You might have a well-fenced home, reliable security systems, and even a couple of guard dogs patrolling your home. But believe me, even with all these, some invaders will always sneak into your home – and unnoticed.
And yes, you guessed it right – the spiders! Even the most vigilant soldier armed to the teeth won’t keep these unwelcome guests off your home. But fortunately, unlike armed robbers, you can easily handle spiders without dialing 911.
So yes, you just noticed that you are sharing a roof with these intruders. They are even beginning to build their “houses” within your home. But you have an idea – you want to use Lysol to destroy your invaders. But does Lysol kill spiders? Let’s find out.
Can Lysol Kill Spiders?
Yes, Lysol can kill spiders. But there’s more information hiding behind that answer! You see, while Lysol is a good killer of mold, germs, and bacteria, it doesn’t exhibit the same potency when it comes to spiders.
No, we aren’t trying to revert what we’ve already said. No, not at all! You can rely on Lysol to do away with your now unwanted home mates. However, you can expect to bid goodbye to about 1/2 bottle worth amount of Lysol for every spider you bring down.
Let’s be honest with ourselves here – who among us would be willing to spend all that on a single spider? That could translate to hundreds of liters of Lysol used if your home experiences a heavy spider infestation like mine.
You definitely won’t be ready to part with that much! Not even when you spot the venomous black widow! You’d rather use some object to smash it than watch it die slowly (or even escape) as you relentlessly siphon your bottle of Lysol upon it.
So yes, as much as there are some chances of spiders dying from exposure to Lysol, it isn’t the best weapon for the job. It’s inefficient, costly, and very much less effective to the extent that your spider could still comfortably, shamelessly, and majestically crawl away as you watch.
With that said, it’s better to find an alternative way to deal with your enemies. We have several other household products that can act more efficiently to do away with your attackers. We have all that coming in the later sections of our articles. But before we get there, let’s first see if Lysol can effectively do away with other types of bugs.
Does Lysol Kill Bed Bugs?
Yes, Lysol does kill bed bugs. But again, much like spiders, you’ll need to part with a decent amount of Lysol before you can part with a single bug. But if you don’t have any problem with the amount that goes into the process, then you surely can use Lysol to get rid of the clever little bloodsuckers.
To begin with, let’s first closely examine Lysol’s composition. Now, when you look at the label on your Lyson’s bottle, expect to see the following ingredients;
- Ethanol
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Lactic Acid
All of these are the must-include components for Lysol. You may have noticed that most of them are disinfecting agents in themselves. That’s what makes the product tough on bacteria, viruses, germs, and other unwanted microorganisms.
But again, that doesn’t mean they display an equal amount of power on the larger organisms like bed bugs and spiders. No, that’s not the case! While Lysol can still do away with the bugs hiding in your bed, it’s just not a specialist at it.
Actually, to kill a bedbug using Lysol, you’ll need to spray a good amount of this product directly on the bug. But that’s not easy to achieve, given the fact that bed bugs hide from humans and are undoubtedly too good at it.
Again, even when possible to smother all bedbugs in this cleaner, that won’t guarantee safety from the upcoming generation. You see, where there are bed bugs, there must be eggs. In fact, each female bedbug will lay as many as 500 eggs in its lifetime, a lot from one.
Unfortunately, Lysol is neither good for the eggs. Hence, even if you successfully eliminate the current bugs with Lysol, that will only offer a short-term solution. After the eggs hatch, you’ll all again be back into the same problem – and this time with hungrier bugs for your blood.
Does Lysol Kill Cockroaches?
Yes, Lysol can kill cockroaches only if you spray a large amount of it on the insect. Lysol has some chemicals that can somehow trouble insects like a cockroach to death. But again, that will require you to expose the insects to a significant amount of this spray.
In fact, with their increased resistance to chemical sprays, don’t be surprised when you use an entire can of Lysol (or even several) to spray on the infestation and fail to spot one dead roach.
Unlike bed bugs, cockroaches may appear more relaxed around humans. But immediately after you pull that trigger to spray, they are good at escaping. In fact, they are even faster than bedbugs and will most of the time disappear without you soaking them with enough amount of Lysol to make them die.
So yes, if you are thinking of using Lysol for killing spiders, bedbugs, or cockroaches, you better think again. Lysol isn’t just good enough to free your home from infestation by either.
But again, that doesn’t make it useless. It does well when you use it for its primary job. But for other side jobs like killing bugs, you can’t rely on it – and judging it on that basis would be unfair of you.
That aside, back to the problem you have at hand. How do you get rid of the spider infestation that’s slowly colonizing you in your space? Keep reading for more of that!
What Kills Spiders Instantly?
You can kill spiders instantly by squishing them with an object or tissue, spraying an insecticide for spiders, or using several other mechanisms. Actually, it’s up to you to choose what method works best for you.
You see, there’s nothing wrong with smashing a spider with an object when you see it. It’s the cheapest and the most reliable way to get rid of these creatures. But before you rush into that Arachne, first calculate the risk! Avoid using this method for poisonous spiders. You could land yourself in trouble!
Again, you can’t go around mercilessly killing every spider in your home. First, it won’t work for large infestations. Secondly, that’s a ruthless approach. It will be more humane to use other ways of killing spiders. For instance, you can use commercial sprays or improvised methods.
Does Killing a Spider Attract More?
No, killing your current spider infestation won’t attract more. Although it still could, that will be indirect. The only thing that may bring spiders to the corpse of their fellows is to feed on insects showing up to feed the dead spiders. But if there aren’t any scavenging bugs around, then don’t expect to see spiders come close.
You might have heard claims that some spiders release pheromones when killed to notify others. However, that’s not scientifically proven. In fact, by taking a deeper dig on exploring more about spiders, you can tell that to be incorrect.
Generally, most spiders are solitary beings. Sure, we still have a few that live in groups of hundreds called colonies. But for the ones building cobwebs in your space, they lead independent lives. They don’t have siblings, friends, cousins, or other close members to communicate with when in danger.
As such, when next you spread several spiders dead, don’t worry that others might come for revenge. They may still show up, but that will be to hunt for their food from the bountiful number of insects attracted to the corpses.
What Attracts Spiders To Your Home?
Knowing what attracts spiders to your home is one way to win the next battle before it begins. Spiders will come to your home for nourishment, refuge, mating reasons, and of course, for some lone time.
On nourishment, spiders will find themselves at your place in their pursuit of food. When you notice more bugs in your space, that’s an early sign that spider infestation could be on the way. Mosquitoes, flies, moths, and other itsy-bitsy insects make a bud-enticing delicacy for spiders.
Sometimes spiders will come to your house for the same reason you do when the weather gets real tough – refuge! Yes, spiders hate inclement weather conditions just as much as you do. They’ll do all it takes to move to a cozier environment – your home in this case – when there’s unfavorable weather.
Others will move in to make your home theirs. The moment their egg-laying season rolls around, spiders begin to look for the safest places for their eggs. Yes, just so you know, spider moms are just as caring for their young ones as our own moms!
Best Household Items That Kill Spiders?
For whatever reason that might have attracted spiders in your home, one thing remains abundantly clear – they are unwelcome! That’s why you are here searching for techniques for killing spiders effectively.
And yes, we have several household items good at that work;
Option 1: Bleach
Although famous for laundry applications, that’s not the only area where you can use bleach. And yes, one of the other areas is getting rid of spiders. The acid in this household cleaner is the “active ingredient” when using it as a pesticide.
It will destroy anything it lands on, and that includes spiders. A solution consisting of one part of bleach for every three parts of water is enough to bring your spider problem to an end. But beware, the acidic nature of bleach also makes it dangerous to humans (a bit, though) and the surface it touches.
Option 2: Windex
The next time you spot an Arachne and the only option you have within your disposal is Windex, count yourself lucky! This household product is competent for the task when you spray it directly on the insect.
But again, don’t expect it to work immediately. After you spray the spiders, wait a bit. You’ll notice the spider curling up and eventually dying. So yes, Windex works but with a little patience added to it.
Option 3: Febreze
Perhaps your bleach bottle ran out the last time you were doing laundry. You also don’t have Windex within your reach. The only option you have is Febreze. And yes, much like the predecessors, Febreze is lethal to spiders.
In this household product, there are two killer ingredients for spiders. There’s the hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin and Benzisothiazolinone. Just douse your target spider with Febreze to kill it. In fact, the best thing about this product is that it doesn’t leave any terrible smell you’d have to deal with when using other products.
Other Options
You can also use hairspray to help you kill the spider. The product won’t kill it, but it will glue the legs and the body as you look for a way to eliminate it. Spraying vinegar solution (equal parts of vinegar and water) will drive spiders from your home and keep them from coming back.
Alternatively, you can prevent a spider infestation by clearing any other bugs in your space. Use Borax for killing termites, roaches, and other insects that may lure spiders into your home.
Final Verdict
Lysol is effective for killing germs and bacteria. But it doesn’t perform as well for spiders and other bugs. As such, when you have a spider infestation, you better look for more efficient ways of doing the job.
Fortunately, there are several household products ideal for the job. Bleach, Windex, and Febreze all suffice. As for vinegar, it won’t kill but will drive the spiders away and repel. You also can use hairspray to keep the spider put as you look for a way to kill it.