How to Get Rid of Spiders in Basement: 7 Proven Ways

Spiders love basements because they tend to be dark and moist. But you can do things to help keep them out!
By
Phyllis McMahon
Phyllis McMahon
Research Writer
Phyllis teaches English Literature at a local college and loves writing in her free time. She’s also a great cook – her British beef Wellington is something the best res read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Chas Kempf
Chas Kempf
Expert Consultant
Chas works in a professional pest control company and knows all the nuances of this job. Also, he’s a fantastic tennis player and loves to organize BBQ parties for his fam read more
Last updated: August 14, 2023
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Very few people just love spiders. In fact, a good number of people are frightened of them. Others tolerate them but don’t really want them hanging out in their homes. Sometimes it seems that places like the garage or basement are welcome spots for spiders and you end up with a whole lot of them there. Why is that?

Chances are your basement is dark and moist and maybe even has a lot of storage for spiders to hide in. This is almost like a spider’s dream home. There are some great methods for how to get rid of spiders in the basement or how to keep spiders out of the basement.

In this guide, we will share with you some great methods, tips, and even a few DIY solutions that might just help keep those creepy crawlers away for you. Read on!

How to Keep Spiders out of Basement

The first way to identify and solve this problem is to figure out why they are there. What is it that attracts the spiders to your space? You want to get rid of spiders in the basement but you also want to figure out how to prevent them from coming to the basement, to begin with.

First, consider the type of environment spiders prefer to live in. It may not be exactly the same for every type of spider but in general, they like to be able to hide. They also like to have food and moisture readily available to them. Many spiders also like warmth.

Your basement provides moisture, hiding spots, and probably easy food access too. To work to keep them out, you first need to know how to get rid of big spiders in the basement. If you need to get rid of some spiders, you could try using one of these best foggers for spiders. They will eliminate them and then you can keep them out with these tips.

Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Basement: 7 Proven Ways
This high-frequency sound causes confusion, seizures, and eventual death for the unwanted living organisms that stay around the ultrasonic repellers.

One of the best repellent tools that you might want to try is an ultrasonic pest repeller. Not only do these things help keep spiders away but they also will repel mice, ants, bugs, and plenty of other pests too.

Whether you’re trying to learn how to keep rid of spiders in a finished basement or you need to know how to get rid of spiders in an unfinished basement, this little tool can help. It’s safe with no chemicals used whatsoever.

The device uses an ultrasonic sound wave that these small pests can’t stand so they stay away from it. It won’t harm your pets but will repel small critters and pests like spiders. This option from Sroker is a great find to consider!

Natural Repellent

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Basement: 7 Proven Ways
Studies have shown that sandalwood and mint oil work the best in repelling spiders.

You could stick with a natural repellent instead of using soundwaves or chemicals. There are several things that you might have in your pantry or you could use this natural repellent from the Mighty Mint Store for the same effect.

  1. Citrus
  2. Cinnamon
  3. Essential Oils (especially peppermint oil)
  4. Garlic
  5. Spanish Chestnut

Each of these natural repellents works because their odors are pungent to spiders. They don’t like them and therefore will often stay well away from them. You could spread them around in problem areas or with things like essential oils and citrus, you could make a natural spray to use.

Some people like to put Spanish chestnuts around the perimeter of their homes or near doors and windows for a simple solution.

Spider Insecticides

One of the top choices for how to keep spiders out of the basement is a spider insecticide. Check out these best outdoor spider sprays for some quality options that have been shown to work well.  These treatments are targeted with chemicals and other repellents that not only will make spiders want to stay away but will help you with how to get rid of spiders in the basement bedroom or other spaces that might already be there.

Insecticides will kill anything there and then repel. It sets up a barrier around the spaces it is used. These solutions typically have to be applied once or twice a year to be most effective.

When you’re using sprays like these, be sure to pay close attention to the instructions. Some sprays are specifically designed for outdoor use while others can be used inside. You may want to try both types or you may find a really great solution for just one type that you love.

Another option with insecticides is to bring in a professional exterminator. If the concept of using these sprays as how to get rid of spiders in the basement makes you nervous, a professional can do it for you. They will spray in problem areas inside and spray outside.

Spider Traps

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Basement: 7 Proven Ways
Traps are an excellent way to capture and kill a large number of spiders and other crawling insects.

Spider traps can be an effective tool for approaching hot to get rid of wolf spiders in the basement. Wolf spiders can sometimes get large and they might be your most common suspect in the basement. Their size often unnerves people so you certainly don’t want to leave them to make themselves at home!

You can use any options from these best traps for spiders and get great results. The traps work naturally without any sprays as well. You can set them up throughout your home and basement and they will stop spiders in their tracks quite literally.

They often have something in them that attracts spiders but you can also put them in places that are prone to seeing spiders. When the spider walks into the trap, it will be unable to walk out of it. There are different kinds of traps and different styles or sizes.

The only downside is you might have to look at the trap full of spiders and dispose of them or change them out regularly.

Seal Cracks and Entry Points

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Basement: 7 Proven Ways
Use a caulking gun to seal gaps around foundation penetrations for a better result.

Next up, you can learn how to get rid of black spiders in the basement or other types of spiders too. Sealing up cracks and other entry points will help not only get rid of spiders but also as a method how to keep spiders out of the basement.

This is all about being proactive and making sure they have no welcome entry point into the basement, to begin with. If you are going to seal cracks and entry points, you will want to do it throughout the basement but also the rest of the home as well.

Any type of crack, small hole, or gap near the windows and doors, gives an ideal place for spiders to creep in. This project might take some time. You’re going to need to do some deep searching to seal up all the spots. If you see spiders along the way, try also spraying natural repellents or some insecticides to get rid of spiders in the basement.

For sealing purposes, use something like caulking, wood filler, or even a spray sealant to close them up and seal them well.

Remove Clutter

If your basement has a lot of storage in it, you need to tidy it up some. Many people use their basements for storage purposes because it’s out of sight and easy to access. However, try tidying it up so that it’s not cluttered and full of spider-hiding spaces.

You can use shelves and plastic totes or bins to help organize the storage you do have. Avoid cardboard boxes and lots of clutter or piles spread out. These often become spider hidey-hole. This is a great time for some spring cleaning and maybe throwing out some of that stuff that you haven’t used in years.

It’s a win-win, right?

When you finish this project, you will ideally have anything you need storing properly organized and put away. And maybe you will feel refreshed about how much stuff you were able to get rid of too. Once you remove clutter, you may want to follow up with some other repellent methods too.

Move Wood Piles

There are a few types of wood that spiders don’t like. One of those is cedar. However, spiders are typically attracted to other types of wood and it’s a natural habitat for them. When you have your stacks of wood or wood piles near the home, it only makes sense that it will invite them into the basement.

If you want to know how to get rid of spiders in the basement, this is one way to keep them away from the beginning. We get it. You’re stacking wood to be prepared for operating a woodstove or fireplace throughout the winter but that wood attracts a variety of pests, which inherently attracts spiders.

Instead of stacking it near the home or up against the home, try using an outdoor shed or stacking it somewhere outside that isn’t right up against the home. You need to stack wood but you also need to find an alternative place that isn’t in the basement or against the walls of the home.

Get Rid of Other Pests

Spiders are attracted to locations that have food. If your basement has anything that could be a spider food source, it’s going to welcome them. So, in order to learn how to keep spiders out of the basement, you first need to keep other bugs and pests out.

You can do this in several different ways. Try using repellents, traps, or even the ultrasonic repelling units we shared earlier.

Remove Spider Webs

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Basement: 7 Proven Ways
Removing spider webs is also a signal to the spiders to find a new property as you are already on a mission of stopping spider invasion and controlling other pests.

Spider webs are a home for these creepers. If you want to get rid of spiders, you need to get rid of their homes too. Spider webs are the homes the spiders cling to. Cobwebs are just signs that spiders have traveled through the area and they used the cobwebs to do it.

Keep the Basement Clean

We went through a lot of effort earlier to declutter the basement. Now, you need to focus on really trying to keep it clean. If you let it get dirty, it can become a prime space for spiders yet again and you will need to go through the process to get rid of them and keep them out yet again.

Cleaning is part of how to keep spiders out of the basement but also keep out other pests that attract spiders.

How to Clean Cobwebs

Cleaning cobwebs is a simple process but you still want to make sure you do it right. You can use a broom, a duster, or even a vacuum hose if you prefer. Here are some quick steps you can follow!

  1. Wear a mask to protect yourself from inhaling any dust or cobwebs
  2. Use your tool of choice to effectively eradicate all cobwebs.
  3. Check corners, baseboards, and other nooks, and crannies to be sure you get them all.

It’s really that simple! You just want to be sure you get rid of the entire cobweb and check those little hiding spaces, like corners, to ensure you get them all!

Final Thoughts

Very rarely are spiders welcome in the home. If you’re like the majority of people and don’t want to see them making themselves at home, you can find many useful tips in this guide to help you deter them and get rid of them. You don’t have to just accept them into your home.

Learning how to get rid of spiders in the basement and keep them out gives you a variety of options that can be incredibly effective. From cleaning and decluttering to ultrasonic repellents, to even bringing in an exterminator, you can do it your way.

Protect your home and basement once and for all. Hopefully, it can help put your mind at ease to know that you have plenty of options to work with.

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