Spiders are fascinating creatures. Most spiders are hunters, builders, and protectors of our ecosystems. Still, we don’t want spiders in our homes.

Why? Well – it’s simple. We could speak to the damage spiders can cause to the house, the health risks spider infestations may cause, or the typical annoyance of dealing with pest infestations in general.

No matter the reason – most people do not consider spiders their ideal roommates – especially when they visit in large groups.

Read more for valuable tips on how to prevent eight-legged intruders on your property and throughout your home all year long.

When Is Spider Season?

Spiders are a threatening pest year-round in the Pacific Northwest due to the climate and changing weather throughout the seasons. Spider’s activity levels change along with the change in seasons and temperatures.

Typical Spider Season Activity:

The first part of spider season seen at PNW pest control companies like Pest Pros is in June and July. During the late spring, Pest Pros receives about 25% of our annual spider pest control calls. 

In the spring, you may see many baby spiders ballooning and searching for food after a long winter. Your home could be a viable location in which to find meals.

In later summer, spider activity increases as fall weather changes the temperature and moisture in the air. Pest Pros receives about 60% of our spider control calls around late August through early October.

Spiders are most visible during this time because they are looking to mate. They dedicate more time to finding partners instead of hiding. Once female spiders mate, they find large, spacious areas to lay their eggs. Houses, garages, and other dry areas are often ideal spaces for spiders to do so. 

The other 15% of spider pest control calls are at various times of the year. Although Pest Pros sees a flux in the number of spider pest control calls throughout the year, Pest Pros is always happy to inspect and offer prevention services every month of the year.

Pest Pros suggests that every homeowner receive pest control prevention services in the winter to ensure their home is ready for the seasons to come.

When Should I Prepare For Spider Season?

The answer to the above question revolves more around formulating an effective long-term spider control strategy.

All spider preparation strategies or plans are designed with proactivity in mind. This way, you aren’t reactively putting a band-aid solution on a problem that will persist. You will want to invest in spider prevention strategies from the start to ensure spider and pest issues remain at bay.

So, if you’re wondering how to get rid of spiders long-term, your preemptive efforts should begin in winter.

In the previous section, we noted that we receive most calls in spring and fall. Spider populations don’t spontaneously balloon when we receive our calls – it just means that they are more active during this time.

In the less busy months, spiders are hiding, waiting for warmer weather to come. They may find shelter in areas that offer warmer temperatures.

Most spider eggs can’t survive freezing temperatures meaning there is less chance of spiders roaming your home during November, December, and January. If the eggs can survive, the laid eggs may hatch when temperatures rise – resulting in an increase in spider infestations in the Spring.

You’ll limit your spider pest control issues by hiring a pest control company in winter. This prevents their population sizes from ballooning and getting rid of spider infestations in your house in the spring and fall.

Types of Spiders

 Are you familiar with the types of spiders commonly found in Seattle and Portland homes and businesses?

Cellar Spiders

• Cellar spiders have quarter-inch bodies with half-inch legs. They are often seen in basements, bathrooms, and kitchens since they prefer humid spaces for nesting. You’ll likely find these spiders year-round.

Giant House Spiders

• One of the most enormous spiders in the US, the up-to-five-inch Giant House spider is also incredibly fast. They’re often visible in basements and garages – mostly found in the fall. Giant House spiders also tend to be most active at night time. 

Jumping Spiders

• These half-inch spiders aren’t afraid of being seen and are regularly visible on your walls, floors, and windows. Jumping spiders can leap up to 40 times their body length. You’ll most often see a jumping spider in the spring or summer.

Orb Weaver Spiders

• Orb Weavers can be a variety of colors; most commonly seen to be gray, orange, black, and brown. Known for weaving webs to catch prey, these spiders build their orbs in gardens, bushes, and houses. These spiders are more visible in spring but grow in prevalence in the fall as their webs grow larger. 

Wolf Spiders

• These large, hairy spiders are among the most dangerous Pacific Northwest residents will encounter. Wolf spiders are known to bite which could cause pain, however, are not life-threatening. You may encounter a wolf spider in your home in the fall.

Yellow Sac Spiders

• While these pale yellow spiders don’t often find their way into your home, they’ve been known to nestle under furniture and into tight indoor spaces. You’ll see Yellow Sac spiders mainly between April and November.

Best Practices On How To Keep Spiders Away

You’ll save yourself endless headaches by working with a spider pest control expert who works in homes (or businesses) like your own. Not only can a pest control specialist with years of experience and training provide promising spider infestation solutions but can also offer advice for preventing spiders specific to your situation.

Pest control for spiders can be complex. Managing it strictly through DIY efforts may only provide temporary positive outcomes. You may only mask a steadily worsening problem.

One clear advantage of partnering with professionals like Pest Pros is regularly scheduled maintenance. Pest control for spiders is an ongoing effort.

Our team creates effective strategies based on your home’s unique structure, layout, and location to keep spiders at bay throughout the year. 

While working with a specialist, you can utilize DIY efforts to maintain an environment that isn’t conducive to spider infestations. We’ll discuss some of those approaches below.

Tips To Prevent Spider Infestation At Home

Here are some DIY tips to aid in your overall spider prevention plan (that includes working with a pest control specialist):

• Routine clean-up of crumbs and food debris that can build up around baseboards typically found in kitchens, dining areas, and pet food dish areas.
• Routine cleaning of living areas – especially enclosed corners where furniture may cover an ideal dark and quiet area for spiders to reside.
• Eliminate cluttered spaces from your home. Remove recyclables and trash, and leave your firewood outside. 
• Botanical cleaners, vinegar, and natural citrus odors may help reduce indoor spider activity. 

Although some evidence indicates the use of botanical cleaners and natural citrus odors is an effective way to rid your home of spiders; there is a lack of widespread evidence that DIY remedies can resolve spider infestations. 

Occasional cleaning, vacuuming, or dusting of these areas will also encourage spiders to find their way back outside – where they belong.

What Is Spider Pest Control?

We provide multiple forms of spider pest control at Pest Pros.

One of those forms of pest control is spraying insecticide to create a perimeter (or spider barrier) around your home or business. This spider prevention method blocks entrances around typical access points.

However, removing spiders is necessary before using prevention tactics. In this instance, we’ll eliminate spiders from wherever they may be in your home.

Known as exclusion services: beyond removing the spiders, our specialists will identify entry points and recommend the appropriate steps to stop future infestations.

Spider Control Near Me

The return on investment from professional pest control services is rooted in the money you save. Yes–there are upfront costs. Yet, these expenses are worth a spider-free home over the years. 

Here at Pest Pros, our pest control experts help home and business owners keep unwanted pests away. We stand by our work – if a spider infestation comes back after regular maintenance and exclusion, we’ll come back to ensure no spider is left behind. ]

Ready to get rid of your spider infestation? Give us a call to learn more about our services and the areas we serve or fill out this form to receive a free estimate today.