Spiders are a thing in Kelowna, Vernon, and Penticton, a scary thing. Just the word invokes terror, conjuring up all manner of creepy, crawly, 8-legged nightmares. Spiders can’t help being spiders, or being the insect (technically arthropod) most likely to invoke fear and repulsion. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to stomp on the suckers when we see them, or, if we’re feeling merciful, trap them in a mug and put them back outside. But it’s not so simple when you’ve got a full-blown infestation of house spiders, hobo spiders, or the ones with the best name and the worst reputation – black widows. Then you want only one thing – to be rid of them ASAP. It’s the fall, and calls for the removal of spiders from properties is on the rise. It’s the time of year when they dig in, and pest control specialists have to dig them out.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
First off, learn how to stop spiders from entering your home in the first place. Seal all openings in your home, whether it’s a crack in the foundation or a draft in a window. Locate any and all small holes a spider could use an entry point, and consider placing mesh screen within vents to stop spiders entering through your home’s HVAC system. Many spiders prefer to live in dark, damp places. This is why you’ll typically find them lurking underneath piles of wood, storage containers, or underneath shelves in a shed or garage. Spiders are attracted to warmth, and the colder the weather gets outside the more they'll want to gain entry into your nice warm cosy home. Turn off your exterior lights, and clear the perimeter of your home. Remove the firewood pile from the side of the house. Clean up leaves and debris around the house, and move anything that doesn’t need to sit around the perimeter into the garage.
STOP. HOOVER TIME.
If there are spiders already in your home, get our your vacuum cleaner. Vacuum the entire house – from under the living room sofa to the corners of closets to every nook and cranny where spider egg sacs may be lurking. Vacuum any spiders you see as well as any spider webs. Check ceilings, corners, and exterior doorways. Dispose of the vacuum bag afterwards, then place dozens of sticky traps throughout your home. These pesticide-free traps do not solve the spider problem, but they identify in which areas the spiders are most prevalent. You need to send a clear message to spiders that they are not welcome in your home, so if the vacuum cleaner isn't at hand, don't hesitate to use a shoe or book to do the job.
SIMPLY REPELLENT
After removing the spiders, it's time to repel the rest of them from ever entering your home. Certain essential oils have been shown to be effective against spiders, particularly peppermint oil. Tea tree oil, lemon oil, and eucalyptus oil can also be used. The benefit of using these natural repellents is that they are harmless to you, your kids, and your pets, but the spiders hate them. You can even make your own spider repellent. Spray any area where a spider might potentially enter your home, especially window frames and the gaps around exterior doors.
SPIDERS IN KELOWNA, VERNON, OR PENTICTON? CALL IN THE PROS
Preventative measures, damage control, and your very own home-grown spider repellent - all of these methods are useful and at least partially effective, but nothing beats calling in the experts when you have a serious bug problem. Professional pest control companies have safe and effective pest control methods and use products that are friendly to both humans and the environment. If you know or suspect that you have poisonous spiders in your home - the infamous brown recluse or the aptly named black widow (a prevalent seasonal menace in the Okanagan) - don't hesitate: pick up the phone and have the experts put an end to the spider infestation once and for all.
No bug is too quick for us to catch or too tough for us to eliminate. We’re lean (on price), mean (on bugs), and we leave your home clean (of infestation). So for a bug-free life, there’s only one company you need to call – BugMaster Pest Control, at your service.
Get in touch today by calling us for pest control services in Kelowna, Vernon, or Penticton.
