How Often Should You Spray Your Home For Spiders?
Spiders can be a nuisance you want to keep out of your home. Though some spiders could be dangerous, most don't bite humans and are not harmful to most pets. If there's a dangerous spider in your area, like a black widow or brown recluse, it's best to have a professional out for treatment immediately. While most people aren't likely to run into those types of spiders in their homes, if you want to keep all of these eight-legged pests out, spraying your home routinely can help. How often depends on multiple factors, including if there's a large infestation, if you're seeing the spiders, and the type of treatment you use.
If you're not interested in having common household spiders in your home, your goal should be determining what's attracting them and how they get in. Then, using a chemical-based or natural spray could help to deter them from entering. If you see one or two spiders every now and then, you may not need to be overly concerned with spraying for them often. However, if you see them routinely, especially more than one, it's time to increase the frequency and treatment of spiders in your home.
For most people, experts recommend treating your home for spiders as a type of prevention at least one time every quarter. For more invasive problems, monthly spraying for spiders may be necessary. If you're using at-home remedies or natural repellents, you may need to reapply as often as once a week.
Professional pest control every quarter makes sense
For most people, scheduling a routine professional pest control application every quarter is often ideal. This type of treatment will consistently control most pests, including spiders, along with threats like roaches and fleas. Discuss with the company the types of problems you're having so your quarterly treatments are on target for the type of pests lurking in your home. It's important to note that this is professional-level treatment. The products you can purchase over-the-counter may not offer the same level of long-lasting protection that professional-grade products can and will require more frequent use.
If you plan to purchase spider treatment sprays from a home improvement store, aim for products designed for the threat you have. Most of these products contain some instructions on where and how often to use them, with some recommending monthly treatment. Also, look for products that work to create a barrier around your home. Pest sprays used inside the home for the treatment of spiders you see aren't likely to offer any real ongoing protection, meaning you'll need to spray numerous times to get rid of the pests when you see them.
If you're applying your first spray for spiders, do so in the early spring, when they are most active and looking for a way to get into your home. Spraying at this time of the year also allows you to target nests and any colonies that are just forming, helping to make that spray more effective and longer-lasting by getting rid of the next generation.
How to ensure your spider pest control lasts the longest
Spider sprays and pest control services can be expensive, and while they may be necessary, it's always a good thing to extend their functional uses. To do that, you have to protect your home from spider infestations. The easier it is for spiders and other pests to get in, the shorter the effective period for any type of pest control application you use.
Start with properly cleaning your home to remove all debris and cobwebs. Make sure to move furniture and appliances and get the drapes, carpets, and other hidden areas. This makes it harder for pests to make your home their favorite place to be. Then, seal off access to your home and deter the insects that spiders feed on. Put food away and keep it covered. Remove all clutter from around the exterior of your home. Make sure to caulk all cables, faucets, and electrical lines that run into the home. Also, seal off all windows and doors, cracks in the siding, and openings in the foundation.
Finally, complement spider pest control sprays with natural deterrents. For example, you may want to grow mint or citrus outside of your home or use diatomaceous earth as a type of protective addition. These don't eliminate the need for quarterly pest control but could help extend your spider-free days a bit longer. Once you get rid of spiders and prevent them from coming back in, you'll be able to breathe a bit easier.