Tips and Tricks to Keep Spiders out of Your Bedroom

Spiders are arachnids. This is classified by their eight-legged presence, and add to that their ability to weave intricate webs most humans approach them with a fusion of fascination and fear. It's hard to deny that spiders play a really important role in controlling insect populations. But having these arachnids invade the sanctity of our bedrooms can be disconcerting (to say the least!). 

In this guide, we aim to deliver those need-to-know spider-proofing tips. We'll explore some practical strategies to help you transform your bedroom into a spider-free haven that is conducive to a much more restful sleep.

Understanding Spiders

If you want to effectively keep spiders at bay, you need to understand this species and just how it may find its way into your living spaces. Most household spiders are harmless. In fact, spiders are good for your home as them contribute to pest control by preying on other insects. Spiders are not out to harm you. And the vast majority of species in the UK pose no threat to us. By recognising the beneficial role spiders play in the ecosystem, you can approach this particular arachnid with a more informed approach to spider-proofing. The aim is to focus on coexistence rather than eradication (1).

Why Keep Spiders Out of Your Bedroom

While spiders themselves may not be harmful, certain species can deliver bites that can cause discomfort or mild reactions. For people suffering with arachnophobia, just seeing a spider can induce anxiety and lead to disrupted sleep. You should also comprehend the psychological impact of having spiders in the bedroom too. Your sleep environment should be optimised for sleep as this is vital for enhancing our overall well-being. But the perception of safety is a key component of an optimised sleep space. And so, creating a spider-free space could help to improve your physical and mental comfort, thus promoting a more restorative sleep experience (2).

Hopefully this intro has give you a foundational understanding of spiders and the motivation to continue with your spider-proofing efforts too. Read on to discover how to keep spiders out of your bedroom more effectively moving forwards.

Identifying Entry Points

Spiders have an awe-inspiring ability to squeeze themselves through even the tiniest of openings. Unfortunately, this super-power of theirs enables them to infiltrate our homes through unnoticed gaps. And so, the first step on your spider-proofing journey is to identify these potential entry points. Start with the windows, doors, and any cracks or crevices in walls. If you find any, seal them up using caulk or weather-stripping as this will help to create a weather-proof barrier. Don't forget about those gaps around utility lines and pipes too. Spiders will often exploit these routes. By reducing the amount of avenues spiders can enter into your bedroom, you'll effectively lay the groundwork for a more secure sleep space.

Natural Deterrents

If you're looking for solutions to discourage spiders from making themselves at home in your bedroom, nature has plenty of solutions. Essential oils, in particular peppermint and tea tree oil, are known for their spider-repelling properties. You can actually create your own homemade spray by diluting these oils with water. Then, simply spritz it around windows, doors, and other potential sneaky spider entry points. Given they are adverse to the scent of peppermint and tea tree, it can be an effective natural deterrent. Some other options include placing citrus peels strategically, or DIY vinegar sprays. Both can act as powerful spider-repellents. What's more, by embracing natural repellents you'll keep spiders away while enjoying a chemical-free living environment (3).

Maintaining a Clean Environment

Spiders love cluttered and undisturbed environments (4). And so, for anyone looking to spired-proof their bedroom needs to pop regular cleaning on their to-do list! Dust surfaces and vacuum floors and soft furnishings frequently. But as you do, pay extra attention to dark corners, behind furniture, and under the bed. Be sure to remove any spider webs or egg sacs you encounter during your cleaning spree too. 

In terms of maintaining your spider-free space, it's best to keep bedroom storage areas organised as this minimises the number of places that spiders can hide. If you have a real problem with spiders in you home, a minimalistic approach to your décor could help! Reduce the number of surfaces where spiders can weave their webs without you knowing. A clean and well-maintained living space is less hospitable for spiders and should help discourage them from making your bedroom their home.

Dealing with Outdoor Factors

The outdoor conditions of your home can also influence the spider populations indoors. Things you can do to help you spider-proof you bedroom include cutting back plants around the exterior of your home, especially any that touch or overhang windows. Spiders like to use these as bridges to get inside your home. Another top tip is to keep outdoor lights at entrances to a minimum. Insects are attracted to lights, and spiders are attracted to insects (5). Regularly cleaning your gutters can also eliminate additional habitats for spiders. 

In addressing these outdoor factors, you can create a less alluring environment for spiders around the exterior of your home. This will also help to reduce the likelihood of them venturing inside too.

Strategic Placement of Plants

While we have mentioned cutting back outdoor vegetation that overhangs entrances to your home, you'll be pleased to know that there are plants that offer spider-repelling properties too. And these can be strategically placed both inside and outside of your home. Peppermint, lavender, and citronella are three types of plants that spiders can be repelled by. And placing potted plants of this type near your windows, doors, or other potential entry points can be an effective spider-deterrent. Remember to think about the specific needs of each plant thus ensuring they get the right amounts of both sunlight and water to be able to thrive (6).

Utilising Spider Traps

Non-toxic spider traps can also be effective tools to help you capture spiders without hurting them. You can position these traps along walls, in corners, and in any other areas in your home where spiders are likely to travel. Spider traps tend to use a sticky substance to stop spiders in their tracks upon contact. This will enable you to remove the spider from your home easily without any need for direct confrontation. If you do decide that spider traps is the right solution for your home, be sure to check and replace traps on a regular basis. Thought traps alone cannot prevent spiders from taking up residence in your bedroom, using them alongside other prevention methods can be effective in the ongoing battle of trying to maintain a spider-free sleep space (7).

Lighting Strategies

The lighting in your bedroom can also help to influence how spiders behave. Given that spiders are attracted to areas where insects are a-plenty, bright lights are likely to act as a welcome mat for arachnids. However, switching to yellow-toned or insect-resistant bulbs both in and around your bedroom can be effective for keeping numbers down. As this type of lighting is designed to be less attractive to insects, the spider population are less likely to take up residence in your bedroom too. What's more, using curtains or blinds at night is a quick-fix that will help your cause. By blocking the indoor light from spilling outside you'll minimise the allure of insects and spiders alike (8).

Temperature and Humidity Control

Spiders love environments where temperatures are moderate and humidity is high. But if you control these factors, you can help to create a climate in your home that is less-favourable spiders. Proper ventilation in your bedroom is essential for preventing excess humidity. You can even try a dehumidifier if necessary. Dehumidifiers can be especially handy in cellars or other areas of your home that are more prone to moisture build up. It's also good to know that spiders are generally less active in extreme temperatures. This means that a slight adjustment to your thermostat could make your bedroom way less appealing to them (9).

Pets as Spider Deterrents

Some pets, especially cats, are natural hunters and can help you to keep spiders at bay in your home. Cats are well-known for their instinct to chase and capture insects - and this also extends to spiders. If you have a cat, try to encourage his or her natural hunting behaviour. You can do this with interactive toys and also by making potential spider hidey-holes more visible to your cat. While it's not a fool-proof method, having a spider-hunting pet is a nice-to-have aspect you can pair with some of the other prevention strategies we've talked about in this guide. However, be cautious about introducing pets to your home for this purpose alone! And be sure to check there aren't any spider species in your area could pose a threat to your pet too. Understanding your pet's behaviour and limitations is key if you want to be able to harness their potential as spider deterrents (10).

Common Spider-Proofing Mistakes

Despite best intentions, as humans, we are prone to making mistakes. And in our efforts to keep spiders at bay, mistakes could have the opposite effect than the one we intended. One really common mistake is relying on chemical pesticides. While this may eliminate spiders temporarily, is can have negative effects on the quality of our air inside our homes. Furthermore, the prolonged use of pesticides could also contribute to the development of pesticide-resistant spider species. 

Not paying proper attention to the outdoor maintenance of our homes is another common error. In neglecting to trim vegetation, clean gutters, or address outdoor lighting, you could end up reversing all of those spider-proofing efforts you've exerted indoors. Avoid these common mistakes if you want to ensure a more effective and sustainable approach to keeping spiders out of your bedroom.

Addressing Specific Spider Species

Different types of spiders have different habits and preferences when it comes to nesting and hunting. And so, understanding which types of spiders are most common in your area will help you apply targeted prevention strategies. For example, cellar spiders prefer dark and damp environments. In this case, focusing on reducing humidity can be most effective for prevention (11). Brown recluse spiders, on the other hand, are often found in secluded areas, which means that inspecting any spaces that are less-used in your home an essential task (12). Adjusting you spider-proofing methods based on the preferences of specific spider species that are in high numbers in your locality is the best approach to keeping your bedroom spider-free.

With that, we wish you all the best on your mission to banish those spiders from your bedroom for good.

Achieve a better night’s sleep with Bensons For Beds

If your bed and mattress are getting on in years, and spiders on your mind mean you’re having trouble sleeping, it could be time for a fresh sleep surface. Here at Bensons for Beds we’re on hand to help you achieve a better night’s sleep whatever it is that’s got you tossing and turning. With our in-depth knowledge and intuitive sleeppro® technology, we can help you to find the right mattress comfort level to ensure you stay properly supported and comfy all night long. In fact, we’re so sure that you’ll love your new bed, we offer a 40-night comfort guarantee.

For further advice from our experts, why not pop into your local Bensons for Beds store or give us a ring on 0808 144 6160.

Sources:

1. https://animals.mom.com/importance-spiders-ecosystem-6242.html
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21852-arachnophobia-fear-of-spiders
3. https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/natural-spider-repellents/
4. https://cooperandgracie.com/blogs/infos/what-attracts-spiders-in-the-house
5. https://fortressbp.com/blog/168/for-porch-lights-that-dont-attract-bugs-try-railing-mounted-leds
6. https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/plants/g37619305/plants-repel-spiders/
7. https://www.terminix.com/blog/diy/which-spider-traps-work-best/
8. https://smithspestmanagement.com/blog/post/how-to-get-rid-of-spiders/
9. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/spiders-are-not-invading-your-house-for-the-winter-they-are-hiding-out-there-all-year-a6826801.html
10. https://deepsouthmag.com/2020/10/28/5-ways-to-keep-spiders-out-of-your-home-this-halloween/
11. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/spiders/cellar-spider
12. https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/the-brown-recluse-spider-facts-control/