Moving into a new apartment is always exciting. That excitement can wear off pretty fast if you find out that you are sharing your new space with spiders. Who wants to wake up to jumping spiders in your apartment?
Luckily, there are several easy ways that you can get those nasty spiders out of your space without having to take drastic measures.
In this article, we're going to show you how to get rid of spiders in your apartment. You won't have to call pest control to deal with that spider infestation. Keep reading to find out what you need to do.
Why Are There Spiders in the Apartment?
Let's get one thing off the table right away, a spider infestation is not a sign of a dirty apartment. A clean apartment attracts spiders just as much as dirty spaces.
A spider's main initiative is to find food, which is usually other bugs.
For this reason, many people believe spiders aren't pests (so long as they're not poisonous spiders!).
While spiders may be there to eat other pests that have made it into your apartment, it's completely understandable if you don't want to go to bed at night with spiders hiding in your space.
You may be wondering how a spider got into your apartment in the first place. This is very easy for them to do because spiders are very tiny.
These creepy crawlies can easily make it into any space by slipping in through the cracks, under doors, or sneak in when the windows are open. Since they can easily slip in through the cracks, older apartments are more likely to have a large infestation.
14 Ways to Get Rid of Spiders in Your Apartment
Spiders don't pay rent, so they have no business infesting your space. Keeping spiders out does take some work, but you can accomplish it.
When you notice the signs of a spider infestation in your apartment, it's important to act quickly before it gets worse.
Let's take a look at some of the best ways to get rid of spiders in your apartment including some natural spider repellents you probably already have in your cabinets.
1: Vacuum Everywhere
Spiders will spin spider webs in your apartment as a way to catch food. The more food sources they have available to them, the more likely they are to stay around. Some spider webs will also hold egg sacs, which means more spiders are on their way.
We highly recommend vacuuming everywhere in your apartment to remove all the hidden webs and egg sacs.
By removing the webs, you're taking away their food source since the spiders won't be able to catch food without the webs. This will encourage the spiders to move elsewhere.
2: Block the Entries
If you don't feel great about killing spiders but just want to keep them out of your apartment, the best solution is to stop them before they ever get in.
It's time to inspect your apartment to see where the spiders are coming from.
You will need to use caulking to seal cracks so they will not be able to get into your space anymore. This will include cracks around the window sills, vents, doorway, and other areas.
If there is a small gap between your door and the door sweep, you can block this gap by using a draft stopper to prevent spiders from crawling in underneath. It will also keep your apartment warmer when it gets cold.
3: Declutter
Spiders hide in clutter so if you want to remove their hiding places, you need to declutter your apartment.
If you still have cardboard boxes in your apartment, it's time to unpack them and get rid of the boxes. Storage boxes are a prime hiding place for spiders.
You should also clean up shopping bags, food wrappers, and other clutter around your apartment.
4: Plan How You Clean
Even though spiders will still infest a clean apartment, there are certain ways you can plan out your cleaning schedule to get rid of spiders and other insects that may be invading your space.
This way, you can place your focus on areas where the spiders are. Most spiders will make homes in closets, under furniture, air ducts, and other dark areas.
5: Use Sticky Spider Traps
Sticky glue traps are used to catch many insects and they are great for catching spiders as well. This is a very inexpensive way to kill spiders without having to use a noxious chemical.
Sticky traps use a glue that the spider gets stuck to, preventing them from moving. These can be found at most hardware and department stores.
Start by finding the spiders hiding places. Look for spider webs or places where you've found other insects. Line those areas with your traps.
6: Use Vinegar to Kill Spiders
If you want to kill those spiders without making yourself sick, vinegar should be your go-to solution.
One of the cheapest and easiest ways to get rid of spiders is to make a vinegar solution in a spray bottle that is 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water. Use this solution to clean everywhere in your apartment and when you see a spider, spray it directly on them.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which kills spiders effectively without toxic ingredients.
7: Peppermint Oil Helps Get Rid of Spiders
Peppermint oil is a natural spider repellent and it smells fantastic.
Essential oils are great spider repellents, and they can get rid of other pests as well. If you want to stink the spiders out of your apartment space then place 15 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle with water and spray everywhere in your apartment.
Make sure you get every nook, cranny, and possible hiding spot to repel spiders. If you don't have peppermint, tea tree oil and eucalyptus essential oils are also very effective.
One helpful trick is to place a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in an area where spiders are frequently found.
8: Cedar Chips
If the spider infestation is making you uneasy, speak to your landlord about placing cedar chips outside.
If you have a ground-level apartment, placing these chips around the landscaping will repel the spiders from making their way in.
Spiders hate the smell of cedar, so even the small touch of a cedar-scented candle can keep them away.
9: Horse Chestnuts
An old wives tale suggests that spiders hate the smell of chestnuts. People will often use large chestnuts in their houses, such as horse chestnuts to get rid of spiders.
While we can't guarantee this is as effective as other methods, like white vinegar, it does make your apartment nice and cozy. Plus, if it gets rid of spiders naturally, it's a win-win situation!
10: Dim the Lights to Deter Spiders Naturally
Bright lights won't attract spiders, but they will attract most species of insects.
If your apartment has insects, spiders will find a way in. Since you are renting the apartment, you may not be able to control the outdoor lighting. However, if there is a spider problem, we suggest speaking to your landlord about replacing the outdoor lights with bug lights.
When you take steps to limits the flies and insects around your apartment, the spider problem will start to go away.
11: Adopt a New Pet
Pet owners don't have as many problems with bugs as people who don't have pets. This is simply because they have a full-time spider and insect hunter.
If you live in a pet-friendly apartment and enjoy the company of animals, you may find that a cat or dog is also a great method for pest control and to get rid of spiders. They can also spot out spider hiding places better than we can.
12: Get Rid of Leftover Food
Like we mentioned, spiders naturally gravitate to areas where there's food. That means getting rid of leftover food and crumbs you have laying around as soon as possible, particularly in known spider areas.
If you notice spiders are always popping up in your living room, for instance, look under your couch, coffee table, or anywhere else you eat.
You could be inviting spiders into your apartment without even realizing it. One quick pass with a vacuum cleaner might be all you need to get rid of the spiders.
13: Try Citrus
Another thing spiders don't like? Citrus!
Spreading orange peels or citrus oils in areas where spiders come into your apartment can be a great way to keep these pests and other insects away.
14: Call Professional Exterminators
This is a last resort solution, as it involves pesticides and other chemicals.
If you can't get the spider problem under wraps yourself, you will need to speak to your landlord about hiring a professional exterminator. The spiders aren't just a problem for you, as they will also be affecting the other tenants in the building.
While this is the most effective solution to get rid of spiders, it can also be hectic for the landlord and renters.
It is very expensive and requires all the tenants to vacate the building for a few days. This can be a very extreme method, especially if you are dealing with harmless spiders.
There are only two species of spider in the US that harmful to humans, the brown recluse and the black widow. If you aren't dealing with either of these spiders, you may not need to enlist professional help.
Get Rid of the Spiders in Your Apartment
Do spiders pay rent? If your answer is no, then they don't belong in your apartment either. Even if you don't find spiders creepy or annoying, it's still best to get rid of them.
They can make their way into other apartments, lay eggs, and end up in places they don't belong.
When you see signs of a spider infestation, you don't need to panic. As long as you find out where the problem areas are, you can tackle the problem and prevent it from continuing.
While we discussed several ways to handle to spider problem, there are two main things you need to consider when dealing with spiders. You need to find out where they are getting in and you need to eliminate their food sources.
Once you get the spider issue managed, it's easy to keep it under control. Following our tips and tricks should keep those nasty spiders from coming back in. You can reclaim your apartment space and sleep peacefully again.
