I’m always uneasy about spiders in the bedroom. It’s difficult enough to drift off to sleep without a blurry mark gradually working its ways across the ceiling!
Seeing that it’s spider mating season, high spider activity can’t be helped. But still, why are they setting up shop in my bedroom and what could possibly be the big attraction here? I spoke to four experts to answer my questions and to tell me how I can make my bedroom a spider-free zone this autumn.
Flies, clothes moths, mosquitoes and ants
Spiders will make a meal of all kinds of insects that frequent our bedroom. If you’ve woken up with mosquito bites, there’s one attractant, and if you’ve noticed holes in your cashmere, there’s likely another food source in your wardrobe. Bob Gilbert, staff entomologist with Blue Sky Pest Control, says:
‘The biggest reason spiders stay in a bedroom is food. Spiders feed on insects and other small arthropods. If the room has clothes moths, mosquitoes, flies, ants, silverfish, carpet beetles or other pests, those prey can support spider activity. Spiders follow food.’
So, if there’s high spider activity in your bedroom, it’s worth taking stock of other less obvious guests. Something as small as clearing away wrappers or avoiding eating on the bed could indirectly reduce spider numbers – as well as pests in the bedroom.
Sofia Martinez, cleaning expert and owner of Sparkly Maid Austin, says: ‘Look for larvae, shed skins, clusters of dead insects around windowsills, under furniture, in the wardrobe, around lamps etc. If there's a lot of insect activity, spiders are going to keep coming back – removing one spider isn't a long-term solution if their food supply is still readily available.’
Clutter everywhere
If you have a regular floordrobe or you just generally struggle to put things away, you’re making your bedroom a safe space for spiders, so says Bob:
‘Cluttered floors make bedrooms more attractive. Clothing piles, shoes, storage bins, boxes, laundry, bags and items stored under the bed create hiding places. Bedrooms often have more hidden clutter than living rooms because visitors rarely see those areas. That gives spiders undisturbed places to rest during the day.’
Sofia agrees, adding: ‘Can you get underneath furniture or the bed easily? This allows you to see if there's an issue with household pests and makes it easier to vacuum and sweep under there frequently. Store items in closed containers and limit the number of items stored underneath beds/chairs/desks etc. Keep floors as empty as possible.’
While you might not think it with how displayed they are on the ceiling, spiders generally prefer concealed spaces to hide and take shelter from predators. This also gives them the best spot to catch unsuspecting prey. So, if you have clothes, bags and boxes scattered over your floors, it’s much more inviting. Likewise, if you haven’t yet spotted a spider dashing across your floor, this might be why.
Here's how the 50% rule halved my bedroom clutter in 30 minutes.
Dark hiding spaces
This goes hand-in-hand with the above. Spiders prefer it dark and concealed so they’re less likely to be spotted. That means even if you do declutter, there’s still some hiding spaces making your bedroom the ideal environment.
‘Furniture also creates harbourage,’ stresses Bob. ‘Wardrobes, nightstands, dressing tables, mirrors, headboards, bed frames, curtains and items pushed against walls create cracks, edges and protected spaces. Not all spiders make webs. Hunting spiders may hide in clutter, furniture gaps, cracks and crevices during the day, then come out at night to search for prey.’
There’s not a lot you can do about furniture in the bedroom! Spiders will always have a natural shelter of sorts here. But you could make the gaps less concealing by pulling furniture away from the wall by a few centimetres (this can also help to reduce dampness and mould in the bedroom).
Foliage and bright lights
Ralph Masferrer, director of technical and training at Aruza Pest Control says: ‘Tree branches and shrubs that touch the house can act as bridges, allowing spiders to move directly from vegetation on to the building. Check for growth touching the exterior near bedroom windows and trim it back to remove that route.’
By pruning back these branches, you’re making it tougher for spiders to access your bedroom window. They’re still more than capable of finding their way up there, but the route isn’t so obvious! If you're not comfortable pruning back foliage yourself, you can always hire in a professional to do it for you.
‘Homeowners should also limit bright exterior lighting near doors or consider LED bulbs since lights can attract flying insects and create a food source for spiders.’
Many insects will be drawn to bright lighting, and that makes the area more appealing to spiders. So, take stock of the lighting outside your bedroom window and consider if that could be upping the spider numbers. LED bulbs are less attractive to insects because they produce less heat and lower UV emissions. Switch off lights where they’re not needed!
Lots of entryways
The more entry points there are to your bedroom, the more likely spiders are to wander in. Bob continues:
‘Spiders may enter through torn screens, loose window frames, gaps under doors, damaged weather stripping, skirting board gaps, cracks around exterior walls, attic openings, utility penetrations and wall voids.’
Even if you make every effort to close your windows, spiders can still find a way in. Gaps around the home will be numerous, and you’re unlikely to find and seal every one. But filling in the obvious cracks around windows and walls with a caulk gun will make your home less accessible to spiders and unwanted pests alike. Plus, it will help your home to retain the heat once we enter the colder months.
A drop in temperature
If you have a nice, warm bedroom, it’s naturally more inviting to pests and spiders at this time of year, so says Travis Becraft, tactical operations manager for Black Diamond Pest Control:
‘As temperatures cool in the autumn, we tend to see more pest activity around homes. Spiders may move indoors looking for shelter, but they’re also following other insects that are doing the same thing. Homeowners may notice more webs around windows, doors and the exterior of the home during this transition.’
There’s not a lot that can be done about the external temperature, but this is why it’s better to catch and place a house spider in the garage or shed to relocate it to suitable conditions.
Female spiders
Let's not forget what those male spiders are looking for in the first place! If there’s already female spiders in the bedroom, male spiders will follow them in at this time of year. There are not more spiders so to speak, they’re just more active.
Travis adds: ‘Other spiders can be a sign conditions are favourable. Seeing multiple spiders in one area can indicate that the environment is providing enough food and shelter to support them. It may also suggest there is a larger insect population nearby.’
