How to Kill Spiders from a Distance

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

When your home is invaded by a creepy spider, you may be desperate to get rid of it without actually having to get too close to it. Try vacuuming it up from a distance or spray it with a mixture of white vinegar and water. You could even try to catch and release it outside if you can gather the nerve to get that close. Once you’ve dealt with the immediate problem, take steps to make your home less alluring to spiders in the future.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Eliminating Eight-Legged Pests

PDF download Download Article
  1. Get out your vacuum, plug it in, and set up the attachment. Stand as far away from the spider as you can while still managing to reach it with the vacuum. Turn the machine on and place the end of the attachment over the spider. Take a moment to vacuum any lingering web, too. [1]
    • The force of the suction should kill any spider you vacuum, but to be safe empty the vacuum canister in an outside bin. If the idea of doing so makes you squeamish, ask a friend to help.
  2. Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of water and 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar in a spray bottle. Test how far the spray bottle reaches so you know how close you need to get. Spray the spider repeatedly until it stops moving. [2]
    • The acid in the vinegar will burn and kill the spider.
    • Once the spider is dead, use a vacuum or dustpan and brush to sweep it up and throw it out. Wipe down the wall or area with a damp cloth to clean away the vinegar.
    • You can also use a commercial pesticide spray made for killing spiders. [3]
    Advertisement
  3. Take the broom and push the end up against the spider while swiping downward. If the spider falls before you manage to smash it, you may have to smack it a few times with the broom to kill it.
    • This method might be a little more panic-inducing because there is a chance you’ll simply knock the spider down but not kill it right away.
  4. This is a helpful option if you don’t mind waiting a few days to kill a spider. Set out a few traps in the corners of rooms where you’ve seen spiders. Check the traps every few days and throw them out once they’ve caught the spider or spiders. [4]
    • If you have children or pets, place the traps somewhere they won’t come into contact with them as the glue on some of them can be toxic.
  5. Actual house spiders don’t pose a threat to humans and they can help keep your home free of other pests, like flies, moths, and earwigs. Catching it under a cup and taking it outside is a humane option if you can bring yourself to do it. [5]

    Warning: If you suspect that the spider is a brown recluse or black widow , do not attempt to catch and release it. Kill it with an insecticide made specifically for spiders. If you suspect an infestation, contact a professional exterminator to deal with them.

    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Spider-Proofing Your Home

PDF download Download Article
  1. Keep gutters and hedges clean so they don’t attract spiders. Dark, damp places that attract other bugs are ideal homes for spiders, so take some time to clear out your gutters of fallen leaves and debris every few months. Similarly, clean up fallen leaves and foliage around the perimeter of your home. [6]
    • Spiders normally get into the home through cracks and crevices. Keeping the perimeter clean provides less incentive for them to find those cracks.

    Tip: Always wear sturdy work gloves while clearing out leaves and yard waste. If there are any spiders in there, the gloves should protect you from any potential bites.

  2. Spiders are attracted to light, especially at nighttime. They like to spin their webs in front of light sources so it’s easier for them to catch bugs that fly toward the light. Even just remembering to turn off outside lights when the sun starts to go down can help reduce the number of spiders on the outside of your home, making it less likely that they’ll find their way indoors. [7]
    • Use yellow or sodium vapor lights as an alternative to normal lightbulbs. They attract fewer bugs.
  3. Spray the perimeter of your home with a spider repellent once a week. Use a store-bought product or make one yourself at home. For example, essential oils, like peppermint, can be mixed with water and dish soap and sprayed around windows and doors to help keep spiders at bay. [8]
  4. Web-eliminator sprays make it difficult for spiders to get their webs to stick to different surfaces. Focus the spray on areas where spiders are most likely to hang around, like windows and the corners of rooms. [10]
    • Most sprays will also break down any current webs in or outside your home, making them easier to clean up.
  5. Spiders are repelled by the scent of eucalyptus, but it won’t actually harm them. It also repels cockroaches, mosquitos, fleas, and flies, plus it is usually a pleasing smell to humans. [11]
    • You can buy fresh eucalyptus online or from local garden centers.
    • You could even grow an herb garden outside your home or in a planter outside a window to repel spiders.
  6. Keeping your home clean of cobwebs and other small bugs will provide less incentive for spiders to make their webs inside. Make sure to vacuum your baseboards, in the corners of each room, and in the corners of the windows and doors. [12]
    • If you don’t have time to vacuum every week, at least go around your home with a duster and clean out the corners.
    7. Advertisement

How Do You Kill a Spider From a Distance?


Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What can I do to kill spiders instantly?
    Hussam Bin Break
    Pest Control Professional
    Hussam Bin Break is a Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator and Operations Manager. He and his brother Hussam co-founded Diagno Pest Control in the greater Philadelphia area in 2018, and have since expanded their services to include the New Jersey market. Diagno Pest Control has received Home Advisor's Top Rated and Elite Service Badges for quality of work and customer service.
    Hussam Bin Break
    Pest Control Professional
    Expert Answer
    The best thing you can use are residual pesticides made for spiders since they'll keep working for a short time after using them.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 21
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • If you have frequent infestations of spiders despite your best efforts to keep them at bay, call an exterminator to find the root of the problem.
        Thanks
        Helpful 7 Not Helpful 3
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Get Rid of Common House Geckos
      The Best Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Your Home
      Do You Have Animals in Your Walls? Dealing with Animals in Your Walls or Attic
      How to
      Identify Bed Bug Droppings
      How to
      Kill Roaches with Borax or Boric Acid
      The Best Ways to Get Rid of Silverfish Once and for All
      How to
      Know if You Have Dust Mites
      Mice Extermination: How Experts Eliminate Mice & How Long It Takes
      The Most Effective Ways to Get Rid of Pantry Pests for Good
      How to
      Remove Ladybugs from Your Home and Yard
      How to
      Draw Bed Bugs Out of Hiding
      How to
      Remove Bats from Your Home
      How to
      Drive Away Gnats for Good: Easy DIY Methods
      How to
      Get Rid of Booklice
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/8-facts-about-misunderstood-house-spider
      2. ↑ https://thepestmanagement.com/vinegar-kill-spiders/
      3. ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      4. ↑ https://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/13-natural-ways-to-deal-with-spiders
      5. ↑ https://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/8-facts-about-misunderstood-house-spider
      6. ↑ https://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/13-natural-ways-to-deal-with-spiders
      7. ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef623
      8. ↑ https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/indoor-outdoor-spider-control-guide/
      9. ↑ Hussam Bin Break. Pest Control Professional. Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.
      1. ↑ https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/indoor-outdoor-spider-control-guide/
      2. ↑ https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/indoor-outdoor-spider-control-guide/
      3. ↑ https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef623

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 120,314 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement