How To Keep Spiders Out of Your Bedroom

You may have everything in order for a great night’s sleep: a comfy bed, fresh sheets, a Feng Shui interior – the list goes on. But, there’s one thing that’s out of your control and proving to be a bit of a pest – giant house spiders.

Particularly after wet, humid weather during the end of summer/beginning of autumn, you may find that these amorous arachnids will enter your home, either ready to lay their eggs or still looking for partners. Although UK spiders are relatively harmless (some can nip, but they’re not poisonous!), they can cause major discomfort and be a fear for many people. 

Natural spider repellents, using specific oils, and keeping your space clean are some ways to prevent spiders from invading your area. Read on to discover how to keep spiders away from your bed.

From DIY hacks to natural repellents and professional help, we’ve put together a list of ways to keep those eight-legged friends at bay.

1. Plug-in spider repellents

These plug-ins work with ultrasonic sounds – high-frequency noise that deters spiders and other insects but is silent to the human ear. Ultrasonic sound is thought to be discomforting for spiders and creepy crawlies, causing them to leave the room. 

2. Essential oils

Peppermint is said to be the most effective essential oil for deterring spiders. You can mix several drops of it with some water in a spray bottle and spritz it around the room. Spiders don’t like the smell, so they’ll vacate and steer clear. There’s also a trick of using soaked peppermint tea bags in the corners of your bedroom – this one is probably not so good for those of you with carpeted floors. 

3. Add cedar wood to your home

It may surprise you that cedar is a very effective insect repellant. In fact, studies have shown that ants have been repelled by the compounds in this lumber and that ticks even died after exposure to higher doses! With its history of use in mothproof furniture, it makes sense that it would also act as a deterrent to arachnids, so consider picking up some of this multi-tasking wood if you’re sick of webs everywhere.

4. Get a pet

This may be an extreme option for dealing with spiders, but bear with us. Many pets, such as cats and dogs, will hunt down insects around the house and get rid of them for you. Usually, this is flies, but they’re not really against tracking down a wayward spider. Now, a pet won’t prevent spiders from getting into the home, but it will make a difference when it comes to handling them once inside.

5. Cleaning regularly

Spiders like to find warm, quiet places to hide and spin webs, so by regularly dusting and vacuuming you’re less likely to find them getting comfy in your bedroom. It’s time to get your Hinch on. 

6. Use a door sweep

Talking of doors, this is a simple spider-repellent trick that also doubles up as insulation. Install a door sweep on your bedroom door to prevent spiders and other insects from creeping underneath.

7. Patch entry points

Make sure tiny gaps are sealed off to keep spiders away from your house and prevent them from getting into your bedroom. Use sealants such as caulk in keyholes, under doors or around windows, electrical wiring, and any other gaps you find in walls.

8. Avoid eating in bed

No matter how careful you are, the odd toast crumb is going to make it onto your bedsheets, and this will attract insects. Spiders will then be attracted to these insects, and you’ll soon find yourself sharing your bed with creepy crawlies. 

9. Keep your outside lights off

Any insects or bugs are attracted to light, making it a field day for spiders. By keeping your outside lights off, you’ll be less likely to attract any creepy crawlies through door cracks and open windows. 

10. Call in an exterminator

If all else fails you can always get help from professionals to repel spiders from your bedroom. Whether you’re faced with a persistent problem or find yourself around a poisonous spider, call for help. 

This is not usually required on British soil, as we’re lucky not to have venomous spiders in the UK. However, we do have False Widow spiders, and these can bite. If you find yourself face to face with a False Widow, you can call in pest control to keep you and your family safe. 

In a nutshell, keeping spiders out of your home is all about knowing why they come in and taking simple steps to stop them. By spotting common UK spiders like house spiders and False Widows, you can handle them better. Clean regularly, seal up cracks, and use natural repellents to keep your home cosy and spider-free.

We can expand on this further – spiders are very sensitive to vibrations when it comes to navigating their surroundings, something that sleeping humans often do through snoring or moving while asleep. Add in the fact that humans are not a typical spider’s prey, and you get a combination that keeps them away (most of the time, anyway).

Not only that, but when it comes to sensitivity, human skin is incredibly receptive to touch, even for something as small as a spider. So, if one were crawling on your face, you’d likely wake up before it could get close to your mouth. So, while we can’t guarantee it wouldn’t happen, as the experts say, it is very unlikely.

Even though spiders may not go near your mouth, it doesn’t mean they won’t enter your bedroom, especially after humid weather at the beginning of autumn. If you’re wondering why spiders are in your home in the first place or what may attract spiders, it’s mainly down to the weather. 

During autumn, male spiders in the UK will seek out warm and dry places like our bedrooms. Dr Chris Terrell-Nield says: “The males are up to 10cm across the leg span and can be the size of your hand…”. Yikes! 

“But hold on,” you may be saying. “It’s summer right? Why are the spiders coming into my home now?” The answer is simple. Spiders are fragile creatures, and what may be a slight shift in the weather for us (such as the change from a sunny day to an absolute washout) can be devastating for them. Not only that, but it may falsely trigger a seasonal change early, making them move ahead of schedule.

In other words, if it gets too warm, cold, or even too rainy, expect spiders to seek shelter from the elements, much like in our homes.

Other reasons spiders might be in your home are:

• It’s mating season: Spiders look for the best living areas and breeding conditions, so inside your warm and dry home is a great option. If your place has little nooks and hidden places, it’s also excellent for egg-laying.
• They need nourishment: Spiders will come into your home if you have good food and water for insects. Protect those bananas and apples.
• Accessible areas: Small cracks and holes in your home mean accessible areas for insects and spiders to crawl through.
• You bring them in yourself: If you love a charity shop haul and suddenly see many spiders in your home, it could be that they entered through your purchases. Whether it’s a designer sofa or a vintage handbag, a wayward egg sac could be attached.

Now we know why they get in; it’s down to the how. And the sad truth is… that often, they will simply walk in. Whether through an open door, window, air vent, or a crack in your home’s architecture, if there is a chance to scoot inside, a spider will take it.

The second way is less common but no less prevalent. Spiders will often hitchhike onto other items to make their way inside your home. We mentioned charity shop finds before, but this isn’t the only way. It can sometimes happen during a big house move, where spiders are inside your boxes and belongings and then are shipped from one house to another. Sometimes, this can be from things outside being brought in – especially common with firewood, plants and camping equipment. So, before bringing them inside, thoroughly inspect them to ensure you don’t see any creepy crawlies.

While there are about 650 species of spiders in the UK, most of them will not make their way into your home. In fact, according to the Natural History Museum, there are six types that are most commonly seen in homes around the UK – and the good news is that they’re all relatively harmless. At worst, you’ll get a little bite, but that’s uncommon.

Here’s the list of our most common eight-legged lodgers:

1. House Spider: House spiders are big and easy to spot with their brown heads and tan abdomens that often have a cool ‘herringbone’ pattern. They love dark, quiet places like basements and attics and are pretty fast movers.
2. False Widow Spiders: These spiders look a bit like black widows but aren’t as nasty. They’re dark with some light markings and can give a bite that’s more annoying than harmful. You’ll often find them in dry, sheltered spots around urban areas.
3. Missing Sector Orb Web Spider: These little spiders have pale bodies and legs with silver-grey markings. They make unique, asymmetrical webs, usually with a missing part. You’ll see them in gardens and near windows catching small bugs.
4. Daddy Long Legs Spider: With tiny grey bodies and super long, thin legs, daddy long legs spiders are harmless and like to hang out in room corners or garages. Their webs are messy and irregular, but they help keep other pests in check.
5. Zebra Jumping Spider: Small but bold, zebra jumping spiders are black and white striped. They move in a jerky, ‘start and stop’ way. They don’t make webs but hunt for prey on walls and windowsills, especially in sunny spots.
6. Lace Web Spider: Medium-sized and brown with yellowish markings, lace web spiders weave intricate, lace-like webs. They hang out in garden walls and fences, mainly coming out at night to catch insects, helping your garden stay pest-free.