Why Are Spiders Around My House?

Why Are Spiders Around My House?

Finding spiders inside your home is common, especially during warmer months or when the weather begins to cool. In most cases, spiders aren't attracted to your home itself—they're attracted to the food, shelter, and hiding places your home provides.

Understanding why spiders are showing up can help you reduce future infestations.

Spiders Are Looking for Food

The biggest reason spiders enter homes is to find insects to eat. Flies, mosquitoes, ants, moths, and other small bugs provide an easy food source. If your home has other insects, spiders are more likely to move in.

Reducing insect activity is one of the best ways to reduce spider activity.

They Want Shelter

Spiders prefer quiet, undisturbed places where they can hide during the day and build webs. Common hiding spots include:

• Basements

• Garages

• Attics

• Closets

• Crawl spaces

• Behind furniture

• Around storage boxes

These areas provide protection from predators and changing weather conditions.

Easy Entry Points

Spiders can enter through surprisingly small openings, including:

• Gaps around doors

• Window frames

• Foundation cracks

• Utility openings

• Vents

• Torn window screens

Sealing these entry points can help keep spiders from getting inside.

Outdoor Lighting Attracts Their Food

Bright porch and exterior lights attract flying insects at night. Since insects gather around lights, spiders often build webs nearby to catch them.

Reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting or switching to warm-colored bulbs may help decrease spider activity around your home.

How to Help Keep Spiders Away

Along with sealing entry points and reducing insects, regularly treating areas where spiders hide or enter your home can help discourage them from returning. Focus on doorways, windows, garages, porches, foundations, basements, and other common hiding places.