If you’re like many homeowners struggling with these pesky critters, you probably want them out of your house as quickly as possible. Lucky for you, some simple steps can help you learn how to get rid of wolf spiders without resorting to harsh treatments.
In this quick guide, we'll learn how to get rid of wolf spiders so you can reclaim your home once and for all. Let’s get started.
Are Wolf Spiders Bad?
Before we get started, it's helpful to know what a wolf spider looks like and whether or not they're harmful to you or your family.
Wolf spiders belong to the family Lycosidae and are considered one of the most common types of spiders. They range in size, typically measuring between a quarter of an inch and one inch in length.
Some wolf spiders, such as the Desertas wolf spider, however, grow to be larger than four inches. Thankfully, you won't find Desertas wolf spiders in the United States (but it's nice to know what to look out for anywhere you go, right?).
They're often recognizable by their unique fuzzy brown coloring with darker patches on their bodies. In the context of house spiders, wolf spiders are somewhat helpful to homeowners. This is because they prey on insects and other types of arthropods. That's why you'll find them living in various environments, from forests to deserts.
Although wolf spiders can be a bit intimidating due to their large size (and those furry, creepy legs), unlike other types of spiders, such as hobo or black widow spiders, they rarely bite humans, making them relatively harmless for most people. So while they're unsightly and annoying, you don't have to worry too much about them delivering a deadly bite to you or a family member.
Regardless, you should never pick a wolf spider up with your bare hands. They tend to bite when they're contained or feel threatened.
How to Prevent a Spider Problem
Preemptively preventing a spider problem is always the best move for any homeowner. Taking preventative actions can be as simple as closing up possible entry points like small gaps in your foundation and window frames and regularly clearing away items that could act as potential hideouts.
Additionally, spraying around your home with long-lasting insecticides can prevent spiders from establishing a foothold in your living area. All of these steps help prevent an unwelcome spider problem before it arises. Here are a few tips if you're unsure where to start with a spider prevention plan.
Remove Weeds Around Your House
Weeds can provide a perfect hiding spot for spiders and a place to lay their eggs. Getting rid of these areas removes the opportunity for wolf spiders to make your home theirs. Removing weeds also reduces the number of extra insects that the spiders like to hunt and eat, giving them less incentive to stick around in the first place.
Seal Your Home
Wolf spiders are elusive and like to sneak in through small holes and points of entry, so it's best to seal up and close any openings that may allow them passage into your home. Pay attention to spots around windows and doors and cracks or gaps in areas such as your basement or attic.
What are the best products to use in this type of situation? Try using silicon-based sealants or weather stripping. This should work to seal off high-traffic areas, such as doors and windows that you open frequently. Then, fill any gaps in exterior walls with steel wool or caulk.
Pay Attention to Outdoor Lighting
As you can see, getting rid of wolf spiders can be a difficult pest control battle, but it's not only about protecting your home from these types of spiders. You also have to protect your outdoor spaces, too. So don't forget to pay attention to your outdoor lighting as an important part of this mission.
While you don't need to get rid of your outdoor lighting entirely, it's usually best to look for a specific type of lightbulb that attracts fewer spiders and other bugs (so it's a win-win all around). Typically, you'll want to look for yellow compact fluorescent lights as they're known to be the least attractive color for most typical household pests.
How to Get Rid of Wolf Spiders
If you tried your best to prevent a spider problem but are still noticing wolf spiders around, then don't worry. The biggest thing to know is that you shouldn't squash them when you see them. While it may seem like an easy solution to get rid of them quickly, it's not the best option.
Wolf spiders are beneficial in many ways as they help keep other bugs out, and their webs even help keep dust and dirt at bay. It's best to look for more natural solutions. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of wolf spiders without having to squash them.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is an effective pesticide that is non-toxic to humans and animals when used properly, making it ideal for controlling spider populations around the home and outdoors. However, if you have young children or pets who might be curious to touch or taste boric acid, it's best to move on to one of our other solutions below (or read through our FAQ to learn about other solutions).
When you spread boric acid on windows, ledges, furniture, and other areas frequented by spiders, it creates an invisible dust barrier that eliminates them. Furthermore, boric acid also works as a repellent so that spiders stay away from treated areas.
It's important to note that boric acid might not eliminate all wolf spiders in an area. However, it can significantly reduce their numbers when combined with proper cleaning techniques.
Peppermint Oil & Dish Soap
Did you know that wolf spiders aren't fond of the smell of peppermint? More specifically, peppermint oil and dish soap can be used to naturally get rid of wolf spiders in your home.
To effectively repel these spiders, combine peppermint oil with a few drops of dish soap and a spray bottle filled with water. Shake the bottle, then spray the spider's hiding places, such as cracks in walls, crevices in furniture, and corners of rooms, to drive them out. This peppermint-dish soap mixture is an effective way to get rid of pesky wolf spiders without using harmful chemicals.
Other Spider Solutions
The spider solutions mentioned above are great for smaller spider issues. However, what are some other, more traditional methods you can use? Here are two common pest control tactics that make sense for some families.
Traps
Sticky traps come in different types and sizes, making them suitable for any spider-prone area. The traps work by using a sticky adhesive and potent spider attractants that draw in the spider and keep it contained within the trap.
This means that spider traps can help you identify where these pests may be hiding so you can use other solutions or tactics to prevent them from returning.
Pesticides
Pesticides can be a great way to eliminate wolf spiders (and other pesky spiders and insects). When using pesticides, it's important to make sure you apply the solution in areas where the spiders are likely to visit, as this increases their effectiveness.
Making sure that pesticides reach every corner of the space where wolf spiders may hide is necessary for them to have any effect. Often, pesticides with multiple spray nozzles can help cover more areas effectively. With the right pesticides, you should have no problem getting rid of your wolf spider problem quickly and safely.
However, knowing what pesticides to choose from is often where most homeowners get it wrong. If you wonder which pesticides and pest control solutions to choose then...
Get Our DIY Pest Control Kits
If you want to know how to get rid of wolf spiders in your home, Remedy's DIY pest control kits are the perfect solution. Our personalized Remedies are designed to meet your specific needs. Just tell us what pests you're seeing, and we'll send you the products necessary for removal.
Don't have any idea what pest you have? No problem. We can help with that, too. At Remedy, we ensure you only pay for the product you need, guaranteeing effectiveness and getting rid of your wolf spider problem quickly and effectively. Click here to learn how it works.
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