What do you use your Indianapolis basement for? If you're like most people, you probably have your washer and dryer down there, and maybe a place to fold clothes. Perhaps you have a workbench, a furnace or woodstove, and shelves full of things like paint cans and various tools. And I bet there are a bunch of boxes, either cardboard, plastic, or both. Yes, most people have a lot of stuff in their basement. Do you know what else most people have in their basement? You guessed it; spiders. A few spiders, I think you'll agree, are nothing to worry about. But what would it be like if your basement was overrun with spiders?
Did you know there are more phobias about spiders than any other pest? I suppose this fear is not unfounded, since getting bitten by the wrong spider, a black widow or brown recluse, can send you to the hospital if you have a bad reaction to the venom. There have even been a few deaths associated with spiders. However, even if your home has only non-poisonous spiders, they're no fun to have around! Just the creep factor alone is enough to drive a sane person mad.
There are a few things you can do to try to prevent spiders from entering your home.
- Make sure all your screens and door sweeps are in good working order.
- Inspect your foundation, walls, and roofline for gaps or cracks, and seal them up with a caulking gun.
- Seal any holes around windows, doors, pipes, air conditioners, or any other thing that enters through the walls or foundation.
- Trim back trees, bushes, and any other vegetation away from the outside walls of your home. Spiders love to hide in these things and use the branches as bridges to get to your home.
- Get rid of flies and other insects that spiders use as a food source.
Tips on getting rid of spiders:
- Vacuum, vacuum, and vacuum some more. If you've spotted spiders, it is likely egg sacks are lurking in the crevices of your home. Use the pointy vacuum attachment and don't forget to get under sofas, in closet corners, etc. And dispose of the bag immediately in an outside trash can.
- Place sticky traps throughout your home. These will not eliminate the problem, but they will help.
- Try a homemade spider repellant. Many essential oils such as rosemary, lavender, citrus, and peppermint are thought to be effective. Mix several drops of the oil with two cups of water and a little dish soap.
The BEST tip on how to get rid of spiders:
If your Indianapolis basement is overrun with house spiders, or any other pest for that matter, try the home pest control solutions from Action Pest Control. Why should you choose Action? Click here and find out.