Go Natural
Homeowners are often faced with a spider pest control problem that they want eradicated as soon as possible. However, there is generally danger involved with chemical-based pesticides that are potentially unsafe if food, pets or small children come into contact with the product. Organic spider control methods can be a great option to exterminate spiders while keeping chemicals and toxins out of the mix.
There are many green pest control products developed especially for spider extermination. There are even organic do-it-yourself solutions that a homeowner can create with items found around his or her home. Finding the
right organic solution generally involves knowing what spider species you're dealing with, the types of bugs the spider attracts and the area where the spider is located. Once all of these factors are considered, a homeowner can begin to choose the type of solution that will work best for his or her situation.
Pest Control from the Kitchen
There are several different pest control methods to organically kill spiders that can begin right in the kitchen. These spider control techniques have been shown to deter spiders without the use of any harmful chemicals. Spiders actually provide a benefit by capturing bugs and insects that might have otherwise found their way indoors. Keeping spiders away without killing them will provide the best option for pest control.
The following options can be done easily and often inexpensively:
- Citrus scents are a natural repellent for spiders. Orange, lime or lemon peels placed in a garden, in flower boxes or near access points can help to fend off spiders. However, while these sweet scents may deter spiders, they may attract unwanted bugs.
- Utilizing lemon- or orange-scented cleansers can help with both cleaning duty and spider control. This also reduces the unintended bug attraction with the fresh peels.
- Chestnuts placed around the perimeter of a property also can be an organic spider deterrent.
- Aromatic plants such as mint or lavender can help to turn a spider around before it heads indoors. Keeping a lavender plant on a window sill or placing mint plants in the herb garden will help to keep the spiders away.
- Peppery spice is another option for driving spiders away. Creating a spray of vinegar, combined with chili pepper oil, and applying it directly to webs will send a spider packing.
Choosing between the smells of mint or lemon is often much nicer than the chemical smells found with most insecticides. Aromatics such as lavender are also able to continuously emit their scent while in bloom, where insecticides will generally have to be reapplied at designated intervals.
Don't Try This at Home
One thing that homeowners should never do is get impatient. Some homeowners start off with their organic pest removal plan, placing lemon peels or chestnuts along their gardens, and then at first sight of the next spider, they pull out the pesticides and start spraying. The health and toxin risk the owner was trying to avoid in the first place is lost. And even worse, the food items are suddenly saturated with toxic chemicals with nothing will stop a pet or small child from grabbing what they think is a long lost snack.
Mixing organic and chemically based solutions may have a significantly adverse affect. Homeowners need to be patient with their plan and give it the necessary time to work. It takes a complete cleaning and removal of the spider and the web, and even then, a hidden egg sac can still expose a homeowner to hundreds of eight-legged pests.
Green Market
Spider removal can require long term and continuous maintenance. Homeowners often can find spider control success with a combination of immediate organic methods combined with a longer term strategy. One type of spider control involves high frequency devices. These devices range significantly in price but have been shown to work effectively against spider populations.
There is also another great long-term investment: a vacuum. One of the best defenses against spiders is thoroughly cleaning dust, corners and crevices. The suction of a strong vacuum can help with hard-to-reach areas, which can also be hiding spider egg sacs and other bugs that attract spiders. Many vacuums are also taking on air quality features with special clean air filters and other elements that actually make them environmentally friendly.