There’s nothing worse than seeing your child terrified at the simple presence of a spider. But, while you may want to smash it with a Bug-a-Salt, spiders are vital for a healthy garden ecosystem. So, how do you keep spiders off the playhouse?
And for the record, bug sprays and bug zappers can be just as harmful to spiders as to the bugs you don’t want around. So what do you do?
My daughter had a huge fear of spiders when she was under five years old. It was heartbreaking, but eventually, we found some methods that worked.
Keeping bugs and pests out of your yard is one of the most important steps in keeping your family and home safe. Spiders may not be dangerous for me, but it can be a different story for my kids.
Keeping spiders out of the playhouse can be tedious and even a nightmare when you don’t what to do. But it doesn’t have to be that way, follow these simple steps, and you’ll see how easy it can be.
How to keep spiders out of the outdoor playhouse
There are various ways to keep spiders out of your outdoor playhouse, and it is advisable to use more than one method for a quick result. You can also get rid of spiders from your patio with some of these methods making your outdoor comfortable, pest and insect free. So, below are the various ways ways to keep spiders off your kids’ playhouse.
Keep the playhouse clean.
A playhouse is a great place for your children to explore, but it can also be the perfect place for spiders to stay warm and cozy. So the first thing you need to do is keep the playhouse clean.
This will make it less appealing for spiders, who prefer dark, damp places. The spiders will leave if you clean the playhouse often enough, so it’s important to clean it out regularly.
First, get rid of any cobwebs with a broom or vacuum cleaner, then wipe down the walls and floor with an all-purpose cleaner mixed with water. A mild detergent mixed specifically for toys or surfaces made of wood will work best.
Use sticky barriers
Sticky barriers are a good method to keep spiders out of the playhouse. These barriers catch insects and spiders on the way in, eliminating one source of food for spiders and keeping spiders out.
Using sticky barriers such as velcro, tape, or glue, catch spiders. For example, glue a few small velcro pieces to the floor and walls.
This works best if you place them vertically on all sides of the playhouse where insects may enter. Next, apply a sticky barrier around the doorways, windows, and other openings on your outdoor playhouse.
Spiders will trip over them when entering their webs and die from exhaustion trying to escape. You can also use clear packing tape or strong glue spray onto these areas.
Use essential oil
Spiders will stay far away from your outdoor playhouse with the right essential oil. In addition, essential oils will help repel spiders, mosquitoes, and other insects from your playhouse.
Spray a few drops around the house, on windowsills, and in any cracks where pesky bugs may enter. The best essential oils to use in this situation are peppermint, lavender, and lemon rounds.
vinegar
The easiest and most natural way to keep spiders out of your outdoor playhouse is to wipe them down with vinegar. The vinegar smell will discourage spiders from setting up residence, and it’ll kill other bugs that may be lurking inside.
One of the best ways to keep these critters out of the playhouse is to add a layer of vinegar to the ground around it. Then, pour some vinegar onto an old rag and wipe it around the base of your outdoor playhouse. The smell and acidity will discourage spiders from residing under your structure.
Vinegar can also be used for several other purposes, such as killing weeds, cleaning furniture, rugs, and other some appliance.
Use a shopvac to suck up any webbing.
If your children love the outdoors, they’ll enjoy spending time in the playhouse. However, spiders like to spin silky webs between the posts and beams. You should use a shopvac (or regular vacuum) to keep them out, use a shopvac to suck up any webbing that they’ve already spun, or cover the beams and posts with non-stick aluminum foil or similar material before you assemble your playhouse. This will keep spiders out of the playhouse and any additional webs that a previous infestation may have caused.
Cut down vegetation from near the playhouse.
Cut down vegetation from near the playhouse, so there is nothing for spiders to hide in. Drain, clean, and dry all water areas around the playhouse at least once a year.
Keeping the grass trimmed around your playhouse will not only allow you to keep an eye on the kids and their adventures, but it can also eliminate possible spider sites. Keeping the vegetation low near the playhouse will have fewer bugs and less food for spiders to prey on.
It’s also better for your children if they are playing outside because they won’t be able to find a hiding place behind tall grasses or brushes. Cutting down the grass will also deter other pests like ticks and chiggers.
make sure to remove trash, leaves, and other debris from around the playhouse
Spiders love the dark, warm and moist environment that playhouses can offer. To keep them from making your playhouse home, take a few steps: Make sure to remove trash, leaves, and other debris from around the playhouse.
If you can see it, spiders will find it too. Some spiders use webs to catch food and hide, so try putting a small piece of cardboard underneath the screens; this will help eliminate any webbing inside your playhouse.
keep the grass trimmed
Mowing the lawn regularly and keeping the grass trimmed helps to reduce both places where spiders like to hide and areas difficult for you to reach. If you don’t have time for regular maintenance, reduce debris with a leaf blower and rake or broom before tackling the bigger tasks. Evergreen shrubs will also help keep some spiders away, so prune them from time to time.
Put mesh on the playhouse to keep spiders and other bugs out.
Spiders, bugs, and other critters can be kept out of the playhouse by putting a layer of mesh over the hole in the playhouse roof. This will stop them from crawling in, creating a safety hazard for your child. It can also be more attractive than using a lot of sticky tapes to seal off the opening.
Use the repellent spray in and around the playhouse to keep spiders away.
Spiders love to find a cozy spot in your outdoor playhouse. Spraying a bug repellent in and around the playhouse will keep away most spiders, except for the tarantula.
To keep spiders from building webs on your outdoor playhouse, make sure there aren’t any insects around to attract them. To do this, spray the playhouse with a bug repellent that repels insects and kills them.
Spray the organic repellent around the playhouse and leave it alone for a few hours before letting your kids back in the area. This will ensure that all bugs are gone before they begin playing out in the yard or garden again.
Fill cracks and gaps with caulk to keep spiders from getting in.
Check for gaps and cracks around windows, doors, and the bottom of your playhouse. Spiders, flies, and other bugs can crawl inside openings in your playhouse.
Use caulk or silicone sealant to fill any cracks or gaps where you cannot see through. A paintbrush can help spread the caulk into any small, hard-to-reach spaces.
What is the best homemade spider repellent?
The best homemade spider repellent is one that works. And it’s not just about getting rid of spiders; it’s also about keeping your home and family safe from these potentially dangerous pests.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on chemical-based sprays, either. Homemade repellents are easy to make, and they’re effective!
Here are some of our favorite recipes for DIY spider repellents:
- Peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil (or both) in a spray bottle with alcohol and water; spray spiders emerging from their webs. This can help keep them out of your home and discourage them from returning after clearing out their webs.
- Rubbing alcohol and vinegar mixture will help kill spiders when sprayed directly onto their bodies or sprayed around the areas where they like to nest (like near windows). This mixture will evaporate quickly, so it’s not ideal if you have small kids or pets who may accidentally get sprayed with this mixture because the vapors aren’t safe for them to inhale.
Here’s how to make it:
- Obtain a gallon of rubbing alcohol and a spray bottle.
- Mix the rubbing alcohol with water in a 1-to-1 ratio.
- Add eight drops of peppermint oil, six drops of lavender oil, and five eucalyptus oil to the spray bottle.
- Spray the spider repellent on any areas you find spiders or their webs.
What essential oil keeps spiders away?
Spiders are a huge issue for parents of small children. They can be frightening and dangerous to kids and can be difficult to get rid of. The best way to keep spiders at bay is to make your home less hospitable for them, and that’s where essential oils come in.
Essential oils have been used for hundreds of years as natural pest control, and you can use them yourself to help keep spiders away from your playhouse. Here are some of the best essential oils for spider control:
- clove oil
- citronella oil
- Peppermint oil (either pure or distilled)
- eucalyptus oil
- lavender oil (either pure or distilled),
- rosemary oil
- tea tree oil
The best thing about these oils is that they won’t harm any humans or animals who c
A few essential oils have proven effective by this study at repelling spiders.
- Clove oil: This oil has been used for centuries to repel insects, including spiders. Clove oil can be found in many natural household products and is also available as pure essential oil.
- Peppermint oil: Peppermint is an herb with a strong, minty scent. It’s great for many things, including keeping away spiders. It works so well because the smell of peppermint will repel spiders and other pests from your playhouse since they don’t like the scent.
- Citronella: Citronella is an essential oil often found in candles and sprays. It is an effective insecticide and insect repellent, including against spiders.
- Lemon Eucalyptus: This plant-based essential oil has been shown to repel insects such as mosquitoes, flies, fleas, ticks, mites, and even spiders.
You can use these essential oils alone or mixed with water or alcohol in a spray bottle. And then apply directly onto surfaces around your home (such as door frames). You can also add them to your favorite homemade cleaning solutions for extra protection against pests like spiders!
Conclusion
There are a few methods that you can try to keep spiders off your playhouse, which are listed above. Spiders and insects are an important part of the ecosystem and benefit the yard. Yet no one wants harmful and poisonous spiders in the kids’ playhouse.
After reading this article, I hope your search on how to keep spiders off the playhouse comes to an end using any of the listed methods above. You can combine two more methods to keep spiders off your playhouse entirely.
However, regardless of the methods you choose, you need to be consistent with them to make the playhouse a dead zone for spiders and other insects. Doing this will make your kids’ playhouse free of spider infestation.
