Now that Halloween is in the past for another year, you may think that your daily interaction with those creepy arachnids and their unsightly webs is over until next fall; but you had better think again! While it is true that the over-sized fake spiders and webs will be safely tucked away inside a tote or box and placed in the attic for the next 10 months or so, your interactions with the real, live, insect-eating spiders may just be beginning.
With winter right around the corner, spiders are busy tucking their egg sacks in the nooks and crannies of living rooms, bedrooms, attics, and basements to keep them safe and sound as the wind howls and the snow flies. Some species of spiders will even enter homes here in Connecticut and Massachusetts in the fall to find a nice, warm, temperature-controlled area to hibernate for the winter. But rest assured, these spiders will begin to explore their new surroundings, and their protected sacks will eventually hatch and the number of eight-legged arachnid friends sharing your home will expand exponentially – so will all those unsightly webs!
House spiders generally prefer to hang out in quiet, undisturbed areas of your home where they have access to their favorite food source – insects. Many of these areas are hard to reach, and some are even in the hidden recesses of your walls that are impossible for you to reach. Either way, spiders are really difficult to eliminate once they have invaded your home.
A little prevention can go a very long way in keeping these creepy visitors out of your home this winter. The following are some of the most effective spider prevention tips that you can use to keep these winter pests away:
- Seal gaps, cracks, or holes in your foundation.
- Fill gaps around utility entrances and install chimney caps.
- Install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
- Use dehumidifiers in basements and other moisture-prone areas.
- Keep clutter to a minimum in all areas of your home including in storage areas.
- Keep storage items in totes with tight-fitting lids.
- Vacuum and dust regularly.
- Clean up crumbs and spills right away.
Once you have put some preventative measures in place, you should also consider calling American Pest Solutions to discuss a year-round residential pest control plan for your home. Not only will our PestGuard home protection program eliminate spiders in your home, but PestGuard will also eliminate the insects that spiders use as a food source there. This is the real risk when you see spiders taking up residence in your home, and at American Pest Solutions we've got the tools and the know-how to ensure that your house is buttoned up against winter pests so that you settle in for the long winter in peace and warmth.