Want To Keep Spiders Out Of Your House? Do This

Hate to break it to you, but you likely have company living in your house, especially now that the weather has turned chilly and spiders are looking for the warm comforts of home. Even if it’s yours.

But if living with 8-legged creatures who aren’t paying rent isn’t your cup of tea, there is a way to get rid of them that’s much safer than using a can of hairspray and a blowtorch.

• Related: Entomologist Explains Why You Should Not Kill Spiders In Your Home

Family Handyman suggests using something you may already have in your closet: moth balls! Don’t let the name fool you; these little nuggets ward off all sorts of pests, including spiders. Just make sure the moth balls are placed away from family members and pets, as moth balls aren’t exactly safe to consume. Here’s how it works, according to Family Handyman:

1. Pinpoint some locations in your home where you’ve seen spiders. Attics, basements and crawl spaces are common locations.
2. Grab a Mason jar and use a drill to put three or four holes into the jar’s lid.
3. Take three moth balls and place them in the jar and close the lid tightly. Make sure to avoid contact with skin and eyes when handling moth balls. It’s best to wear gloves and don’t inhale the fumes.
4. Make one jar for each area where spiders are a problem.
5. Be sure all of the jars are tightly sealed and out of reach from children and pets.
6. The effect of the moth balls should last up to six months.

On the flip side, entomologists suggest you trap and release any spider you find in your home, because they’re an important part of nature and our indoor ecosystem. According to Matt Bertone, Extension Associate in Entomology at North Carolina State University:

People like to think of their dwellings as safely insulated from the outside world, but many types of spiders can be found inside. Some are accidentally trapped, while others are short-term visitors. Some species even enjoy the great indoors, where they happily live out their lives and make more spiders. These arachnids are usually secretive, and almost all you meet are neither aggressive nor dangerous. And they may be providing services like eating pests – some even eat other spiders.

And let’s not forget: spiders are fellow organisms trying to make their way on this planet just like us.