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The Most Effective Ways to Get Rid of Black Widows

Black widow spiders are well-known and highly feared. Perhaps it's due to their fierce, distinct look of shiny black bodies with a red hourglass marking on the back or their bite, which releases a neurotoxic protein venom in their victims. Even though Black widows are not known for aggressive behavior, they will bite if threatened. If you live around small children or the elderly, it might be best to seek effective methods in eliminating black widow spiders to avoid any potential for problems.

  1. Protecting the Home

    • Protect your home by keeping black widow spiders out. The only way to get rid of them is to keep them away. Check the outside areas of your home and the foundation, inspecting for cracks and small crevices. Seal up these holes and prevent future spider infestations. Replace all old and torn window screens to eliminate all accesses to the home. Never stack firewood against the house. You could unknowingly bring a black widow spider into the home.

    Cleaning the Home

    • Black widows need insects to eat; they won't come inside if there isn't a food source. Female black widows want to stay in their webs: They catch food in the web; they eat in the web. If you eliminate the insects in your home, you will eliminate the black widow population. Regularly vacuum your home, dust around the windows and declutter storage areas where spiders can hide. If you eliminate those hiding places, you will be preventing black widow spider infestations.

    Manual Search

    • Black widows prefer the dark and the quiet. Common black widow areas consist of small holes used by rodents, wood piles, crawl spaces or garages. If black widows are inside the home, they generally create nesting sites behind or under furniture and in any dark corner. Unfortunately, the most effective way to get rid of black widow spiders is by finding them and vacuuming them up since their soft bodies can't survive the process. Be sure to wear heavy gloves and long sleeved shirts while doing this. This is the only effective way to ensure that you get rid of the eggs and the spider.

    Insecticides

    • Insecticides can be used to control the black widow population for a brief period of time. The sprays do not have a long-lasting effect, which means you aren't really getting rid of them. But it can be helpful if you spray the outside of your home before cold weather hits your neighborhood. This is the time when all spiders seek shelter in homes. So spray the insecticides around the exterior or your home as a barrier treatment, and focus on doors and windows.

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