Protective gear (boots, hat, gloves, and full-coverage clothing)
Broom or cobweb brush
Vacuum
Spray bottle
Dehumidifier (optional)
Door sweeps
Eucalyptus plants (optional)
SUPPLIES
Caulk
Essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint)
Vinegar
Dish soap
Sticky traps
Diatomaceous earth
Insecticides
Spider repellent
Brown recluse spiders are no laughing matter, but getting rid of them isn’t as difficult as you might imagine. With the right protective gear and various natural and chemical removal options, you can eliminate and keep them off your property without even breaking a sweat. The following guide breaks down how to get rid of brown recluse spiders, how to prevent them from showing up at all, and when it’s better to let the pros take care of such a job.
Prepping to Exterminate Brown Recluse Spiders
Before beginning the removal process, it’s important first to determine whether or not you’re actually dealing with brown recluse spiders, understand the risks they pose, and learn what steps you need to take to keep yourself safe.
Learn How to Identify Brown Recluse Spiders
There are a handful of ways to tell if you have brown recluse spiders on your hands. Firstly, you’ll know you have a spider infestation in general if you see more cobwebs than normal or if there’s a sudden decrease in the amount of flying insects around your home.
You can identify brown recluse spiders from there by looking for several specific features. They’ll typically be light or medium brown in color, about the size of a quarter, and have six eyes and a violin-shaped pattern on their back. Remember that spiders won’t bite unless they feel threatened, so it’s a good idea to maintain your distance when observing such critters. Trapping a live one under a glass or finding one that’s already dead are the best ways to get a closer look.
Finally, brown recluse spiders are most active from March to October. If you have a spider infestation at another time of the year, you’re likely dealing with another species.
Protect Yourself
Brown recluse spiders are highly venomous, and their bites can cause symptoms like rashes, itching, fevers, joint pain, nausea, and vomiting, and in rare cases they can be life-threatening. Gear up with boots, gloves, a hat, long-sleeve shirts, and full-length pants before attempting to remove them.
Spiders are more active at night than during the day, so perform your search after sunset for the best results. As their name suggests, brown recluse spiders are highly reclusive and are found in areas that don’t get much attention, like crawlspaces, attics, inside walls, wood or dirt piles, or old cardboard boxes. Check all these spots until you find what you’re looking for.
Target Affected Areas With Insecticide or Vinegar Solution
Try to exterminate as many of the spiders as possible before removing them. You can purchase a store-bought insecticide or spider killer or fill a spray bottle with a homemade vinegar and dish soap solution. Spray on the affected area and let it sit for five to 10 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Spider sweeping is a good way to clear an area of a current infestation and prevent them from happening at all. Place a broom or a cobweb brush into an affected area and spin it to gather cobwebs, eggs, and spiders. Keep a vacuum close by to suck up any critters or debris as they fall. Remember to wear a hat to keep your head safe from spiders not killed by the insecticide. After the infestation is removed, perform spider sweeps on a monthly basis to discourage nests from forming.
Lay Down Sticky Traps in Probable Hiding Spots
If the thought of all those falling spiders makes your skin crawl, sticky traps are a hands-off method that’s similarly effective. While wearing gloves, place the traps near affected areas. Wait several days before removing traps to catch as many spiders as possible. The spiders may sometimes miss the traps, so pair this method with another to get the best results.
Apply a Natural Repellent After Clearing the Problem Zone
Taking steps to repel brown recluse spiders is essential to ensure they don’t come right back. The following natural spider repellents will help keep them away without killing your household critters.
Essential Oils
Brown recluse spiders—and spiders generally—are naturally repelled by lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oils. Fill a spray bottle with water, add a few drops of one oil, and apply to attractive areas or openings to your home. Reapply periodically.
Diatomaceous Earth
This substance is made from the remains of aquatic organisms known as diatoms. It burrows into spider exoskeletons, dehydrating and killing them by absorbing all their fats and oils. It poses no risk to other wildlife, so it's safe to use around pets. Place it outside your home in nooks and crannies where brown recluses are likely to nest to prevent them from ever making it inside your home.
Eucalyptus Plants
Filling your home with fragrant eucalyptus plants will add life and greenery to your abode and deter pests like brown recluse spiders. However, this plant can be toxic to cats and dogs, so it might not be the right solution for those with pets.
Once you’ve taken all the previous steps, find and seal any points where brown recluse spiders can enter your home. Use caulk to patch up holes or gaps in window frames, doors, floors, pipes, drains, and vents. You can also attach door sweeps to any exterior-facing doorways to keep the heat in and the spiders out.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
If you fear spiders or feel unsafe dealing with a brown recluse, consider hiring an exterminator near you to take care of it instead. In fact, if you’ve found egg sacs from a brown recluse in your home, it’s best to call in the pros to handle it before it becomes an infestation.
Pest control costs can range anywhere from $50 to $500, depending on the animal and the circumstances. But you can expect to pay between just $100 and $300 for the cost of spider extermination.
Frequently Asked Questions
The presence of insects or anything that might attract them (like food left out or poorly sealed trash cans), excessive outdoor lighting, and untended wood or cardboard boxes are just some of what attracts spiders in general. In particular, brown recluse spiders are drawn to dark spots with lots of nooks and crannies for nesting, like wood or dirt piles.
Brown recluse spiders are found in Midwestern and South Central states like Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and Georgia. While it’s possible to find spiders from the same genus elsewhere in the country, you’re unlikely to find a brown recluse infestation outside of these designated zones. In any case, there are other dangerous spider species across the U.S., so always use caution when dealing with infestations of any kind.
If you think you’ve been bitten by a brown recluse spider, stay calm. Cool the area with an ice pack or a wet rag, and seek medical attention immediately. A doctor will be able to determine if your bite is, in fact, from a brown recluse based on your symptoms and how they’ve developed. If possible, try to identify the brown recluse before your appointment by taking a picture of the offending spider, as this will ensure a sound diagnosis.
Having lived in California, New York, Germany, and now France, Audrey Bruno is no stranger to making a home in strange places. Whether she’s in a studio apartment in a bustling city or a house in the quiet countryside, her years of exploring the world of home improvement inform the way she approaches every space. Her writing covers a vast array of home and lifestyle subjects and has appeared in publications like Domino and SELF.
Having lived in California, New York, Germany, and now France, Audrey Bruno is no stranger to making a home in strange places. Whether she’s in a studio apartment in a bustling city or a house in the quiet countryside, her years of exploring the world of home improvement inform the way she approaches every space. Her writing covers a vast array of home and lifestyle subjects and has appeared in publications like Domino and SELF.
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