Where Are All These Spiders Coming From?

Whether you freeze in fear at the sight of a spider or do your best to safely transfer indoor spiders outside, spotting multiple spiders in a short period of time can be jarring for anyone. While spiders can multiply indoors when females lay eggs, an abundance of spiders can also mean they're hunting other insects in your home. To eliminate a potential infestation, you'll first need to determine what's causing the sudden uptick in your normal spider count.

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Why Are There So Many Spiders in My House?

While it's fairly common to spot a spider or two in your house, a large number can occur for several reasons. Here are some of the most common causes of increasing spider activity:

• Other insects/spider prey: One of the most common reasons for seeing a high number of spiders in your home is the presence of other insects. Flies, ants and gnats are all common prey for spiders, so it's important to get any potential infestations under control as quickly as possible.

• Unsealed entry points: Cracks or tears in window screens, door gaps and unscreened vents are all easy access points for spiders looking for shelter or a place to hide. If a pregnant spider enters your home and lays eggs, it can quickly lead to an infestation. Vulnerable entry points also make it easy for flies and ants to enter your home and unintentionally invite more spiders.

• Excess clutter: Spiders often build their webs in dark, cluttered areas like basements and crawlspaces. If those spots in your home contain clutter like moving boxes or stacks of newspapers, you might notice multiple spider webs and/or visible spiders.

• High humidity or moisture levels: If your basement, laundry room or bathroom has excess moisture, this creates the perfect nesting spot for spiders looking for shelter. Both spiders and other insects like fruit flies and gnats are drawn to humid areas, so it's important to take steps to balance the humidity levels in your home.

• Change in weather: As the seasons change from summer to fall and winter, many spiders seek shelter in warm homes.

Where Are These Spiders Coming From?

Unless they hatched from their mother's egg inside your house, spiders generally make their way into homes directly from the outside. Small gaps in doors and windows, torn window screens and cracked foundations are common spider entry points. Spiders can also attach themselves to items like grocery bags and boxes and "hitchhike" into homes. If you have a fly or gnat infestation, some spiders may intentionally enter your home by following their prey.

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Spider Control Methods: How to Get Rid of Spiders

Here are some pest control methods that may help reduce the number of spiders in your home.

Eliminate Other Insects

One of the most important spider control methods to take is to locate potential hunting sources and eradicate them. For example, if you have drain flies or fruit flies, make sure to treat these issues first. Start by mending any holes or tears in your screen doors and covering any gaps in doorways or windows to help deter insects like flies and ants from entering. If you have a severe insect infestation, you may need to call in a professional exterminator to assess the issue.

Take Down Webs

If you see visible spider webs, take them down as soon as you can. Removing spider webs sends the message that you don't want spiders in your space. In most cases, spiders will migrate to other areas if they continue to lose their webs.

Seal Up Entry Points

Since spiders can come into your space via tiny cracks and gaps, you'll want to seal up any visible gaps right away. Use caulk or putty from your local hardware store to fill in wall cracks, and clean up any undisturbed spaces where you find spider webs. You may also want to call in a pest control specialist to help close gaps on areas where wiring or plumbing pipes enter your home.

Clean Up Boxes and Other Clutter

If cardboard boxes and other clutter are taking up space and attracting spiders, cleaning up the area may help deter them or prevent their return. Clutter and excess paper can also create an ideal breeding ground for roaches and other insects, which in turn can attract spiders. Roaches and other household critters love clutter because paper provides a food source and nest-building materials.

Remove Barriers

Firewood piles and heavy bushes or vegetation that touch the side of your house are also common culprits for spider activity. Spiders like to hide out in these dark, welcoming spots, so you'll want to trim down any vegetation overgrowth and move your firewood away from your home's perimeter.

Essential Oils and Other Scents

Spiders rely on their scent to capture prey, but they're also repelled by certain natural scents like lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus. Adding a few drops of any one of these oils and spraying around your home's perimeter and near potential entry or access points like door frames and windows may help reduce the number of spiders in your home. If using essential oils, it's important to dilute them per the instructions on the bottle and follow all safety instructions (keep away from children and pets, avoid contact with skin or eyes, etc).