How do you keep spiders away from your house?
Treat and de-web the outside of the house where spiders build: eaves, window and door frames, fences, pergolas, sheds and outdoor furniture. Treat inside along skirting and in corners. Reducing other insects with yellow or sodium outdoor lights and sealing gaps also gives spiders less food and fewer ways in.
Signs you have spiders
- Webs around eaves, window frames, gutters and pergolas
- Messy, tangled webs low to the ground under furniture or in letterboxes
- Egg sacs in sheds, garages and corners
- Spiders inside along skirting, in corners or in the bath
- Lots of insects around outdoor lights, which feed spiders
When spiders become a problem
Redback bites need medical attention, and kids are most at risk because redbacks hide in places children reach: under play equipment, inside letterboxes and around outdoor furniture. A seasonal treatment in spring, before numbers build up, keeps outdoor living areas safer through summer.
How Pestor treats spiders
Inspect
We look at where spiders are building and what is attracting them, including lights, gaps and clutter.
De-web
Webs and egg sacs are removed from eaves, windows and outdoor areas we can safely reach.
Treat
Residual treatment of eaves, frames, fences, sheds and play areas outside, and skirting and corners inside.
Advise
You get simple tips to reduce spiders between treatments.
Before your spider treatment
- Move outdoor toys, cushions and washing out of the way
- Unlock the shed, garage and side gates
- Clear clutter along inside skirting where possible
- Keep pets inside or away from the area during treatment
Prevention tips
- Wear gloves when gardening and moving pots or timber
- Shake out shoes, gloves and clothes left outside
- Switch outdoor lights to yellow or warm LED to attract fewer insects
- Fit screens to windows and seal gaps around doors
- Keep woodpiles and rubbish away from the house
Common species in Melbourne
| Name | Scientific name | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Redback spider | Latrodectus hasselti | Black with a red stripe. Venomous. Builds messy webs in dry, sheltered spots. |
| White-tail spider | Lampona cylindrata | Long, dark grey body with a white tip. Hunts at night and wanders indoors. |
| Black house spider | Badumna insignis | Builds lacy, funnel-shaped webs in window frames and brickwork. |
| Huntsman spider | Family Sparassidae | Large and flat. Alarming to see but rarely aggressive. |
| Daddy long-legs | Pholcus phalangioides | Thin legs and loose webs in ceiling corners. Harmless. |
FAQs about spiders
Are spider treatments safe for kids and pets?
Yes, when applied correctly. We tell you how long to keep children and pets away from treated areas, usually until the treatment has dried.
How often should I get a spider treatment?
Most Melbourne homes do well with one treatment a year in spring. Homes near bushland, creeks or with large gardens may benefit from a second treatment in late summer.
Will treatment kill all spiders?
It greatly reduces spiders in treated areas, and webs that reappear are a sign the treatment is working as spiders contact it. New spiders can still wander in from gardens and neighbouring properties.
What should I do if bitten by a redback?
Apply an ice pack, do not bandage, and seek medical advice. Call 000 for severe symptoms, or the Victorian Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.