Spiders can be a harmless nuisance. However, given a chance, they can easily infest any space, including your balcony. Of all household pests, they are the most prevalent. Moreover, spiders are easily the most feared creepy crawlers globally, which explains why homeowners’ first impulse is to squash them on seeing one.
Spiders love to spin webs in balconies, mostly in corners and in the spaces between the grills. To prevent them from setting up camp on your balcony, there are a few preventive measures you need to put in place, such as cleaning up and getting rid of other insects.
To get rid of them for good, though, you first need to understand the behavior of spiders and why they do what they do.
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What are spiders? What are they looking for on your balcony?
These eight-legged creatures come to your balcony in search of food, warmth, moisture, and mates. Most spiders are harmless to human beings, with a handful of species having venomous bites that may require medical attention. The worst of these are the brown recluse and the black widow. The former has a characteristic mark on the top of the cephalothorax. The latter, on the other hand, has a red hourglass shape found under its black abdomen.
Even though most spiders are harmless, it is always best to avoid touching them. They never seek human contact but will bite if they feel threatened. Spider venom causes reactions that vary from different species or people, and the symptoms may include a red mark, a stinging sensation, localized swelling, and/or an injury that needs hospitalization. You should always contact your doctor with any concerns.
Keeping spiders off your balcony
1. Cleaning up
Spiders do not like staying in clean areas, so keeping your balcony clean will naturally keep them away. When you don’t have spiders to deal with, you are automatically free from cobwebs. Here are some tips that could come in handy:
- Clear clutter: if you have been using your balcony as a means of storage for some of your house items, now is the time for you to keep it tidy. Get rid of those items that you no longer have use of. Spiders tend to form webs in inaccessible corners. Keep away any boxes or packages to prevent spiders from spinning webs in them.
- Prune plants: some homeowners keep flowerpots of plants on their balconies. Spiders may form webs in these plants, causing an infestation. If this proves difficult, it is better to remove the whole plant.
- Dust away cobwebs: webs are the spiders’ homes; therefore, getting rid of them will force them to go elsewhere. Do this at least once a week.
2. Plant a variety of herbs
Spiders, like other bugs, don’t enjoy the smell of some herbs. If you’re looking to keep them away from your balcony, try planting rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon balm, basil, and lavender.
3. Getting rid of insects
As mentioned earlier, spiders are predatory and depend on other insects for food. Therefore, getting rid of those insects will starve the spiders, and they will leave or die eventually. All this depends on the kind of bugs found on your balcony, so doing a bit of research will help you exterminate them.
- Bug zapper outdoor use blue-violet light to attract mosquitoes, gnats, aedes mosquitoes,moths, and other most insects. Once mosquitoes fly in, they will be killed immediately to physically kill pests in an efficient and Eco-friendly friendly way.
4. Reduce or turn off your outdoor lights
Other insects, such as moths and beetles, are attracted to outdoor lighting. Their presence, in turn, attracts spiders who are looking for food. Try to limit the intensity of night light on your balcony simply by using yellow bulbs instead of white bulbs.
5. Use citronella candles to keep spider away
Citronella candles are not only great at repelling bugs, but they also work on spiders. Because Citronella repels their food sources, it’s perhaps the best way to get rid of spiders. Simply light a candle in the evening–when they’re most active–and let it burn. It usually doesn’t take long for them to leave; however, you must keep up with this method regularly or they’ll come back eventually.
- One 6 oz Coleman Pine Scented Citronella Candle with Wooden Crackle Wick
6. Purchase a spider repellant to keep them away from your balcony
While you can always purchase repellent in a store or online, making your own with commonly found ingredients is much easier.
7 . Use an electronic spider repellant to keep spiders off your balcony
These devices emit high-frequency sounds that will keep spiders away without harming them. You can find these repellents online or at your local hardware store. Be sure to read the instructions carefully before using one on your balcony.
8. Borax
Borax is a common repellant for ants, but can also be used to keep off spiders because of the way it kills them when they come into contact with it. You need to sprinkle Borax in potential entry points of the spiders and where they set up webs.
9. Garlic
Garlic is a good remedy for keeping spiders away because they do not like the smell that it emits. However, placing full garlic bulbs will not help your spider situation. You need to prepare a solution by crushing a garlic clove and mixing it with water. Then, spray this mixture in strategic areas of your balcony.
10. Peppermint oil
Peppermint has been known to repel not only spiders but also other pests. Small insects can’t stand its smell. To use this repellant effectively, make a mixture of peppermint oil and water, then place it in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture all over the balcony wall and floors. Don’t forget about the corners because spiders tend to make their webs in these. If you can’t get a spray bottle, you could opt to soak cotton balls in this mixture and then leave them in strategic places on the balcony.
11. Tobacco
Spiders hate tobacco, and you could use this to your advantage. Loose tobacco leaves can be found at tobacco shops or even in some grocery stores. To use them effectively. Spread these leaves in places where spiders tend to occur on your balcony. You could also mix them with water and spray this mixture all over the balcony.
It is also possible to make tobacco balls simply by mixing the leaves with water and flour. Place the balls around the balcony to repel spiders. Note that if you have kids or pets, it is best to use the spray procedure so that the leaves are out of reach.
12. Eucalyptus Oil
This oil comes from the eucalyptus tree and is great at driving away spiders from your balcony. Just like peppermint oil, prepare a solution with water, place it in a spray bottle and spray it all over your balcony. You could also soak cotton balls with the solution and place the balls in strategic areas in your balcony. Moreover, eucalyptus oil also repels snakes and mosquitoes, so that is a double win for you.
You could consider placing eucalyptus sprigs on the balcony, focusing on areas where you have seen spiders before. The spiders will stay away because they do not appreciate the harsh scent of the eucalyptus tree.
13. Vinegar
Vinegar is a very good spider repellent and works very much like peppermint oil. To use it effectively, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of vinegar and water, then spray it all over the balcony, especially in corners and the spaces between the bars. You might want to apply this repellent daily when the weather outside is hot and humid.
14. Cedar
Because of its scent, cedar is a good spider repellent. If you keep furniture in your balcony, you could consider using those made of cedarwood, and you can be sure that spiders will stay away naturally. You could also get cedar oil, mix it with water and spray it on the corners of your balcony.
15. Diatomaceous earth and baking soda
These two are good at keeping spiders at bay. You only need a spoonful of either to sprinkle all over the corners of your balcony. Don’t forget the spaces between your balcony railings because spiders tend to spin webs here.
16. Call an exterminator to get rid of spiders on your balcony
If you have a fear of spiders, or if the sight of them bothers you, it’s best to get professional help to get rid of them. Spiders can be dangerous, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
What smells will keep spiders away?
There are a number of smells that spiders dislike and will stay away from, including citrus (lemon and orange), eucalyptus, peppermint, and cinnamon. You can make your own spider repellent by mixing essential oils with water in a spray bottle.
What attracts spiders the most on my balcony?
Spiders are drawn to bright lights with flying insects nearby. Any place that has an insect-attracting light becomes prime real estate for spiders.
Conclusion
There are a few different ways to get rid of spiders on your balcony. You can try using a spider repellent, setting up traps, or using a natural remedy like essential oils. Whatever method you choose, make sure to follow the instructions carefully and take precautions to avoid harming yourself or your spider-free environment.
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Last update on 2023-04-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
