Should I Be Worried If I See a Spider in My Home?

Spiders are certainly some of the creepiest creatures on the planet, but they can be beneficial as well. Spiders catch flies and other insects in their webs that can greatly reduce the bug population around your home. But that doesn’t mean you will love finding spiders in your kitchen. A spider or two is nothing to worry about if you discover them in your house. But knowing what a spider infestation looks like and how to prevent your home from attracting spiders will help reduce any risks of getting a spider bite.

How to know if I have a spider infestation

Just because you see a spider doesn’t mean you have an infestation. But there are a few additional signs to look for to tell if you have a serious spider infestation on your hands.

• Finding shed or molted spider skins around your home. Spiders have to shed their skin in order to grow bigger. If you are finding what looks like dead spiders around your home, you may actually have living, and unfortunately, slightly bigger, spiders creeping around your home
• Multiple spider webs popping up around your home. If you see spider webs in your home, do not worry. It may only be one or two spiders. But if you are finding spider webs around your light fixtures, behind doors, or across windows, and they quickly reappear after you remove them, you may have a full fledged infestation in your home.
• Other bug infestations. Spiders love to eat bugs and they will strategically build their homes in places that have a lot of bugs creeping around. If your home has an insect infestation, a whole host of spiders is probably not far behind. 

Preventing spider infestations

• Keep a clean, tidy home. Spiders eat bugs. If you are determined to keep spiders out of your house, you have to keep other bugs out first. Cleaning up after meals by putting all food away in the fridge or airtight containers, sweeping after meals, and wiping down countertops will deter all kinds of bugs.
•  Promptly take out the trash and keep outdoor garbage bins away from the home. This will cut down on drawing insects that spiders are after from coming into your home. 
• Make sure any water drips or highly humid corners of your house are fixed and aired out.  This will keep your home from becoming a magnet for insects that spiders love to eat. Using a dehumidifier in the basement or bathroom can also be an excellent idea.

Spider bite risks

Most spiders in the United States are relatively harmless to humans. Spiders like the Wolf Spider, which are very common, may give you a bite that feels like a bee sting. But you should not have any other adverse reactions to it. Some people with immune compromised conditions may have a worse reaction to a spider bite.

If you are bitten by a black widow, getting medical attention is important. Watch for symptoms like:

• Painful swelling around the bite
• Muscle spasms
• Cramps
• General achiness

If you are seeing signs of a spider infestation or just don’t want to see a single spider crawling across your floor, give the professionals at ECPC a call today. They will inspect your home for spiders and eradicate any problem you have with eco-friendly pest control treatments.