Cobwebs in every corner of the basement, a big brown spider sprinting across the living room floor, or one sitting in the bathtub when you turn on the light: spiders seem to multiply indoors as the weather cools. Most are harmless and even helpful, but that does not mean you want them sharing your home.
This guide shows you how to get rid of spiders the way university extension experts recommend: by cutting off their food, clearing hiding spots, sealing entry points and using vacuums and sticky traps instead of sprays. It also covers how to recognize black widows and brown recluses, the two spiders in the US that call for real caution.
Quick answer: Spiders follow their food, so reduce the insects that draw them in by changing outdoor lighting and fixing other pest problems. Clear clutter indoors and debris along the foundation, seal gaps around doors, windows and utility lines, vacuum webs and spiders regularly, and place sticky traps along walls in basements and garages. Sprays give only short-term results. Wear gloves in storage areas, and call a pro if you confirm brown recluses or find black widows in living spaces.
Why spiders are in your house
Most spiders you see indoors fall into two groups. Some, like common house spiders and cellar spiders, live their whole lives inside, quietly building webs in corners, basements and closets. Others live outdoors and wander in through gaps under doors, torn screens and openings around pipes.
Fall often brings a spike in sightings. Many outdoor spiders reach adult size in late summer and fall, and males roam in search of mates, so you notice more of them crossing floors and walls. Insects also gather around warm, lit houses in cool weather, and spiders follow the food.
Almost all house spiders are harmless to people. Their fangs either cannot pierce human skin or their venom is too weak to matter, and they eat flies, moths, cockroaches and other insects. The goal is to keep their numbers low, not to wipe out every one.
Step 1: Cut off their food supply
Fewer insects means fewer spiders. According to University of California IPM’s Pest Notes on spiders, lights attract insects, which in turn attract spiders, so lighting is a good place to start.
Change outdoor lighting
Swap white porch and entry bulbs for yellow bug lights or warm-colored LEDs, which attract fewer insects. Where you can, mount lights on posts away from doors and windows rather than on the house, and use motion sensors so fixtures are not on all night. Close curtains at night so indoor lights do not draw insects to the windows.
Deal with other pests
Spiders often signal another insect problem. Cobwebs full of small flies near the kitchen may point to fruit flies or a drain issue, and spiders in a damp basement often feed on crickets or cockroaches. If you are seeing roaches, our guide on how to get rid of cockroaches will cut off a major food source. Fall invaders like stink bugs in the house also feed spiders in attics and window frames.
Step 2: Clear clutter and hiding places
Spiders love quiet, undisturbed spaces. Indoors, piles of boxes, stacks of paper, clothing on the floor and crowded storage shelves give them shelter. Outdoors, firewood, leaf litter, dense shrubs and debris along the foundation do the same.
- Store items in basements, closets, attics and garages in sealed plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes.
- Keep floors clear, especially in closets and under beds.
- Stack firewood off the ground and well away from the house, and bring in only what you will burn soon.
- Rake leaves, mulch and debris back from the foundation and trim shrubs and vines so they do not touch the siding.
- Move garbage and recycling bins away from doors.
Step 3: Seal entry points
Blocking gaps keeps outdoor spiders and their prey from walking in. UC IPM recommends sealing foundation cracks, gaps around windows and doors, and making sure screens fit well.
- Install door sweeps and replace worn weatherstripping, including on the garage entry door.
- Repair torn window and door screens.
- Caulk gaps around window and door frames and where siding meets the foundation.
- Seal openings around pipes, cables, outdoor faucets and dryer vents with caulk or foam.
- Make sure attic and crawlspace vents have intact screens.
Step 4: Vacuum, sweep and remove webs
Regular vacuuming is one of the most effective spider control tools. UC IPM notes that vacuuming removes spiders and webs, and spiders usually do not survive the trip through the hose. Use a crevice tool along baseboards, ceiling corners, behind furniture, under stairs and around windows, and vacuum egg sacs when you find them.
Outdoors, sweep or hose webs off eaves, porch ceilings and window frames. If you prefer to relocate a harmless spider, set a cup over it, slide a stiff card underneath and release it outside away from the door.
Step 5: Use sticky traps
Flat glue boards are an inexpensive, pesticide-free way to catch wandering spiders and see which areas have the most activity. Place them along walls and baseboards, behind furniture, in closet corners and along the edges of basements and garages, where spiders travel.
Check them weekly and replace them when they get dusty or full. Keep traps where children and pets cannot reach, such as behind appliances or under furniture.
Pro tip: Sticky traps double as an identification tool. If you live where brown recluses occur, check the trapped spiders with a magnifying glass. A uniform tan or brown spider with six eyes in three pairs is worth showing to your extension office or a pest professional.
Do sprays and home remedies work?
Spraying baseboards or setting off a bug bomb is tempting, but UC IPM notes that insecticides do not provide long-term spider control, and the effect is only temporary without good housekeeping. Foggers rarely reach the cracks where spiders hide, and any spiders that survive are quickly replaced if the insects and clutter remain.
There is little reliable evidence that peppermint oil, vinegar, chestnuts or other home remedies keep spiders out for long. Your time is better spent on lighting, clutter, sealing and vacuuming.
Black widow and brown recluse cautions
Two groups of spiders in the US have venom that can cause serious illness. Both are shy and bite mainly when trapped against skin, so knowing where they hide is your best protection.
| Spider | How to recognize it | Where it hides | Where it lives in the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black widow | Adult female shiny black with a red or orange hourglass under the abdomen; messy, tough, sticky web | Woodpiles, garages, sheds, under outdoor furniture, meter boxes, clutter | Throughout the US, most common in the South and West |
| Brown recluse | Uniform tan to brown, long thin legs, dark violin shape on the back, six eyes in three pairs | Closets, boxes, shoes, clothing on the floor, attics, behind baseboards | South central and Midwestern states |
Black widows
Black widows prefer dark, dry, undisturbed spots, and bites usually happen when someone reaches into a woodpile, a stack of pots or a cluttered garage shelf. Wear thick gloves when moving stored items, firewood and outdoor furniture, and knock down webs with a broom instead of your hand.
Brown recluses
Brown recluses are widely over-reported. The University of Kentucky’s brown recluse fact sheet notes that many harmless brown spiders are mistaken for them, and the violin marking is not always clear. Counting eyes with a hand lens is more reliable. In areas where they live, move beds away from walls, remove bed skirts, keep clothes and shoes off the floor, and shake out shoes, gloves and clothing that have been stored.
If you are bitten
Stay calm, wash the bite with soap and water, apply a cold compress and elevate the area. Seek medical care promptly for a suspected black widow or brown recluse bite, or for spreading pain, cramping, a growing sore, fever or trouble breathing. If you can do so safely, bring the spider, even crushed, for identification. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.
Tools and materials
- Vacuum with a crevice tool and an extension wand
- Long-handled cobweb brush or broom
- Flat sticky traps (glue boards)
- Caulk, caulk gun and expanding foam
- Door sweeps, weatherstripping and screen repair kit
- Sealed plastic storage bins
- Yellow bug lights or warm LED bulbs for outdoor fixtures
- Thick work gloves and a flashlight
- Magnifying glass for identification
When to call a pro
Regular cleaning and sealing handle most spider problems. Call a licensed pest control professional when:
- You have confirmed brown recluses indoors. The University of Kentucky notes they are hard to eliminate, and professional treatment is generally best.
- You keep finding black widows in or near living areas, play areas or entry doors.
- Spider numbers stay high after several weeks of vacuuming, sealing and trapping, which usually means a large insect population is feeding them.
- Someone in the home is very young, elderly or medically vulnerable and venomous spiders are present.
According to Bob Vila’s exterminator cost guide, which cites HomeAdvisor data, a typical pest control visit costs $111 to $261, with an average of about $176. The same guide lists quarterly service plans at about $110 to $250 per visit, which can make sense for persistent recluse or widow problems.
Frequently asked questions
Why am I seeing more spiders in the fall?
Many spiders reach maturity in late summer and fall, and males wander in search of mates. Cooler nights also push insects toward warm houses, and spiders follow. Sealing gaps and changing outdoor lighting reduce the numbers that make it inside.
Should I kill house spiders?
You do not have to. Most house spiders are harmless and eat insects you do not want either. Vacuuming or relocating them is fine, but focus your effort on the clutter, gaps and insects that keep bringing them back.
Do spiders come up through drains?
Generally no. Spiders found in sinks and bathtubs usually fell in while looking for water and cannot climb the slick sides. Leave a towel draped over the edge or simply remove them with a cup and card.
Does peppermint oil keep spiders away?
There is little good evidence that peppermint oil or other scents provide lasting spider control. Even if a strong smell moves a spider briefly, it does nothing about the insects, clutter and gaps that drew it in.
How can I tell if a spider is a brown recluse?
Look for a uniform tan to brown spider with no stripes or bands on its legs, a dark violin shape on its back, and six eyes in three pairs. Because many brown spiders look similar, have a specimen confirmed by your county extension office or a pest professional.
The bottom line
To get rid of spiders, take away what they need: insects to eat, clutter to hide in and gaps to walk through. Change outdoor lighting, store things in sealed bins, seal entry points, vacuum regularly and set sticky traps. Respect black widows and brown recluses with gloves and careful storage, and bring in a pro if either one has moved into your living space. As you prep the house for cold weather, add these steps to your fall home maintenance checklist.
