How to get rid of jumping spiders in house.

How to Get Rid of Jumping Spiders in Your Home (Naturally)

So, you need to get rid of jumping spiders in your home and garden.

Are you arachnophobic (scared of spiders)?

Does it freak you out when they jump?

Can’t imagine them crawling all over your bed at night?

(After all, they ARE nocturnal.)

In this article, we’ll cover:

  • Why you have jumping spiders
  • Ways to control and manage them
  • How to get rid of them from your home and yard
  • DIY home remedies to naturally repel them
  • If you should kill them or not
  • And more common FAQs about these spiders

Sound good? Let’s keep the spiders out.

Last updated: 6/21/20.

What’s a jumping spider?

A jumping spider is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a spider that feeds on other bugs exclusively and has over 6000 species total.

Unlike other spiders, jumping spiders have superior vision compared to other arthropods and are capable of jumping up to 25 times their own body length!

These spiders are known to be very agile when they jump, even if they move slowly.

Their strategic thinking allows them to think ahead of their prey and time their attacks with split-second timing.

They time, wait and pounce on their next meal with precision, or to get across gaps or crossings.

Some people even keep them as pets because of their supposedly high intelligence.

But then again, if you’re afraid of spiders or just don’t want this thing in your home, you’re looking to get rid of them!

These spiders are considered to be beneficial as they:

  • Don’t eat your plants
  • Don’t spin webs and make a mess
  • Eat other bugs

They’re basically a janitor that works for you for free. If you don’t need to get rid of them, then don’t.

And if you do, use a natural control technique that REPELS rather than KILLS jumping spiders.

Other names

Here are some other common nicknames that people use to refer to jumping spiders:

  • Phidippus audax
  • Daring jumping spider
  • Bold jumping spider
  • Portia
  • Bold jumper
  • Peacock spider
  • Zebra spider or zebra jumper
  • Red-backed spider

Appearance

Jumping spider appearance.
They’re easy to spot because of their large front eyes.

Jumping spiders have an appearance similar to that of any other spider.

The average person won’t be able to recognize the difference between “regular” spiders vs. jumping spiders.

Similar to other spiders, jumping spiders have four eyes on their “face” and four at the crest of their carapace for a total of eight eyes.

They have eight visible legs that are powerful to allow them to jump up to 25 times their own body length.

Only a few bugs in the entire kingdom are capable of such a feat- even the click beetle doesn’t match up!

Most are small to medium in size (4-12mm) and fuzzy in appearance.

Their cephalothorax (head and legs) is wide elongated and the abdomen can be spherical to lengthy.

Jumping spiders are usually brightly colored and you may notice that they glisten in the natural sunlight.

They can be black, gray, orange, and red. They can also be shades of silver and brown.

Some spiders can be metallic blue or green or gold and silver. The colors are amazing on males, while females are bland.

Some are made to camouflage with the background and are difficult to see.

Eye patterning can also be an easy technique to tell them apart.

They have 8 eyes that can appear in 3 or 4 rows. The front pair of eyes are noticeably larger than the other eyes and are forward-facing.

These spiders can range in coloration from black to silver to brown but are usually a darker, dull tone.

Their body also may “shine” under bright lighting as they have a lustrous exoskeleton.

Life cycle

Jumping spider lifecycle.
Their life cycle has an awesome mating dance.

Basic and straightforward.

A jumping spider’s life cycle is a basic cycle as you’d expect with any other spider. The exception is that they do some special mating dances that involve some complex dance moves.

These spiders’ high awareness definitely shines during this mating and courtship dance.

Courtship

Jumping spiders are pretty fascinating creatures.

The males and females conduct a complex “dance” to mate. Males possess hairs on their plumose that are reflective under UV. This is especially apparent in peacock spiders.

They may also have these hairs on their legs and other parts of their body.

The colorful parts are shown off to females and they conduct a zigzag dance. This usually has a bunch of sliding and vibrational movements done in front of female spiders. Males will also use sound cues.

Females will then choose to be receptive or not and may vibrate her body to the male. The male will then inseminate her only if she allows.

Egg sac production

After they mate, the female builds a silk “web” (silken retreat) and deposits her eggs.

She’ll produce an egg sac.

She protects and stays with the eggs until they hatch and leave the silk nest permanently. She may be capable of making more eggs during the summertime.

Spiderling hatching

The spiderlings dispose of their nest by using a method called ballooning.

This is where they spit out a silk line that picks up easily by the wind currents and carries the spider with it.

They basically “sail” for some distance. This could be the reason behind their significant diversity across the US.

Most of them spend the entire winter as a full-size adult, but not fully matured spider.

Depending on the species, some become mature in the winter and others in the fall.

Does cold weather (winter) kill them?

Jumping spiders are not killed by the winter.

They’re capable of hiding in a sheltered location that they build with a silken retreat. Males usually develop faster than females and mature in the spring.

It’s important to note the time periods of when they mate. If they mate in the fall, the females will last until next spring.

Each species has its own timing that ranges throughout the years.

After the spiders mature, the males seek out females and continue to mate.

Types of jumping spiders

Jumping spider on plant.
There are thousands of different types of jumpers.

There are many different types of jumping spiders.

Some of the most common ones are the bold jumper, peacock spider, zebra spider, and the Phidippus.

There are hundreds of different types with thousands of different patternings.

You may come across tiny jumping spiders, black and white ones, both big and small jumping spiders, and everything in between.

Where do jumping spiders live?

There are over 6000 different types of jumping spider species identified so far.

North America has over 300 types found all across the states.

They’re mostly found in higher numbers in tropical regions globally and prefer warmer temperatures with high humidity for their offspring.

In the wild, these spiders are found in prairies, grasslands, and fields.

They coexist with humans and will enter abandoned structures to establish a nest or look for prey.

They’ll also enter your house without hesitation if there’s a possible food source for them to hunt.

You may even bring them in yourself as they can cling to your clothes, shoes, backpack, and other equipment.

Once inside the home, they’re difficult to control if they breed, and eggs are deposited by a pregnant female.

They’ve been found in flowers, low and high foliage, under rocks, within plant debris, freshwater rivers and streams, forests, deserts, grasslands, pastures, lakes, and saltwater.

They may also get inside your home through plants which you bought from the store or harvested fruits and veggies.

Since they tend to congregate on flowers and other brightly colored plants, they can be smuggled into the home without you even knowing.

And it makes sense- these are predatory spiders which hunt other bugs.

Bugs are drawn towards brightly colored plants and flowers, which is why they hang out in the same areas to stalk their prey.

They’ve been found in countries all over the world and in nearly every single state in the US.

Most signings occur during the warmer months (March to June) as these spiders are hatching then.

It just goes to show that these spiders are most active when other bugs are also most active (since they feed on them).

The least favorable months are the colder season (September to December).

What do jumping spiders eat?

These predatory spiders eat a variety of pests as they’re always hunting and foraging.

These spiders don’t feed on plant matter and solely focus on other living prey.

So in other words, they’re carnivorous spiders.

Jumping spiders eat a variety of bugs, such as:

In fact, you can even thank them for being a beneficial bug. They help you control OTHER bug problems and getting rid of the jumping spiders may affect the ecosystem in your yard.

Plus, they don’t eat your plants.

You may notice that other bug populations rise if you completely exterminate the jumping spiders at once.

Are jumping spiders harmful to humans?

Jumping spider eating bugs.
Are they dangerous? No. They’re beneficial!

Jumping spiders are generally safe and harmless to humans.

They rarely will bite and prefer to jump away and escape rather than deal with a predator many times bigger than themselves.

However, jumping spiders are definitely capable of biting humans and pets if provoked or threatened.

They’ll defend themselves by quickly biting the skin and injecting venom.

Their venom is not harmful to humans, but the bite itself can cause some minor pain, swelling, and possible infection.

You should clean and disinfect the bite source as soon as possible. If you have allergies or a reaction to the bite, contact the proper authorities.

Are they poisonous?

Jumping spiders have a pair of fangs and make venom, but are rarely any threat to humans.

They’re not considered to be dangerous, and their bite is not poisonous.

They can bite, however. And this can cause some localized side effects or more for allergic or sensitive people.

But for the majority of people, they’re considered to not be that poisonous.

Jumping spider bite symptoms

Some people may have a reaction to spider bites.

Most symptoms are localized and usually result in some swelling, a rash, itchiness, and other minor symptoms.

Those with allergies should seek advice from the proper authorities.

How smart are jumping spiders?

Jumping spiders are said to be the personalities of the spider world.

This is why they’re often kept as pets and some hobby group forums exist online.

Although they have a small cranium, they’re known to be very smart creatures.

When compared to regular spiders, they have the ability to stalk, sneak, and prey on other bugs. They have precise timing and leaping abilities.

And they can even plan ahead and predict a prey’s steps and paths to get to it. This shows some degree of strategic ability, which is pretty darn smart for a spider.

Where do jumping spiders hide?

Jumping spiders mostly hide in plant matter.

The majority of species are native to a variety of different biomes- tropics, forests, grasslands, prairies, fields, deserts, scrublands, and mountains.

Because of the diversity, there are spiders adapted to all sorts of different environments and therefore will be different depending on where you live.

For starters, you’ll likely find jumping spiders hiding in cracks.

This can be throughout your home’s foundation, sidings, roofing, gutters, downspouts, weatherstripping, around windows and doors, within storage containers, or anywhere there’s clutter.

There’s really no “specific” area that they hide- anywhere that’s well sheltered and has a source of food will suffice.

Because they’re natural-born hunters, they’ll scavenge and forage for prey to feed their carnivorous lifestyle. You may find jumping spiders on your plants, flowers, bushes, and trees.

But then again, you may also find some in your house, basement, attic, garage, outhouse, shed, and even your cellar (not to be confused with the cellar spider).

How can you tell a male from a female jumping spider?

Males can be differentiated from females by size.

Males are usually 6-14mm in length, while females are 8-15mm. Both spiders are hairy and have tons of small fine hairs all over their abdomen.

Males and females may also be different colors, with some males being darker than females.

But this isn’t a hard and fast rule, as it varies on the species.

Male jumping spiders also have UV reflectors on the body when matured. This is used by females for courtship and mating purposes.

The males will also attempt to mate with every female they encounter, but this could lead to a fatal interaction if the wrong female is courted.

You can also differentiate between the male vs. female is the presence of palps on the males, which will have bulbs on the end.

The females don’t have these on their ends. They just have the skinny and straight palps. Males may also have a larger chelicera if the species you have is a Salticus.

Males that have become sexually mature also have a long and slender body compared to females, which are chunkier.

You can check out this site for spider comparison.

Can spiders jump on you?

Yes, of course. Jumping spiders prefer to flee rather than jump towards something that’s a threat (like humans).

But sometimes they may jump on you by mistake, miss a landing, or try to cross a gap.

They may also spot something to eat on your shirt, pants, or shoes and jump on you to catch the prey. It’s highly unlikely that a jumping spider jumps on you because it’s trying to attack you. If you provoke it, you may be bitten.

But then again, these are usually harmless to humans so you’re safe unless you’re just asking to be bitten.

Signs of jumping spiders

Jumping spider closeup.
You can recognize them by their silk retreat.

There are a few telltale signs of jumping spider infestations, but don’t assume the pest is a jumping spider just because you recognize a few signs of spiders.

It could be any other spider in your home or garden.

Regardless, here are some common signs of jumping spiders:

  • Visible jumping spiders
  • Spun silk or egg deposits
  • Hatched eggs
  • Abandoned silk or egg nests
  • Silk retreats with a live spider

The more of these you see, the higher the probability of a jumping spider problem.

The problem with jumping spiders is that you really need to SEE them to know you have them.

Otherwise, you’ll often be confused over jumping spiders and other spiders. Noting the difference between a traditional spider web and a silk retreat is key. You can look up examples online.

Why do I have jumping spiders in my house?

Jumping spiders outside.
Jumping spiders in the house? Make it your new pet!

Jumping spiders are known to be very smart predators and will be on the hunt for prey. If you find them inside your house, they’ll likely wander around in search of prey.

They may also be attracted to the ambient temperatures inside your home, especially if it’s too hot or cold outside.

Lastly, they may be seeking a suitable environment to breed or deposit eggs.

Are jumping spiders bad?

No, jumping spiders are considered to be a beneficial bug because they help control the bug population in your yard and home.

Since they also don’t spin webs, they don’t make a mess of your house, porch, deck, or garden.

No webs on the porch from these spiders. They’re basically a free pest control worker that works for you 24/7. For free.

Unlike recluses and daddy long legs, they don’t leave any webs behind.

Many people also consider them to be a pet because of their high intelligence and bizarre behavior and therefore kept in complete pet setups!

Here’s an example of jumping spider enclosure:

How to get rid of jumping spiders in the house naturally

Here are some tips you can do at home to get rid of these spiders from your home and yard.

Note that no single technique works for all situations.

You’ll have to try a few out and see what works.

Depending on how many spiders you have, where they’re hiding, and what they’re eating, your removal plan may differ.

Manual removal

Catching a jumping spider in your home can be difficult. But you can still catch one if you act quickly.

Even if you miss and the spider jumps away, you can relocate your efforts to try catching and killing it again

Use a handheld vacuum

Vacuum to keep spiders out.
Vacuum regularly to keep the spiders out.

Jumping spiders are thought to catch because of their sheer speed and reaction time.

You can manually catch one using a small handheld vacuum cleaner, but you need to act quickly as they’ll disappear and jump away in a snap.

When you approach the spider, the trick is to sneak up as close as you can and then power it on and “shove” the vacuum up to the spider as fast as possible. If you turn on the vacuum before you approach the spider, the noise or air exhaust may scare it away.

So that’s why you keep the vacuum OFF until you get as close as you can.

Use the jar method

This method involves you using a small mason jar and a piece of thick paper (like an index card), but you can use a magazine, newspaper, printer paper, etc.

Simply get up as close as you can and position the jar over the spider.

The jar will be harder to see for it because it’s transparent, and this is exactly why you should avoid using a solid colored container to catch the spider.

Once you get up close, position the jar over the top of the spider and quickly cover it.

You’ll probably see it panic and jump constantly while trapped in the jar.

Next, slide the piece of paper under the jar between the surface and mouth of the container. Then pick up the jar and paper at the same time.

You just caught a jumping spider! This is also useful for catching them on walls, rose bushes, and plants.

Clean up egg sacs and webs

Jumping spider silk web.
Spider webs aren’t a sign of jumping spiders.

While you have your vacuum handy, you should go around your home and clean up any visible eggs and webs the spiders left behind. This is obvious.

But killing the spider and leaving the egg sacs behind doesn’t help your case.

You’ll want to go through your entire (yes, your ENTIRE) property over a weekend and do a thorough cleaning.

This will help clear out future jumping spiders from spawning and also remove a lot of food sources that attract other bugs into your property, like millipedes and centipedes.

Note that jumping spiders don’t make webs.

Rather, they produce silk nests to keep eggs under their hatch.

However, you should remove both webs and silk entirely from your home so you suck up all the eggs.

Dispose of the vacuum debris because the eggs can still hatch within your vacuum canister.

Use essential oils

You can use essential oils to help repel jumping spiders from your home.

Similar to many other spiders, they dislike the scent of powerful oils. And essential oils are no exception. They’re concentrated liquids and emit extremely aromatic scents.

You can harness this power and use it to keep spiders out of your house naturally without the need for dangerous pesticides.

These oils are cheap and you can readily buy them from specialty stores or order them online.

And since you only need a few drops of it, a single bottle will last you quite some time.

Some of the most popular essential oils reported to be effective are:

  • Peppermint oil
  • Lavender oil
  • Neem oil
  • Basil oil

You can buy a bottle and add a few drops to a spray bottle and dilute it with water.

You only need a few drops for an entire liter of water, so don’t overdo it. Research online and use a recipe that seems effective.

Here’s an example of one peppermint oil recipe you can use:

Note that some people and pets are sensitive to essential oils, so use as directed by the product label and always do your research!

After you get a concentration that you’re comfortable with, you can start to apply it where you suspect spiders to be entering your home from.

When the spiders smell the strong scent, they’ll be repelled to stay out of your house.

Here are some common areas to spray the repellent:

  • Around window frames
  • Within door gaps
  • Attic and house vents
  • Weatherstripping
  • Foundation cracks and crevices
  • Outdoors
  • HVAC vents
  • Use cotton balls

You can soak cotton balls in essential oils and place them around the home and yard as a natural repellent.

Use lavender or peppermint oil and fully soak the cotton ball.

Then stuff it into foundation cracks, windowsills, crevices, voids, crawl spaces, attics, doors, and other gaps you come across.

Keep your home maintained

By doing basic household maintenance, you can keep your home protected against jumping spiders among many other insects.

The spiders must’ve entered your house through some entry point, right?

So if you block off all possible points, then they can’t get in.

It’s not magic, but people will ignore fixing their house when trying to get rid of pests in general.

You’ll need to spend some time planning and inspecting all the areas that need repair. Depending on the condition of your property, this may take a few days to many months.

You may also need to hire contractors if you don’t know how to do repairs around the house.

But the end result?

You have a house that’s nearly impenetrable by bugs. And that’s an investment that’ll pay off for years and years.

If you’re handy, start with an examination around your property and take note of what needs to be repaired, sealed, replaced, or caulked to keep spiders out.

Here are some common areas to check around the home:

  • Window frames
  • Door gaps
  • Foundation cracks
  • Crawl spaces
  • Vents
  • Damaged window screens
  • Patio doors
  • Chimney and attic paths
  • Wall voids

You can go after the easy fixes first.

Repairing damaged window screens, caulking in gaps, fixing weatherstripping, and sealing up extra spaces around wires and cables can all help.

Contact a professional home repair company for the stuff you don’t know how to do.

Remember that spiders will sneak and find their way into your home even though the smallest of crevices.

So while fixing up your home may prevent spiders and bugs from getting in, it’s not a bulletproof solution. Unless you absolutely every single entry point.

Maintain your yard

Clean yard to eradicate crane flies.
A clean yard proves to be less attractive to pests.

It’s obvious, but keeping your yard clean and tidy is a huge benefit to keeping spiders out.

And if spiders are out of your yard, then they’re out of your home also.

Spiders are attracted to small bugs because that’s what they eat. If the outside of your house is a mess, this just offers tons of bugs to come in and infest the place. And this definitely brings in spiders of all kinds.

Do regular yard cleaning and keep it free from plant debris.

Get rid of all leaf litter on the lawn and keep it mowed.

Keep your plants pruned on a schedule.

Secure trash bins and compost areas.

Eliminate clutter, patio furniture, or other junk that you don’t need.

Remove any excess firewood or cover your woodpiles. Spiders will hide in tight spaces and spin webs there.

So keeping it clean and free from clutter reduces the chances of them living there and probably migrating over to your neighbors’ instead.

Prune plants that bridge

This one’s an easy one.

Keep any nearby bushes, trees, and plants from touching your home. Since spiders nest and forage on these plants, they just make an easy entry point into your house.

You’ll also want to make sure that tree branches and plant stems don’t form a “bridge” to your home.

For example, a tall tree that has branches extending to your attic or roof can allow bugs to travel there. It should be pruned to stop this path of entry.

Any source of plant foliage should be removed from the perimeter of your home.

This is just asking for a spider problem. You can translate the plants to another place in your yard.

Plant vegetation also provides a place for the spiders to hide and also hunt, both of which could lead to them sneaking into your home.

Remove hiding places

Jumping spiders hide in plants, but also will hide in garden decor, mulch, stones, rocks, pebbles, planters, and even trellis around the home.

You should not have any of these making contact on your home’s walls or foundation.

Keep them at a distance from your home’s doors and windows to keep it clean.

Spiders will be less attracted to get inside your house with the distance separating your home from their hiding place.

Spray vinegar

Vinegar is acidic enough to kill spiders on contact.

Use pure white vinegar and mix it with equal parts water in a spray bottle. When you see a jumper, spray it with the solution if you’re fast enough.

You can also spray some around places you’ve seen the spiders crawl across. It’s said that the pungent odor of vinegar will keep them away as a natural repellent.

This is a cheap and easy way to get rid of jumping spiders.

Use dish soap

You can use the tried and true dish soap and water method to make a quick bug killer.

Add 2 tablespoons of dish soap to 2 cups of water and mix. It should start to foam and bubble up.

Then you can spray the mixture directly onto the spider. It should be killed upon contact as the surface tension of the dish detergent is too tough for them to breakthrough.

Minimize lighting

Jumping spiders aren’t necessarily attracted to light, but other bugs are.

Flying pests like the common black houseflies, whiteflies, and click beetles, are drawn to light sources.

This is a problem because jumping spiders will congregate where a food source is abundant.

And if you have a bunch of pests hanging around your lighting at night, this just makes it a buffet of food for jumping spiders.

So even though the light doesn’t attract the spiders directly, they’re attracted to the other bugs that ARE attracted to the light.

Therefore, you’re attracting these spiders indirectly. Possibly without even knowing it.

Outdoor patio lights are the usual culprit. Nocturnal (nighttime) bugs are mostly attracted to bright lights.

And the problem?

Patio lights are usually near doors or windows- perfect entry points into your house!

So now you have bugs hanging around your lights with spiders hanging around those bugs.

And both of them entering your home because of the close proximity.

This is why you should reduce lighting or turn it off when possible.

Don’t leave your porch or patio lights on when you don’t need them. Turn off indoor lights or use a curtain to stop the light from being visible to outside bugs.

Get rid of pathway markers or picnic lights where possible. And make sure your security lights are constantly on if not necessary.

You can also switch to vapor lights. These are lights that are made with sodium and may be called “salt lights” which are different from salt lamps.

They’re less of an attractant to flying pests and this may help stop them from hanging around your home.

You’ll also notice that by simply reducing your lighting at night, you’ll have fewer bugs overall to deal with.

Keep your home clean

Jumping spiders lawn.
Keep spiders out by keeping clean and reducing other food sources.

You can take steps to keep your home free of pests, which will then get rid of the food source for jumping spiders.

Simply taking measures like cleaning up dirty dishes, taking out the trash, not leaving leftover food, and regular vacuuming can make a huge difference.

Get rid of any clutter and unnecessary furniture and storage.

They just harbor hiding places for roaches, silverfish, and spiders.

Combined with patching up your home on the outside, you can also clean up your house on the inside for a double-pronged approach to keep the spiders out!

Here are some other tips to consider:

  • Use plastic storage containers (not crates) for your unused clutter. This will block pests from getting in and making nests and webs.
  • Plastic also protects your stuff from being chewed on, pooped on, and even household dust (which has dust mites).
  • Clean up your dirty dishes as soon as you’re done eating
  • Never leave uneaten food behind (crumbs, beverages, spills, cooking oils, etc.)
  • Throw away old paper-based products (cardboard, newspapers, etc.) These provide a food source for some bugs like termites, ants, and booklice.
  • Store your clothing in airtight vacuum bags or containers. Fabrics and clothing make food sources for pantry moths and rice bugs.
  • Remove the trash regularly
  • Vacuum your floors or sweep weekly
  • Dust your home monthly
  • Clean common areas like counters, tables, and doorknobs
  • Eradicate other pests!

The entire point of this is to make sure you don’t attract bugs into your home because that’ll indirectly bring in jumping spiders.

They eat small bugs. Get rid of the small bugs and you’ll get rid of the spiders.

Use a spider sticky trap

You can buy a sticky trap from the store and use it around areas that spiders use to enter your house.

They’re easy to use and a cheap solution to trap jumping spiders. You can use the trap around your windows and doors to automatically trap any spiders that attempt to sneak into your house.

Use as directed. There are some sticky traps that are made for painted surfaces and won’t damage them when used correctly.

Place peppermint sticks strategically

Peppermint spider repellent.
Peppermint can help keep jumping spiders away from your property.

Peppermint sticks can be bought for cheap and used as a spider repellent without making a mess.

If you don’t want to sprinkle powder or use liquid sprays that you have to constantly spray over and over.

You can place them in your dressers to stop spiders from getting into your clothing.

Or you can place them around the room if you find jumping spiders in your bedroom.

They also smell amazing so there’s no reason to ditch them.

Dehumidify

Spiders prefer humid areas, so if you have a basement or bathroom that’s always moist and humidity is a problem, use a dehumidifier.

You can also crack a window or door to help if possible.

Lowering humidity will also help prevent a bunch of other bugs from breeding and infesting your home.

A TON of pests like moisture in the air. By lowering the humidity, you’ll prevent pests like crane flies, pillbugs, and the feared earwigs which all prefer a humid environment.

Dehumidifying will repel not just jumping spiders, but a whole host of pests!

Place chestnuts around the home

Chestnuts repel spiders without using poison.
These are said to repel spiders.

Chestnuts are said to be a natural spider repellent and can be used safely around the home.

Just make sure that no pets or children come into contact with them, as they can pose a choking hazard.

Also watch out for people with allergies to nuts.

Otherwise, you can place chestnuts around areas that you suspect jumping spiders are active.

Some common areas are:

  • Corners
  • Dark areas
  • Storage areas
  • Basements
  • Under furniture
  • Behind dressers
  • Around appliances
  • Within the kitchen

You can cut the nut in half to release the odor, which is said to repel spiders. other than chestnuts you can also use walnuts which are both said to also be effective.

How’s that for an all-natural alternative to insecticides?

Use diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth, AKA DE, is a natural spider killer.

DE is a natural fine powder that’s made from diatoms that have since fossilized. It’s safe for pets and people, but you should still take caution and avoid handling it when possible.

Also make sure pets and kids don’t accidentally come into contact with it. You can buy food-grade, organic DE at most department stores.

Use it by sprinkling a fine layer of the white powder around areas that you think spiders will walk over. They need to “step” on diatomaceous earth for it to work.

The powder makes microincision on the external hard shell, which then cuts the spider up and leaks out fluids. This will dehydrate the spider over time.

DE does not kill upon contact and will kill jumping spiders slowly.

Use it where you think the spiders will come into contact with it.

Some common areas where spiders infest:

  • Perimeter of rooms
  • Under doorways
  • Around windows
  • Next to patio doors
  • Under furniture, appliances, and other heavy equipment
  • Within the kitchen
  • Around dark areas or humid areas
  • Outside in the garden around your home

You can sprinkle DE everywhere to build a barrier around your home. Think of it as an invisible fence” that keeps spiders out.

How to stop jumping spiders permanently

Stop jumping spiders.
Permanently getting rid of them isn’t easy.

Because of their small size, jumping spiders are difficult to control 100%.

The most you can do is clean up your yard and seal up your home.

This will help keep your house safe against spiders and other common household pests.

You can toss in some natural repellents (essential oils), cotton balls soaked with repellent, and even use some spider traps (sticky traps) to further safeguard your property.

But even then, it’s still very difficult to fully exterminate them. Especially if you live somewhere that they’re native to.

There’s no surefire way to get rid of jumping spiders for good. Unless you consult a professional who has access to the powerful toxins. But then again, do you want that stuff sprayed all over your home?

Always use organic or natural control. And remember- they’re BENEFICIAL to have. So if you don’t need to get rid of them, don’t.

Further reading

Here are some references you can check out that you may find useful for jumping spiders:

Did you get rid of the jumping spiders?

How to get rid of jumping spiders
Be patient and persistent!

You should now have a solid foundation to control, manage, and eliminate these bugs.

Remember that they’re considered to be a beneficial insect because they help control other bug populations in your home and garden.

If you kill them all, you may notice that other bugs start breeding like crazy, so be warned.

And if people keep them as pets, they must not be that bad, right?

If you have any questions, drop a comment and let me know. Or if this page has helped you, let me know also!

Thanks for reading!

5 thoughts on “How to Get Rid of Jumping Spiders in Your Home (Naturally)”

  1. Amma Asantewaa

    Thank you, Anthony.
    I freaked out this morning when I found two jumping spiders underneath my pillow when I was changing my sheets. I sprayed bug spray, but one got away.
    Thanks for your advice for peppermint oil, I’ll use it right away.

  2. Barry lieberman

    I have an infestation in an outdoor portable enclosure. I have tried sawyer ,cutter, and other industrial deterants but these spiders seem to thrive on them. I am not usually sqeamish, but these things creep me out. Did i read right, peppermint oil works?? Any thoughts appreciated.

  3. yea get rid of them so all the bugs they eat multiply, so you will need pest control. pretty smart

  4. I have been bitten I think severly by this spider and have never seen
    one of course I am in my 70’s and these buggers are quick a flash
    but so you know their venom is dangerous as wound swells and spreads
    to all fatty tissue near bite area and use lymphocyte canal in tissue to create
    a red line sometime a couple red lines to travel through bite area. I live in Central
    Florida Eustis in MH community I have been attacked usually in my shop area where there is a decayed particle board bench a great haven for them, moisture and small holes; a wall w crap insulation however I have used mothballs every week; I have used vinegar, dawn, lemon juice and salt mixed w water but have only spray 1 or 2 times a week and will have to trash bench particle board and put everything outdoors to treat room thoroughly.
    I do treat lawns all around the house w dawn, vinegar, salt, concentrated lemon juice
    every time I cut lawn which is every two weeks.
    For the bites u must use cold ice packs for swelling immediately take 50 mg Benadryl to reduce inflammation and continue Benadryl for next two or three days until venom is dissipated out of fatty tissue you will know this by feeling area of the bite which will feel like a sack. A doctor should know immediately to give you an antibiotic with this type of bites. I am not a doctor and what I reiterate is my own opinion and of course how you treat yourself is for you to see a doctor.

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