What not to do when eliminating spiders in your home. Swat-A-Pest (2024)

So, let’s talk about what not to do when eliminating spiders in your home. Spiders, those little creepers no one likes, most of us break into a sweat at the mere sight.

What most people don’t realise is some spiders are good to have around your home and others you don’t want. Either way, there are some vital do’s and don’ts when it comes to spider control in your home.

The first thing is to ignore the impulse to get all Hulk-like when you see a spider and squish the little terror. Killing spiders will only attract other spiders; often, this makes way for nastier spiders.

Some spiders are doing you a favor and are good to have in your home. However, telling the difference between a nasty spider and a harmless spider is also a job for a professional, taking a guess is not advisable, and could leave you and your family at serious risk.

If you have a spider infestation, you should always contact a professional.

What attracts spiders

What attracts spiders? Are you going to eat them in your sleep! Well, spiders are cold-blooded and not attracted to heat, but spiders are attracted to moisture, so you are not going to eat them in your sleep. What it does mean is they love spaces like garages, crawl spaces, homes on stilts, the corners of high ceilings and, pet enclosures.

Spiders are also attracted to food, just like humans, they are almost always thinking about their tummies. So if you have lots of insects or other food sources, you will always have lots of spiders.

Shrubbery around your home, clutter, and debris will also create places for spiders to live and eat.

Do not use store-bought pesticides

Do not use store-bought spider pesticide sprays and bombs. Store-bought sprays are usually not sufficient, and spraying chemicals will always leave a nasty residue. But, if you do spray a web, even if it is with Vinegar, do not remove the web straight away, leave it for a few days to allow time for the spider to return and be affected by the spray.

The other reason to contact a professional and not attempt DIY pesticide sprays is due to the ineffective nature, most people who have a spider problem resort to overuse, this can lead to serious damage and injury. As seen in Sydney earlier this year, when a Sydney man overused bug bombs in his home, he destroyed his family home, thankfully no one was home at the time.

Misused, you could blow up your house, cause a severe fire, injury, or death.

Many spiders found in and around Perth homes are extremely dangerous, particularly to children, our furry family members, and the vulnerable. Others are aggressive and will attempt to attack when uncovered, feel threatened, protecting eggs, or in a colony.

Good Spiders in your home

We mentioned earlier that some spiders are good to have in your home. So let’s start with the good spiders, yes they exist, keep an open mind. Using as little pesticide as possible is what we all want, isn’t it?

The best harmless spider that is good to have in your home is the Daddy Longlegs. Other than being friendly and unable to bite, they are the ultimate arachnid omnivore as they prefer eating fruit and other insects, yes … fruit! They also eat::

• Bird droppings
• Fungus
• Other spiders
• Worms and snails
• Dead insects (they will scavenge for them!)

Daddy Longlegs will happily catch and get rid of other insects in your home.

The presence of Daddy long legs in your home can be beneficial; they can even keep other types of spiders away.

But, you can easily find yourself over-run with them find you’re being overrun with them, that’s when it’s time to again, call in a professional.

White-Tailed Spiders

White-Tailed spiders are dangerous and often difficult to identify; they love to live in your home in piles of clothing, and anything else on your floor. They wander around at night looking for food and are known to cause severe skin ulceration in humans.

Treatments need to placed in the correct areas to be effective while not causing harm to family members; a professional will always do this.

Serious Spider Problem

At the end of it all, if you do find you have a serious spider problem in your home or commercial property, it is always best to contact an expert. Not only are professional treatments best, but they may also identify what is attracting them and know how to identify dangerous spiders.

The best time to treat for spiders is in Spring. Having a professional come and do a routine spider inspection or treatment to control and keep away your unwanted house guests.

Remember, prevention is always the best. So try regular professional treatments as opposed to a treatment when there is an infestation. Swat A Pest offers Platinum Life packages that are designed for regular maintenance treatments, this uses fewer chemicals and keeps unwanted and dangerous spiders away.

Swat-A-Pest always prefers non-invasive and environmentally friendly spider control methods. For professional service and advice, contact our friendly team today.