There’s No Off-Season For Pest Control

It’s true. As long as your house is warm and cozy, you need to be vigilant about keeping pests out in any season. Spiders in winter may sound strange, but it’s a common problem. Fortunately, there are also some common solutions to prevent spiders from taking over your home.

Inside Your Home

It’s hard to effectively spray for spiders, since their long legs allow them to avoid contact with pesticides. It’s still a good idea to administer regular pest prevention treatments, since killing off a spider’s food source is a good way to prevent spiders from being interested in your home. If regular treatments aren’t working well enough to prevent spiders, there are some natural options.

Spiders hate white vinegar because they are sensitive to the acetic acid it contains. Vinegar is also a great cleaning agent, so using it in your kitchen and bathrooms is a great way to keep you house clean while you keep spiders out. You can also spray a 50/50 vinegar/water mixture around your home, concentrating on areas where spiders may be getting in.

If you don’t have or care for vinegar, citrus is just as effective. Keeping a bowl of citrus fruits on you counter can help keep spiders away. You can also rub citrus peels along your windowsills to create an invisible spider barrier, or soak the peels in a vinegar solution for a one-two anti-spider punch. The mixture can still be used as a fragrant option for your cleaning regimen.

You should also consider organizing your home to eliminate any dark cluttered spaces that spiders enjoy. Promptly remove your trash and recyclables, and keep firewood outside. Regular dusting and vacuuming will keep any insects from making themselves at home.

Outside Your Home

Instead of waiting for spiders to get in, you can take some preventive action from the outside. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your property to kill pests before they get in. Diatomaceous earth is a natural substance made from algae, and it has a dehydrating effect on pests. You can also dissolve it in water to spray around the outside of your home.

Other natural deterrents for spiders are cedar blocks or chips and horse chestnuts.  Using these materials around your home or even inside your house will prevent spiders and other bugs from getting comfortable. Cedar also has the added benefit of smelling nice. Just like the inside of your home, make sure the outside of your house is clutter-free of leaves, wood piles or any spots insects love.

Inside and Outside

Along with treatments of pesticides and natural materials, you should make sure your home is sealed tight. Inspect your home from the inside and out for cracks or holes where spiders, insects, and rodents may be able to enter, and seal them up.

If you have any questions, or you’re still having trouble controlling your spider problem, call the spider control experts for a free consultation.

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Spider on wall photo: Spider On The Wall by Linda Tanner, used under CC BY 2.0/resized from original