How to Keep Spiders Out of Garage | Essential Strategies for Pest-Free Living

While only a few species of spiders have been known to produce severe allergic responses, the bites of a fair few of them can be unpleasant. It is, therefore, important to keep as many of them as possible out of your garages and residences to avoid encounters with poisonous or venomous ones.

How to keep spiders out of the garage? To keep spiders out of your garage, regularly clean the environment and remove food sources. If you suspect a spider infestation, you should consider using bug bombs or chemical repellents. Alternatively, you can place an essential oil mixture around your garage to discourage new pests.

This post will detail some of the most prevalent garage spiders and how to control them. Additionally, if you have a garage infested with spiders, read on to know how to keep spiders out of your shoes and what insect repellents to use.

Common Garage Spiders

Despite the calm nature of most spiders, two species found in the southern and western United States can do considerable damage if disturbed: the black widow and brown recluse. These spiders like to reside in dimly lit areas such as your garage.

However, these are not the only arachnid species that call your garage home.

The following is a guide to assist you in identifying the most common house spiders and the health concerns some present.

Cellar Spiders

Cellar spiders have very long, slender legs and are often mistaken for daddy-long-legs. They typically have a gray, brown, or whitish hue. The long-bodied cellar spiders are one of the most commonly reported species.

These spiders love basement and garage spaces. Apart from their color, you can tell whether you have cellar spiders in your house by the volume of webs scattered everywhere.

While many spider species devour their old webs before creating new ones, cellar spiders do not. They continue to add to it, resulting in massive quantities of webbing that become a pain to remove. A cellar spider’s web is often very tangled, comparable to that of a cobweb spider.

However, apart from the mess they make, these spiders are entirely safe for people. In fact, they help keep down the insect population within your garage.

Black Widow Spiders

Five of the 31 species of widow spiders are present in residential areas in the United States. The black widow is one of them.

Black widow spiders are about ½ inch (1.27 cm) long and have a glossy black body with red, yellow, or orange patterns on the abdomen. 

Black widow bites might go undetected or have the sensation of a pinprick. It’s worth noting that only the female spider, which has red hourglass markings, poses a hazard to humans.

These bites may cause severe muscular pain, requiring medical treatment. As a result, you’ll need a safe approach to identifying and removing these arachnids as quickly as possible.

Brown Recluse

Brown recluse spiders, also known as “fiddle back spiders,” have soft bodies and range from light tan to dark brown. Adult spiders measure approximately ½ inch (1.27 cm) in length and have long, delicate legs covered in short, dark hairs.

These spiders have a pale yellow to reddish-brown carapace with a brown patch connected to the front by brown stripes. In all, these marks resemble a violin.

The presence of three pairs of eyes placed in a semicircle on the forepart of the skull and the typically long legs serve as distinguishing markers.

Most importantly, the brown recluse’s bite is toxic. The complex venom wreaks havoc on the surrounding tissues, causing necrosis and damage. The venom may cause harm to deeper tissues in extreme instances, though significant disease and death are uncommon.

Why Are There So Many Spiders in Garage?

Spiders will establish a home in your garage to meet their fundamental requirements: food and shelter.

There may be so many spiders in your garage if it is infested with mosquitoes and flies since most spiders feed on flying insects. Some arachnids also like the comfort of dampness. Winter’s low temperatures and early summer’s high humidity may leave your garage susceptible to moisture accumulation.

A damp environment is an ideal setting for spiders. So, if you’re thinking about how you can get rid of spiders in your garage, the strategies described below will assist you.

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Your Garage?

To get rid of spiders in your garage, apart from hiring an exterminator, here are some things you can do:

Step 1: Use insect repellant to deplete their food source. Keep bugs and spiders out of the garage by using foggers or bug bombs.

Step 2: Eliminate their hideouts. Relocate packed furniture, seal your cupboards, and keep shoes in plastic. 

Step 3: Ensure that their webs and nests are cleared. Spiders lack an active exoskeleton, so you can easily remove nests with a vacuum cleaner.

Step 4: Clean your garage thoroughly. Daily cleaning is advisable if you reside in a very dusty location.

How to Kill Spiders in Garage?

As mentioned above, it is possible to eliminate most spiders in the garage. Still, you should keep in mind that a spider-free house is improbable without expert assistance.

However, there are several solutions on the market that are ideal for eliminating many spiders in your house. We’ll demonstrate how to clean a garage full of spiders using Hot Shot Ant, Roach & Spider Killer from Amazon.

Hot Shot spray is effective against a broad range of pests, including spiders, wasps, and ants. Additionally, it functions as a shield against new populations of these insects for as long as four months following application.

The application technique is straightforward, as you only need to spray it around your garage. It also works swiftly, so the mist will clear from your garage immediately.

Perhaps, most importantly, it is odorless. As a result, it is safe to use around children and pets.

How to Keep Spiders Out of Shoes in the Garage?

To keep spiders out of your shoes in your garage, the most effective approach is to cover them. Spiders will enter whatever dark spot they can find. Once you deny them access, they will lose interest in your shoes.

Numerous objects, such as plastic bags or old clothing around the house, may be used to conceal your shoes. However, before using any of these items to protect your footwear, you should first examine them for bugs. 

How to Get Rid of Spiders in Garage Naturally?

To get rid of spiders in your garage naturally, use wasabi and bitter melon, as they are some examples of natural spider repellents. You can smear or spray either in infested areas around your home. Also, you can consider dehumidifying your garage since spiders love humid areas.

Indeed, controlling the temperature may be the best way for you to get rid of spiders in the garage.

Additionally, you may use a combination of essential oils to create a fragrance that spiders despise. Use chestnut or peppermint oil inside a diffuser in the garage to get rid of spiders.

Vinegar is also an excellent natural spider repellant. In a spray bottle, combine white vinegar and water. Then spray this mixture around your garage, particularly at spider access sites like windows and cracks.

What Keeps Spiders Out of Garage?

Spiders generally get access to garages through cracks and gaps in the foundation and via doors and windows.

To keep spiders out of your garage, you can caulk these spots. But the most effective method is to remove other insects residing in and around your house. Outdoor lighting should be yellow or sodium vapor to diminish the environment’s appeal to insects.

Additionally, clearing dirt and wood off the outside of your garage can keep spiders away. Arachnids are also attracted to dark hiding spots; therefore, there should be a safe distance between these and your property.

Best Spider Repellents for Garage

Here are two of the best spider repellents that are both powerful and practical for use in your garage:

Eco Defense Pest Control Pouches

Eco Defense Pest Control Pouches from Amazon are the first. These are 100% natural essential oil repellents that contain the following ingredients:

• Cedar

• Cinnamon

• Lemongrass

• Rosemary

• Peppermint

You can use a pouch in the corners of your garage to keep spiders and other insects away. Each package contains 12 odorant pouches that may be used for up to a year, making this solution cost-effective.

Best Spider Sprays for Garage

Natural Oust Peppermint Oil Repellent

Natural Oust Peppermint Oil Repellent from Amazon is one of the best spider repellents for your garage. It is made up of essential oils that provide instant relief and long-lasting protection against spiders.

Peppermint oil is a well-known spider repellent. Its inclusion in this spray makes it great for controlling an infestation.

Additionally, it is formulated with non-toxic chemicals, making it suitable for pets and children.

Terro Spider Killer

No products found.

An alternative is the Terro Spider Killer. It is very efficient against spiders such as the black widow, brown recluse, and hobo spiders.

You should use this spider killer once a week. It has a long kill time, which means that you should have a pest-free home from the first use.

List of Sources

Edwards, G.B. (2003). Featured Creatures – Brown Recluse Spider. University of Florida.
Jesse, L. (2009). Long-Bodied Cellar Spider. Iowa State University, Extension and Outreach.
Jorge, J. F. (2011). Natural Spider Repellents. California State Science Fair.
Newton, B. (2018). Cobweb Spiders. University of Kentucky Entomology.