Don't create a 'cozy' hiding spot that spiders love to feed and nest in by forgetting to vacuum this part of your home this month

With the peak of spider season upon us, there's one area of your home that experts recommend cleaning as soon as possible – your baseboards.

As they explain, this spot commonly houses undisturbed eight-legged inhabitants, where they're able to hide, breed, keep their eggs safe, and find food. Therefore, banishing them from these corners and crevices will reduce the number of spiders that pop up in your home.

Here, professional cleaners and entomologists explain why this is one of the best ways to keep spiders away.

Why you need to vacuum your baseboards every spider season

As Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless, says, 'Cleaning your baseboards is one of the simplest but most effective ways to discourage spiders from making themselves at home. While this doesn’t mean vacuuming live spiders, keeping these areas clean removes what attracts them in the first place.'

There are a number of reasons why this helps. For starters, says Karina, as spiders like to build webs in undisturbed corners and along baseboards, this will help remove those. 'Regular vacuuming clears away any structures they've started,' she explains.

Additionally, it disrupts hiding spots and eliminates food sources, where small insects may otherwise gather in dusty corners, encouraging loitering spiders to move elsewhere.

Ed Dolshun from Catchmaster, adds, 'By doing this you are not just clearing out webs but you could be removing egg sacs and old insect carcasses. A substantial buildup of dust and debris can provide suitable places for spiders to lay eggs along the baseboards. Accumulated pet hair can also exacerbate this.'

Most importantly, as Jeff Schumacher, the owner at All-Safe Pest & Termite, highlights, 'With fewer cozy corners and less leftover clutter, they’re less likely to linger,' which is why this method works to get rid of spiders in basements, keep spiders out of a garage, and reduce their numbers anywhere else.

How to vacuum your baseboards to banish spiders

Luckily, cleaning your baseboards, which are likely one of the places you definitely aren't cleaning but should be, is easy.

'Use the crevice tool attachment on your vacuum to run along the length of your baseboards, especially in corners where dust gathers,' advises Karina. 'Opt for a vacuum with strong suction, such as the Shark Upright Vacuum Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe available at Amazon, which handles edges and corners effectively.

'Vacuum baseboards weekly, or more often if you live in a spider-prone area. Follow up with a quick wipe-down using a damp microfiber cloth, like the Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, also available at Amazon, to remove lingering dust.'

For any recurring or severe infestations, it's best to call pest control. For example, Orkin can provide spider pest control plans tailored to your home and its specific pest problem.

Of course, it's important to keep in mind that spiders are really not all bad. In fact, they're actually beneficial to have around the house.

'Most are harmless and actually help by catching flies, gnats, and other nuisance insects,' says Ed, and Jeff agrees, adding, 'Spiders can be a quiet ally in your home. They naturally thin out other pests, keeping populations of flies, moths, and gnats in check. For many homeowners, having a spider or two tucked away in the corner is a small price to pay for a bug-free space.'

However, Ed warns, 'I would maybe refrain from trying to control a population of any insect within your home.'

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Meet our experts

Karina Toner

With numerous contributions in Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, The Spruce, and many more, Karina has extensive knowledge of both commercial and residential cleaning, including how to clean to eradicate pest problems.

Ed Dolshun

Ed is the Catchmaster® brand’s vice president of business development and technical director, and an expert in trapping tips, with over 12 years of experience in the pest management industry.

Jeff Schumacher

Jeff is the owner of All-Safe Pest & Termite. As a second-generation owner, Jeff quite literally grew up in the business and is an expert in all things pest control and termites.

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