Best Spider Repellent for Garage

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Best Spider Repellent for Garage

If you are dealing with spiders in your garage, you know that they can be very unwelcome guests! Many spiders are also poisonous, and can cause itching, rashes, or other symptoms– even death– if you are bitten! You will surely want to get rid of them as efficiently as possible if they are making a home in your garage. Read on to learn how to prevent spiders from infesting your space, as well as how to get rid of them and which repellents work the best.

How to Get Rid of Spiders In Your Garage

There are several different ways that you can either get rid of spiders in your garage or prevent them from returning. Some of these methods achieve both purposes at once! Take a look at the below and begin to implement them as soon as you can for the quickest results. 

Get Rid of Clutter

Clutter can be something that attracts the spiders to the space. Take the time to go through your storage and tidy things up, which can also eliminate potential hiding places for both the pests that the spiders feed on and the spiders themselves. It can also be helpful if you continue to organize your clutter, even when you are not dealing with pests. This can prevent a buildup of clutter and can help to prevent infestations in the first place.

Cardboard boxes are something that can often be found in your garage, and boxes– or even piles of broken-down boxes– can be a great place for spiders to spin their webs. 

Related – Get Black Widows out of Your Garage

Clean Up

It is crucial that you not only go through and organize your clutter– and get rid of everything you can– but that you actually clean the garage, too, in the form of a deep clean. This can help to get rid of any dirt or grime that could be appealing to spiders– as well as any nests or other hiding spaces that you may have missed when cutting down on your clutter. Be very thorough in your clean. Sweep the floors, remove any spilled food or chemicals, and deal with any dirt or grime. You should also scrub the floor afterwards, and remove any firewood that you are storing inside, as this can be the perfect hiding spot for bugs. 

It is wise to clear out the garage first so that you can more thoroughly clean the space, instead of cleaning around fixtures or storage. 

Look for Holes or Cracks

It’s also important to look at how the spiders are getting into your garage in the first place! If you do not deal with this issue, it is entirely likely that more spiders will simply come into the space, leaving you no better off than you were before you dealt with the first wave of pests. Spiders are fairly small creatures, so it is easy for them to get into a space through cracks, holes, or gaps that you may have assumed were too small for any pests to gain entry.

Once you are able to assess the space and find any entrance points, you can patch them up or seal them with a number of products, such as putty– larger holes may need the attention of a contractor. 

Check Your Doors and Windows

This is a method that is similar to the one above, where we discuss sealing any holes and cracks in the walls that you may find. Holes and gaps may also occur underneath the doors and windows of your garage. For instance, the weatherstripping here– typically located around windows and underneath doors to keep the elements out– can deteriorate. This then creates holes and gaps where pests can get through. Even the smallest gap can easily allow small pests like insects and spiders into a space. 

You should make sure that all of your garage windows have screens and that they fit properly, too. Be sure to keep your garage doors and windows closed as often as possible to avoid letting in pests

Deal With Pests

Other pests are what is often attracting spiders to your space, so getting rid of these will help to get rid of the spiders, too. Insects like flies or crickets are often tempting food sources for spiders– so, if your garage is already crawling with them, spiders may move into the space, too, in order to take better advantage of the abundant food source. You can get rid of these pests by spraying, setting traps, or calling an exterminator, depending on the nature of the pests and the level of the infestation.

Best Spider Repellents for Your Garage

If you are looking at spraying your garage to kill or deter spiders, the options on the market can be overwhelming. There are some sprays that you can buy, as well as some great natural deterrents that you can make with the items in your pantry or some of the items you can easily purchase at a health food store. Read on for some of the best of both options.

Commercial Sprays

Commercial sprays are, of course, the first option that comes to mind for most. They are specifically formulated to kill spiders and can be found at home improvement stores or many garden centers. Some of these include Miss Muffet’s Revenge, which comes in a large 64-ounce bottle, and Raid House & Garden Spray, which comes in an aerosol can. The best commercial spray for you will partially depend on the size of the space you need to cover. You should also be careful not to spray when pets or children are around, and keep the space well ventilated if necessary, too, to avoid inhaling the fumes and being sick. 

Vinegar

Vinegar can be an easy way to deal with a spider infestation because vinegar is so harmful to spiders’ bodies that it will kill them on impact. It is also a cheap method– most of us probably have a bottle of vinegar in the pantry. You can simply put the vinegar in a spray bottle and then spray the spiders to kill them instantly. However, this may not be the most effective or efficient method if you are dealing with a very large or tough infestation, as you have to go around the space with the spray bottle and target each spider individually. 

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil is another natural remedy, and if you do not already have it, you can get it easily at your local health food store. This does not necessarily kill the spiders, but it is displeasing to them and can prevent them from returning to your garage. You can apply peppermint oil to your garage in one of two ways. You can use the spray bottle method and dilute the oil with water in order to spray the perimeter and any other areas where you have noticed spiders. You can also soak cotton balls in the oil and place these along the perimeter or in corners and other dark hiding spots.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep spiders out of my garage?

There are plenty of ways that you can take measures to keep spiders out of your garage. Some of these include removing other pests, like flies, which can be seen as a food source for spiders, and checking for cracks or other ways that the spiders could be entering the space. Getting rid of trash, clutter, or cardboard boxes can help, too. 

How do I get rid of spiders in my detached garage?

Luckily, if you have pests like spiders in your detached garage, you have a lower risk of them making their way into the house itself next. Still, you will want to get rid of them so that you can use your garage space to the fullest. An easy way to get rid of spiders in the detached garage is to spray spider repellent. Concentrate on spraying it along the windows, walls, and floors, as well as anywhere else you have seen spiders.

Why do I have spiders in my garage?

Spiders may be attracted to garages because they are dark and quiet, so they feel safe. If you are already experiencing a pest issue, you may see an uptick in spiders who have come into the garage to feed on the other pests. Garage spaces often meet a spider’s basic needs of food and shelter, and can also be a good place to lay their eggs, because they are protected from the outside elements. 

Should I kill spiders in my garage?

You can try to catch and release a spider if you find it in your garage, but it and its friends may simply try to return if you are still offering optimal living conditions for spiders. If you are experiencing many spiders in your garage, or an infestation, it is better to spray for spiders and kill them– or contact an exterminator– in order to ensure that you will be rid of them. 

James from the Privateers Garage
About the author

Lucas is one of the core writers and researchers for the Privateers Garage. He lives in Canada and Arizona and has two Garages. He loves writing about garage living, tech and getting stuff done. He is also a professional musician and sound guy.