity, which attracts spiders.
Indoor DIY Spider Treatment Options
The Farmer’s Almanac explains that the following simple treatments can be used to get rid of house spiders:
- White vinegar
- Mint
- Citrus
All three can be mixed with water in certain forms (e.g. citrus juice and peppermint oil) in a spray bottle to create a spider control spray. You can combine citrus, vinegar, and water to make a cleaning spray that has the benefit of repelling spider infestations.Home remedies are often not as effective as products we can use as licensed professionals.
Need Professionals to Deal With Spiders? Wingman is on the Job
Sometimes, even an intense regimen of spider prevention efforts won’t remove these creatures from your home. That’s when it’s time to call in the professionals. We can keep spiders — and all kinds of insects — out of your home.
Get started with a pest inspection to create a customized plan for removing your spider infestation and stopping them in the future!