How to Keep Spiders Out of Laundry

How to Keep Spiders Out of Laundry

Let’s imagine something unpleasant together. Take a deep breath. Are you ready? Okay. You’ve got a big job interview today, you’re all done with breakfast, and you’ve got all the questions memorized. It’s going to go great… But the clock is ticking. It’s time to go, and you open your closet, reach for that perfect shirt, and… There’s a startled spider running onto your hand, up to your shoulder, and towards your face. More than likely, that’s not something you would welcome very much! It happens more often than we’d like to admit.

Spiders aren’t out to scare us, even though it can seem that way. It can be a common sight to pick up a stack of laundry and see a spider high-tail it to the nearest wall. Unfortunately, some Florida spiders are dangerous, so how can we avoid encountering them in our laundry?

Why Do Spiders Live in Laundry?

Well, they don’t. Not really. There are two basic kinds of spiders: Web-building spiders and hunting spiders. A web-building spider may build a web in the corner of an undisturbed closet in hopes of finding moths or flies. They aren’t interested in being anywhere near your laundry, though. If you find a web-building spider on your clothes, it probably fell or got stuck. These spiders also tend to be much slower than hunting spiders.

Hunting spiders are more likely to wind up in your laundry. As the name suggests, they stalk around looking for prey. They often follow scent trails similar to dogs. If they wind up in your laundry, it’s because they suspect food might be there. They may also be seeking a hiding space to avoid predators or sunlight… Waiting for nighttime so they can move on.

How to Keep Spiders Out of Your Laundry

There are several solutions, and most of them involve making your closet and laundry room unattractive to spiders. Remove things pest insects enjoy, like moisture and clutter. Cut down on the number of boxes in your home. It would be best if you also were sure to clean your spaces regularly. Spiders and insects prefer undisturbed areas. By disturbing the area, you reduce the chances of spiders choosing it to occupy. They want to be anywhere you aren’t, basically.

Smells Spiders Hate

Because spiders live so much of their lives through a sense of taste and smell, this can be a way to deter them. They taste with chemo-receptive organs on their legs. You can keep them away by spraying or sprinkling unattractive chemicals near your closet and laundry. One of the most effective things you can do is use natural scents. Mint is extremely effective at deterring spiders. So is citrus oil. You can spray this on or near clothes as you clean to ensure it’s less attractive to spiders. Spiders are also not fans of eucalyptus oil and will avoid it.

The Bottom Line

Spiders don’t want to be in your laundry. For long-term storage, use air-tight lids and only store clothes that have been washed. You should regularly disturb your laundry and remove clutter that spiders will hide in. You can read more about spider behavior on our website. If you feel like there is a population of spiders in your home far bigger than you’re comfortable with, don’t hesitate to call us. We’ll spray for spiders and let you know of any other ways they could get inside.