Halloween is coming up, and judging by my windows, it looks like I’ve preordered my decorations. Cobwebs are everywhere this spider mating season. They’re bigger and more abundant since spiders reach adulthood at this time of year.
But why do they target our windows with their webs and how can you stop them from leaving this sticky mess? I spoke to an entomologist (a.k.a. a spider expert) to find out what’s the big attraction and how to put a stop to it.
Why do spiders like building webs on windows?
“Windows can be excellent places for web-building spiders,” says Adam Hart, professor of conservation ecology at the University of Gloucestershire. “Window frames provide lots of corners and solid attachment points for silk, while flying insects can be particularly abundant around windows, especially if they're attracted towards light from inside the house at night. For a spider, that's potentially a very good place to put a web and wait for prey.”
To a spider, our windows look like the best place to catch dinner – whether inside or out. Just think about it: during the day, insects will be drawn to the daylight outside of our windows, while at night, our lights will draw them in. It’s the perfect spot.
How to stop spiders from building webs on your windows
Professor Hart continues: “Regular cleaning can certainly make a difference because you're physically removing webs, old silk, egg sacs and potentially some of the small insects and debris around the window frame.”
Start by relocating any spiders using the cup and card technique, or a reliable spider catcher.
To clean the window, you just need to spritz a solution of nine parts water to one part distilled white vinegar over the glass. Then, wipe with a microfiber cloth (working from top to bottom) and run a squeegee over the top for streak-free results.
However, Professor Hart points out: “I wouldn't describe cleaning as a spider repellent. If the location remains a good place to build a web, a spider may simply construct another one—spiders are perfectly capable of rebuilding webs surprisingly quickly.
“If someone wants to discourage repeated web-building, I'd concentrate particularly on the corners and crevices of the window frame rather than just cleaning the glass. Removing webs when they first appear makes it harder for a spider to become established there.”
You can give the windowsill and frame a quick once-over with a low-power setting and the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove immediate webs and debris. Skip this step if the frame is particularly delicate and flaking away.
Then go over the surface with a damp microfiber cloth and a suitable multipurpose cleaner – use soapy water instead if you’re dealing with wood. Make sure to clear any insects that have fallen into the runners (cotton ear buds can help you reach here). Rinse with a damp cloth afterward.
Cleaning your windows thoroughly only takes a couple of minutes, but even running a duster over the surface for a few seconds will make a difference to spiders.
What else can be done?
“If lots of flying insects are gathering around a particular window at night, reducing unnecessary lighting immediately beside an open window may make that spot less productive for a web-building spider,” advises Professor Hart. “Insect screens can also reduce both insects and spiders entering through open windows.
“I'd avoid relying on things like peppermint oil, conkers or other supposed spider repellents. Physical measures—removing webs, cleaning around frames and reducing entry points—are much more dependable.”
To make your windows less appealing to spiders, you essentially need to make it less appealing to insects, a.k.a. food. So, you need to block access during the day (with insect screens) and make your home less luminous at night (by drawing curtains and limiting outdoor lights).
Professor Hart adds: “It's also worth remembering that a spider building a web around a window is actually doing a useful job. If there are enough flying insects there to make it worthwhile for the spider, it's effectively providing free pest control. If the web isn't bothering you, there's no particular ecological reason to remove it.”
Spiders will eat mosquitoes, clothes moths and silverfish as well as flies, so this last point is worth considering!
As the Household Advice Editor, Katie looks after all things cleaning and decluttering. She started out as a Junior Tester in the Good Housekeeping Institute 10 years ago, so she’s tested plenty of appliances in her time too, including dishwashers and washing machines. Nowadays, she focuses on keeping our cleaning content up to date and accurate, testing relevant products and learning about the latest methods and trends along the way.
