Finding spiders around your home can be unsettling, especially if you're not keen on eight-legged visitors. It's worth remembering that most UK spiders are harmless, and actually useful – they help control other insects. So the aim here isn't to wipe them out, but to keep them out of your living space.
You'll notice spiders most in autumn (September and October), when mature males roam indoors looking for a mate – which is exactly when we see spider-related enquiries pick up. The good news is that a bit of preparation goes a long way. And the thing to know up front is that no single tip does it alone: in our experience it's the combination – decluttering and clearing webs, sealing gaps, reducing the insects spiders feed on, and keeping things dry – that keeps them out. Here are ten effective tips to help.
📋 Quick answer: how to keep spiders out
- Remove webs and egg sacs: vacuum corners, behind furniture, and loft/garage edges; empty the vacuum outdoors.
- Cut off their food: reduce insects by clearing crumbs, managing bins and recycling, fitting window screens, and using other insect control where needed.
- Proof entry points: seal gaps around frames, skirting junctions and pipework; fit or repair screens where practical.
- Use targeted controls: place monitoring traps in dark, still areas; use powders in cracks and void edges; keep sprays to cracks and corners only, following the label.
- Do them together, then monitor for 1–2 weeks: you should see fewer webs and fewer sightings if it's working.
1. Declutter and Clean Your Home Regularly
Spiders love dark, undisturbed areas where they can easily hide and build webs. To remove potential hiding spots, clean and declutter regularly. From our own experience, it's worth paying extra attention to less-used spaces such as basements, attics and under-stair cupboards.
2. Seal Cracks and Gaps
Inspect your home regularly for cracks or gaps around windows, doors and walls. When you find an opening, use caulk generously to seal it off and stop spiders getting inside. Weather stripping around doors and windows helps reduce entry points too.
3. Use Essential Oils as a Repellent
Spiders are known to dislike strong scents, particularly peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree oil. To make a simple repellent, mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and apply around windows and doors, and anywhere you've seen spiders before. Treat it as a supporting deterrent rather than a standalone fix.
4. Keep Outdoor Lights Off or Use Yellow Bulbs
Bright outdoor lights attract insects – and insects attract spiders. To keep spiders at bay, turn off outdoor lights at night, or if you can't do without them, use yellow sodium-vapour bulbs, which are less attractive to insects. Fewer insects means less spider activity around your home.
5. Remove Spider Webs and Egg Sacs
Remove webs and egg sacs as soon as you notice them. Use a vacuum cleaner or duster to reach ceilings, corners and behind fixed furniture, and dispose of the contents outside so any eggs can't hatch indoors.
Quick myth-buster: spiders don't "come up the drain" – baths and sinks trap them because they slip in and can't climb back out (the U-bend holds water). Leaving a towel over the bath edge can help them climb out, or use the cup-and-card method to release them.
6. Reduce Outdoor Vegetation
Keep vegetation trimmed back from walls and the areas around your property. Regularly cut back plants, bushes and trees near the outside of your home – left unchecked, they give spiders shelter and food right next to your walls, and a bridge to get in.
7. Keep Your Home Dry
Spiders are drawn to damp environments. Use a dehumidifier where possible, especially in humid areas like basements, and fix any leaky pipes or taps promptly to keep moisture levels low. A drier home is less attractive to spiders and to the pests they feed on.
8. Remove Food Sources for Other Pests
Spiders prey on insects, so reducing other pests naturally makes your home less attractive to them. Regularly clean surfaces to remove crumbs and food debris, store food in sealed containers, and take out the rubbish regularly to keep other pests away. This is one of the most effective long-term steps.
9. Use Natural Deterrents
Natural repellents can help deter spiders. Vinegar is a well-known option – mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply where spiders are likely to hide. Be cautious on delicate surfaces, as vinegar can be corrosive.
Another useful option is diatomaceous earth, a fine, food-grade powder that dehydrates small crawling insects. Reducing a spider's food source discourages them from settling – often one of the quickest ways to make a space less attractive to them. Use a light, label-led dusting along skirting boards and into cracks and entry gaps where insects travel, avoid creating airborne dust, and keep it to dry areas (it only works while dry). Keep children and pets away until it's settled.
Non-toxic insect monitoring traps can also help detect and reduce spider activity in undisturbed areas such as basements, behind furniture and near entry points.
10. Use Pesticide-Free Sprays or Powders
A pesticide-free spray or powder can be applied to cracks, crevices and corners where spiders hide, minimising exposure to harsh chemicals. Only step up to stronger insecticidal products as a last resort if natural methods don't give enough control, and always follow the manufacturer's instructions closely – taking extra care if you have children or pets.
Final Word
Remember that most spiders are harmless and helpful, so keeping them out is really about making your home less inviting rather than eliminating them – and it's the combination of these tips, not any single one, that does the job. If natural methods aren't enough, a spider-labelled spray can help: focus on cracks, crevices and behind furniture, follow the instructions, and take extra care around children and pets. And since spiders are most active in autumn, getting ahead of the season pays off.
We go to great lengths to ensure that all our DIY spider control products are effective, fast and easy to use. You may also find our expert guide to getting rid of spiders useful, and if a problem persists you can find a qualified controller through the BPCA directory.
