Nobody likes having spiders in their house, much less in one of the most frequented places in their home: the garage.
There’s no need to panic, though. With some preventative measures and simple pest control techniques, you can quickly and easily learn how to keep spiders out of garage in your home while keeping yourself safe.
This post will delve into how to keep spiders out of the garage.
Why Do Spiders Infest the Garage?
Spiders are intricate and vigilant creatures, always searching for an area to build an undetectable web. Many people come across spiders in their garages, yet they never know why.
Spiders, much like other pests, thrive off of secure access to food sources, as well as access to debris, nooks, and crannies to construct their webs in.
Any place that allows them shelter from the sun and provides relentless food sources quickly becomes favorable for these eight-legged critters.
Garages often offer just that—a quiet and sheltered area with many stored goods where spiders can easily find adequate prey like bugs and flies.
Unsurprisingly, spiders dwell in your garage if there are other critters, as they’re predators that stalk their prey. An abundant food source nearby encourages them to make this space their home.
Pile up the mess of stacked boxes and forgotten items, and your garage suddenly transforms into an ideal hunting ground for spiders.
Are Garage Spiders Dangerous to Humans?
Some breeds of spiders can be dangerous to humans due to their venomous bites. These breeds of spiders include black widows and brown recluses, and both can be found in garages.
It’s important to note that many spiders aren’t harmful to humans. However, no matter what kind of spider you find in your garage, it’s best to prevent them from entering the space altogether.
Garage spiders, in particular, are generally harmless to humans and are not venomous. However, exercising caution around all spiders is quite crucial. This is because some spiders may bite if they feel threatened, although most pose no significant threat to humans.
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6 Quick and Simple Ways to Keep Spiders Out of Garage
Spiders can be a nuisance in your garage, mainly if you use it as a storage space or workshop. Not only can they be creepy and create webs that can get in the way, making it difficult for you to access your stuff.
This section will cover some quick and simple ways to keep spiders out of your garage.
1. Declutter and Clean the Garage
The first and most crucial step in keeping spiders out of the garage is decluttering and cleaning it. Spiders come looking for hiding places, so the more clutter you have, the more likely it will find a home there. Clear out any old boxes, furniture, or other items that provide shelter for them.
Vacuum up any cobwebs or dust bunnies lurking around the garage corners, as these can give spiders plenty of food sources to feed on. Be sure to sweep up any dirt or debris outside of your garage door as well, as this could also attract spiders coming in from outside.
2. Minimize Lighting
Another way to eliminate spiders in the garage is to minimize the Lighting inside. Spiders are attracted to light, so if you can put less light in your garage, they will be less likely to stick around.
In contrast to insects such as moths, artificial lights are like a beacon, drawing them in. They will then bring along spiders that use the light source for hunting their prey.
Several studies have also been conducted on the behavior of spiders concerning light. One such study, published in 2012 by researchers from the University of Bristol and the University of Hamburg, found that certain spiders are attracted to artificial light sources at night.
The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, used field experiments to observe the behavior of spiders toward light sources such as streetlights and porch lights.
The researchers found that spiders were more likely to be found in areas with artificial light. And that the type of light (e.g., incandescent, fluorescent, LED) did not significantly affect the number of spiders present.
Garage Insider Tip: What keeps spiders away is using a timer on any outdoor lights that may shine into your garage and only turning them on when needed. If you have an overhead light in the garage, you can also use a dimmer switch, so it isn’t as bright.
3. Cover-Up Cracks, Holes, and Other Crevices
A garage infested with spiders can be a daunting task to fix. However, one of the easiest and surest ways to keep spiders out is by covering all open cracks and crevices in your garage walls.
This can help prevent spiders from entering since they usually find their way into homes through small openings and cracks. You can use caulk or weather strips for this purpose, which you can easily purchase from any home improvement store near you.
4. Use Safe Repellents
Another good way to eliminate spiders in your garage is by using safe repellent products. There are many different types of spider repellents available on the market, and the best ones include natural repellents such as essential oils, cedar chips, diatomaceous earth, and citronella candles.
These safe products help keep spiders away without harming your family or pets. This is because they are chemical-free, good for your skin, and have a pleasant fragrance.
Another best way to keep spiders out of garage is using an insecticide spray designed explicitly for spiders.
However, do your research and find one safe for people, pets, and other animals living in or near your home. Some options include chemical sprays, sticky traps, and ultrasonic devices.
5. Exterminate Pests (Food for Spiders)
Spiders usually come in search of food in your garage, which means getting rid of any pests living there is essential.
Pests such as rats and cockroaches are a source of food for spiders, so eliminating them can also help keep spiders away.
You can use traps or bait to get rid of these pests or call an exterminator if the problem is too big for you to handle.
6. Consider Recycling Cardboard Containers Outside
If you’re looking for a way to keep spider webs out of the garage, consider recycling all your cardboard boxes outside.
Cardboard boxes can provide a place for spiders to hide, so it is best to keep them outdoors where they can’t be an issue.
Additionally, placing these boxes away from the garage door and other potential spider entry points will also help reduce the chances of spiders entering your home.
Is It Okay to Leave Spiders in the Garage Alone?
It’s perfectly acceptable to share your garage with a few spiders. Although they tend to give many of us the creeps, spiders help control pests such as crickets and flies.
Rather than spending time and money trying to hunt down every spider entering your garage, letting a few of them stay could be an inexpensive way to keep other bugs at bay.
So, if you are okay with cohabiting with a few eight-legged friends, no harm will come from it.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are plenty of methods if you want to know how to keep spiders out of your garage. All these solutions can help you maintain a spider-free environment in your garage, from natural repellents to mechanical traps.
Remember to also check for potential entry points around windows and doors. Additionally, check any possible hiding places or food sources that may be attracting spiders in the first place. Finally, consider using an insecticide or other chemical product to deter their presence further.
Frequently Asked Questions
People ask plenty of questions regarding how to keep spiders out of garages. Here are answers to some of these frequently asked questions.
What do I do about Black Widows in the messy garage?
The first step is to clean up the garage, as black widows often create webs in dimly lit, cluttered spaces.
- Vacuum any areas with cobwebs.
- Wear gloves and long sleeves when cleaning out dark corners, and remove any stored boxes of clutter that could be hiding places for black widows.
If you’re worried about taking on this task alone, you can hire a professional pest remover to do it for you.
How do you remove spiders from an in-garage wood pile?
The most effective way to remove spiders from an in-garage wood pile is to use objects like a broom, spider trap, or vacuum cleaner.
Start by wearing protective clothing and also carrying a container with you. Gently paddling at the woodpile with your chosen tool will scurry any spiders out of the pile.
When they do this, quickly approach them using the same tool and scoop them into the container.
Alternatively, you can cover the wood pile with a tarp or other fabric and wait for the sun or warm temperatures to cause them to go elsewhere. Check beneath any logs before stacking them, as some types may take refuge here too.
