Do you suspect a brown recluse spider infestation in your home? Healthline states these tiny spiders’ venom is more toxin than a rattlesnake’s. If you see a recluse in your home, you should plan to get rid of the pest as soon as possible.
Ideally, you should have a professional pest control service do the job. But, if you want to get rid of brown recluse spiders yourself, you should take the necessary precautions to avoid bites and exterminate the pests.
Read on to discover how to eliminate brown recluse spiders quickly and effectively.
Signs Of A Brown Recluse Spider Infestation In Your Home
If you spot even one brown recluse spider, the chances are good that many others have encroached on your home.
Recluses get their name because they like to live in enclosed areas such as in between furniture, inside piles of clothes, inside dark holes, or out in the yard. Their habitat makes getting rid of recluse spiders quite difficult but not impossible.
Brown recluse spiders form sheet-like webs. The presence of such a web is also a good sign that several of these arachnids might be in your home.
Lastly, look out for eggs sacs about half an inch long in corners, along window panes, closets, and any secluded areas.
That said, even if you do not see any spiders, web sheets, or eggs, they may still be hiding in or outside your house, so you must be extra cautious to avoid their bites.
DIY Tips To Prevent and Get Rid Of Recluse Spiders
Like other pests, when it comes to spiders, you are better off preventing them from reproducing and camping in your house.
An easy place to start is to eliminate clutter, such as boxes, unused furniture, piles of wood, and old clothes you no longer use. Spiders breed and live in dark, hidden spaces and litter their spiderlings or egg sacs in these enclosed spaces.
Remember that recluses are venomous, and their bite can cause tissue damage. If you decide to get rid of brown recluse spiders by yourself, be sure to wear protective gear to avoid their nasty sting.
1. Keep Your Home or Business Premise Clean and Organized
In addition to preferring to live in dark, hidden spots, spiders are also attracted to small food particles and insects. Cluttered, disorganized, and unclean premises will attract rodents, insects, and spiders.
Keep spiders away by discouraging insects in or outside your home or business. Avoid leaving food and opened drinks in the open. You should also empty trash cans and bins and keep them tightly covered. Of course, clean up countertops and vacuum regularly to keep your spaces free of food crumbs and insect-attracting debris.
These spiders hide around bed skirts, inside closets, baseboards, water heaters, furnaces, staircases in the basement or attic, behind the bathtub, toilet set, and sinks. So, you should vacuum these areas regularly.
Minimize clutter where spiders are likely to hide and breed. Regularly vacuum corners and behind appliances and furniture where recluse spiders might build webs and deposit their eggs.
2. Seal Gaps and Open Spaces
Prevent recluse spiders from creeping into your house by mending gaps and spaces along window panes, doors, and screens. Apply foam or sealing caulk to repair any entry points that may let in spiders and other pests.
If you notice a recluse spider or two in your home, they found an easy way to get in through the window frames, doors, or other openings. Inspect your home to identify any open cracks and fix them soon. This will help keep spiders away.
3. Minimize Moisture and Humidity
Brown recluse spiders are attracted to small insects and food particles and thrive in moist spaces. You should therefore take the necessary steps to minimize excess moisture and humidity inside your home.
In addition to ensuring that all leaks around doors and windows are sealed, you should also remove leaves and dirt from gutters to prevent water accumulation. Ensure that basements and attics, favorite spots for spiders, are always dry.
Dehumidifiers can also help reduce the amount of moisture in your spaces and keep recluse spiders away. Consider the size of each room and your area’s dampness level to buy the right size dehumidifier.
4. Let In Light and Ventilate Your Spaces
A well-lit and ventilated building is not only good for your physical and mental well-being but also discourages brown recluse spiders from making a home in your home.
Remember, these spiders like dark and damp areas. Open your curtains and your windows to let light and air in. You can also use ceiling fans for improved air circulation. Natural light and adequate air will prevent spiders from breeding in your house.
How To Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders Inside Your Home or Premises
Prevention is better than cure, but if you already have a brown recluse spider infestation, you should act fast to eliminate these deadly pests.
Here are steps you can take to get rid of brown recluse spiders effectively:
5. Spray a vinegar solution
Vinegar has many DIY uses around the house, a natural pesticide being one of them. Mix one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the acidic solution on the spider itself, webs, and egg sacs.
It is also a good idea to spray the vinegar solution in areas brown recluse spiders like to hide, including beds, skirts, curtains, furniture, and hidden corners. The acidity will repel these spiders from inhabiting and breeding in your home.
For the best results, increase the amount of vinegar against the same amount of water. This 2:1 ratio increases the spray’s acidity, making it potent enough to get rid of brown recluse spiders in your spaces.
6. Apply Essential Oils
Strong scents such as lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint repel recluse spiders. You can purchase high-quality essential oils online or from your local natural health store and use the oils to get rid of recluses.
Opt for tea tree oil, eucalyptus, lavender, and peppermint oils as spider repellants. Add a few drops in a spray bottle with one part water and apply in areas where you suspect these spiders hang out, such as in closets, furniture, along windows and doors, behind the toilet and sinks, or anywhere spiders have made a home.
With essential oils, a little goes a long way. This method eliminates brown recluses if you use the best quality essential oils. You also want to be careful not to expose pets to essential oils, which can cause a deadly allergic reaction.
7. Use a Glue-based Trap
If you identify the specific areas in your home where recluse spiders crawl and hide, you can use sticky traps to capture them.
Window panes, ledges, baseboards, furniture edges, and open stairs in basements and attics are favorite spots for brown recluse spiders. Apply glue traps in these areas and wait for the spider to crawl in. The glue will immobilize the bug, which will remain stuck there until it dies of dehydration.
Admittedly, glue traps are not a surefire method to get rid of recluse spiders; there are chances that the spider will miss the trap, so your efforts will be unsuccessful. Using glue traps with other methods to eliminate brown recluse spiders is a good idea.
Also, you want to check the traps regularly to remove any dead recluses that can be dangerous to pets or children when ingested.
8. Diatomaceous Earth
Another natural way to kill recluse spiders is by using a substance known as diatomaceous earth. This powder is manufactured from aquatic organisms, which are then crystalized into tiny particles.
Sprinkle some of this powder in spots where brown spiders will likely hang out. When they walk over the powder, the tiny crystals will cut their feet, causing the spiders to die from dehydration.
Diatomaceous earth is safe for kids and pets. But, like glue traps, this method is only effective if the brown recluse spiders actually come into contact with the powder. So, it is best to combine this with other methods to deal with a spider infestation.
9. Apply Targeted Pesticides
Although harsh, pesticides are the best way to get rid of brown recluse spiders. Look for pesticide products specifically made to get rid of spiders; these will contain ingredients such as lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, and cyfluthrin among others.
Spray pesticide directly on egg sacs, web sheets, and spiders. Regularly using the right pesticide will significantly minimize the number of brown recluse spiders in your home. If you are concerned about using pesticides, you can find environment, kid, and pet-friendly options.
10. When To Call Professional Pest Control Experts to Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders
If you discover many brown recluse spiders in or around your home, this is a sure sign of an infestation. DIY methods alone may not be enough to deal with a full-blown infestation; in this case, it is recommended to call professional brown recluse spider removal services.
Pest control professionals will assess your home or business premise to determine the best method to deploy to minimize the spider population. They have the equipment and techniques to handle spider infestations, especially in hard-to-reach areas such as attics and behind walls.
Handling a full-blown brown recluse spider infestation on your own can be deadly. These spiders have a venomous bite that can cause nausea, fever, dizziness, and tissue damage, requiring medical attention.
Depending on your location and the extent of the infestation, professional brown recluse spider removal services may set you back $400 to $600 or more. This is a small price for what can turn into a life-threatening infestation, especially in a home with kids and pets.
FAQS About Brown Recluse Spiders
How do you tell if it is a brown recluse spider?
The brown recluse spider is commonly found in the Midwestern and south-central United States. These spiders are about the size of a quarter with their legs stretched. They get their name from their tan to dark brown color and are identifiable by the dominant violin-shaped pattern on their back.
The most noticeable feature is the spider’s eyes. While most spiders have eight eyes, the brown recluse has six eyes arranged in a semi-circular pattern, best viewed using a hand lens.
What attracts brown recluse spiders?
Brown recluse spiders feed on small insects and bugs. They are also drawn to dark, damp spots, wood, and cardboard. Leaving food out in the open, poor hygiene, and excessive moisture will attract insects, which can lure brown recluse spiders into your home.
Piles of wood and boxes are also favorite breeding grounds for these spiders. Minimizing clutter and improving hygiene can decrease the chances of brown recluse spiders creeping inside or around your home.
What should you do if a brown recluse spider bites?
Brown recluse spiders are not aggressive and will not pursue you. But, they can bite if you come into close contact and they feel threatened. Their bites are venomous but will typically not result in death, but small children are at risk.
A recluse’s bite is painless, but occasionally symptoms may include pain in the bite area, swelling, and bruising. If you suspect a bite, clean the area with soap and cold water and apply ice to reduce swelling.
It is best to seek medical attention if symptoms persist; your healthcare provider might administer antibiotics to minimize pain and inflammation.