Spiders are perceived harmless yet can be quite bothersome. When given a chance, they can invade any area of your home, including your balcony. And among all domestic pests, they are the most prevalent. Furthermore, they have a hideous appearance, which is why most people dismiss them at first glance.
Spiders are known to spin webs in the corners of your balcony, especially between the grills. Cleaning up the area and getting rid of other insects are just a few strategies to keep them from setting up camp on your balcony.
There are also a few tactics you can use to keep spiders away from your balcony. Some of those techniques will be discussed in this post. However, you must first understand the spider behavior to know what parts of the balcony they like to make their hiding spots.
What Attracts House Spiders?
Spiders are primarily attracted to food and dark, sheltered areas. Besides, they feed on flying insects like mosquitoes and flies on your balcony. Humid environments are also appealing to spiders, so you can use a dehumidifier on your patio if you have a serious pest problem.
Since most spiders are drawn to dampness, they seek refuge in basements, crawl spaces, and other damp areas of your home. Other spiders like to live in drier areas like air vents, high upper corners of rooms, and attics. House spiders prefer peaceful, secluded areas where they may obtain food and water.
Which Spiders Are Most Likely to Infiltrate Your Home?
Despite the fact that spiders come in various varieties, the ones that invade your home are harmless. Below are some of the spiders that could invade your home:
- American House Spider generally builds their webs in basements and other closed spaces like your balcony. They are beige or gray with brown spots. They can grow to be the size of a coin. They’re mostly harmless, although they spin a lot of unattractive webs.
- Brown Recluse spiders can be located in dark places and near your clothing. They get into your house through paper bags, among other things. These spiders have an oval brown or grey body that can grow up to a third of an inch in length and have three eye sets. Their bite is poisonous and can cause rashes, fever, and other complications, so you’ll need to seek medical attention if you get bitten by these spiders.
- Long-Bodied Cellar Spider have little circular bodies and are brownish-beige or grey, and are not venomous.
- Jumping Spiders come in various colours, including black, brown, and grey. They’re tiny—about an inch in length and covered with thick hair. They are not venomous, but their bite can be severe and allergic to most people.
- Sac Spiders are about half an inch long and have a yellow-beige colouration. They have eight eyes and don’t produce webs. Their bite can induce edema and allergic reactions even though they are not venomous.
- Wolf Spiders are dark or black and roughly one inch long. Despite their furry legs, these spiders’ bites can cause allergic reactions, so if you’re bitten, visit a doctor.
- Hobo Spiders produce funnel-shaped webs. Their bite can sting a little, but they’re generally harmless.
13 Effective Ways to Keep Spiders Away From the Balcony
Now that you have an idea of the types of spiders that could invade your home, how can you keep them away? Below are 13 ways of keeping spiders away from your balcony.
1. Consider an Electronic Repellent
If you don’t have the time to make a homemade repellent, purchasing an electric repellent at your local store could be the best solution. And please keep in mind that electronic repellents require electricity to function and must be kept near an electric outlet at all times.
And I know how challenging it can be to choose the best electronic repellents. However, you don’t have to be skeptical about purchasing electronic repellents as most of them will get the job done, regardless of where you buy them—so stop overthinking.
Most electronic repellents function by emitting an ultrasonic sound that only spiders can hear—eliminating the need for chemicals. These are usually the most acceptable repellents for families or locations with a lot of stray animals.
2. Use Tobacco
There’s a perception among many people that spiders do not love a surrounding with Tobacco. When utilized correctly, loose tobacco leaves can help keep spiders at bay. All you have to do is distribute their leaves around your balcony, especially potential spiders’ hiding spots.
You can also make tobacco balls by simply combining leaves with water and flour. Once that is done, spread them all over your balcony to drive spiders away. If you have children or dogs, appropriately spray the leaves and make sure the area is out of reach of children and pets.
3. Use Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil, extracted from the eucalyptus tree, is also an excellent remedy for spiders. Prepare a solution of eucalyptus oil and water, then pour it into a spray bottle. After that, squirt the solution all over your balcony.
Furthermore, soaking cotton balls in the mixture and placing them in strategic locations on your balcony is recommended to keep them off your balcony. Eucalyptus oil also repels mosquitoes and snakes, making it a win-win situation for you.
Place eucalyptus springs on areas of your balcony where you’ve spotted spiders before. Because of the eucalyptus tree’s strong aroma, spiders will most likely keep away.
4. Keep Things Clean
Spiders love unkempt places, especially behind boxes and other stationery things where they can set up their shops. Keeping your house tidy and free from clutter is one of the natural remedies to repel spiders.
Cleaning should be done at least once a week, and any boxes and packages should be put away to avoid spiders from spinning on them. Remove any cobwebs that may have accumulated on your balcony.
Besides, cleaning up the exterior part of your home by removing vegetation close to your house’s perimeter can help eliminate breeding and hiding sites for both insects and spiders.
5. Use Cedar
The smell of cedarwood is usually unpleasant to spiders. Therefore, adding cedar mulch around your homestead keeps them away from coming into your compound. Just make sure you are using the correct quality of cedarwood or oil, and you can maintain it.
If you are running out of cash to get cedar mulch, you can use a mixture of cedar oil and water to spray your exterior, and you should do this regularly. Moreover, cedar also has a smell that is an excellent spider repellent and also qualifies as a natural home remedy for spiders.
6. Citrus Peels
Citrus has a deep acetic acidic property that spiders hate, just like mint. Spiders hate the scents from anything citrus—from oranges, lemons to grapefruits. Therefore, to do away with spiders in your house, you need to rub the citrus peels on your doorways, bookshelves, balcony, baseboards etc. The essential smell from leftover peels can save you the cash of purchasing spider repellent.
7. Try Hedge Apples
If any of the remedies above doesn’t work, try the Hedge apples and see if this could work for you—as it has worked for many homeowners.
Hedge apples are fruits of the Osage orange tree, and you can use them to get rid of spiders naturally. Hedge apples are one of the most ancient and practical techniques to keep spiders out of your home.
However, because they are hazardous, it is vital to keep them out of reach of children and pets, if you have any. That said, put on protective clothing, such as gloves when installing them, and wash your hands afterward.
8. Check If There are Any Cracks in Your House
It can be downright frustrating to get rid of spiders when they invade your home in large numbers. Spiders might be able to get in through various cracks and gaps if you have an ancient house. Grab your caulking gun and proceed down to the basement to inspect and seal any cracks.
You should do this around your home’s foundation, as well as at any windows and openings. Filling in any holes you discover makes a significant difference, too.
9. Use Vinegar
Vinegar is an excellent spider repellent as well as a staple in the kitchen pantry. When it comes to removing spiders and ants from your home, vinegar works the same way peppermint oil does.
Spray the gaps in the walls, windowsills, and entrances with a solution of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. This anti-spider spray should be used every day while it’s hot and humid outside.
10. Leverage Borax
Not only does Borax keep ants out, but it also repels spiders by killing them if they get into it. Simply sprinkle some Borax in the locations where spiders are entering and constructing webs. The same can be used between your windows and storm windows and along with the door thresholds.
11. Make Your Patio Unappealing to Spiders
Whether you don’t want spiders around your home or you’re already trying to control the ones already in your compound, the first step is to make your deck spider-proof.
For example, make sure you don’t have any security lights on near your deck. Light attracts various insects that are a food source to spiders. And because of this, the chances are that spiders will be drawn to the light and, as a result, bring them out onto your patio.
To ensure that spiders don’t have any nooks or crannies through which they might enter your home, make sure to fill all holes and cracks around windows and door frames. This is especially critical if you’re dealing with a spider infestation and wish to decrease or eliminate the spiders’ presence within your building.
12. Get a Pet
Since humans first interacted with cats, they have been utilized as hunters, and even the most gentle tabby cat will follow his instincts.
They won’t be able to eliminate the entire spider problem, but any that run across the living room floor will be caught. However, be cautious if you have harmful spiders such as the False Widow in your home, as these can hurt your pets.
13. Keep Everything Properly Sealed
Spiders like to create their webs in open cabinets and cardboard boxes. Keep everything in neatly closed boxes if you’re using a portion of your balcony as a storage place.
To make it more difficult for spiders to access and hide in your balcony, keep everything, from your toolbox to old books, boxed up and on elevated shelves.
Bottom Line
It isn’t challenging to get rid of spiders, but it does take time. All you have to do is follow the appropriate steps and be consistent. Chemical repellents should only be used as a last resort because you must be extra cautious, especially if you have pets and young kids.