How To Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders, Stop Infestation, and Treatment

Georgette Kilgore headshot, wearing 8 Billion Trees shirt with forest in the background.Written by Georgette Kilgore

Pest Control | February 26, 2024

Woman battling spider webs wonders how to get rid of brown recluse spiders and how to stop spider infestations and treatments for killing spiders as well as when to contact pest control for spiders.

If, like many other people in the US, you also have a profound fear of spiders, then you may want to know how to get rid of brown recluse spiders.

Being one of the top three most lethal spiders in the country, removing them can be tricky.

Since spiders play an important role in the ecology of any area, removal isn’t always necessary, but making sure that poisonous Brown Recluses are not forming a colony in your attic or basement is a good idea.

Knowing how to get rid of Brown Recluse spiders just involves a little research. This guide explains methods that work and outlines when you should contact a professional pest control company to kill them.

Pest Control for Brown Recluse Spiders (How To Kill a Spider)

Of course, you want to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from spider bites, so if you spot a brown recluse, you immediately start thinking of the most effective ways to get rid of it. Here’s how.

Brown Recluse Repellent

Once you have spotted the spiders and identified them and where they are, knowing what repels them can go a long way to preventing further infestation.

You want to make your home an uncomfortable place for them, and the best way to go is to use natural remedies and strong scents that the spiders absolutely hate.

Try planting an eucalyptus plant or spraying essential oils like lavender from the lavender tree and peppermint.

Brown Recluse Insecticides

Insecticides can be bought from local stores and online, and they are foolproof methods. Homeowners also turn to them because they deal with the infestation in no time, all thanks to components like pyrethrin and cyfluthrin.

You can even get them in spray and dust, apart from the liquid form.

Yet, if you have small children or pets, this isn’t always the best solution.

Natural Methods

If you want an effective method that doesn’t involve the use of chemicals that may be harmful, you can always opt for natural remedies, and there are so many options.

For instance, you can use sticky traps with glue, diatomaceous earth powder, or even a mixture of water, dish soap, and vinegar.

There is also an ongoing debate about whether vinegar kills brown recluses, but it has proven to be an effective solution.

Brown Recluse Exterminator

If you have literally tried all the DIY methods above but none of them are giving you the results you want, you can hire professional help instead.

Getting an exterminator is also an excellent solution if you have a huge infestation on your hands that the natural methods just won’t handle.2

How To Avoid a Brown Recluse Infestation: How To Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders by Prevention

Prevention is the best way to go because you won’t even have to deal with the insect or even find out how to get rid of brown recluse spiders because you will have successfully prevented them from attacking.

Here are a few tips.

  1. You can use repellents with very strong scents that spiders hate to keep them away. Spray them in entryways and windows where the spiders will likely go through.
  2. You also want to make sure that you turn off the lights at night and keep the doors and windows shut.3
  3. Spiders love hiding in clutter, so maybe try tidying up frequently, especially in the attic and garage.
  4. Tall grasses and climbing plants near your house are also hiding spots, so make sure that you keep them short.
  5. Vacuuming often will also go a long way to get rid of spiders and their egg sacs.

When To Call Exterminator for Brown Recluse Spiders

You can do two things when dealing with spiders in your home: either DIY or call exterminators, and the two have their ups and downsides to consider.

For DIY, you will handle everything on your own according to the treatment method you have decided on. You could use traps, insecticides, or natural homemade remedies—whatever works for you.

Graphic that shows what attracts Brown Recluse Spiders to a home which are standing water or ponds around, light on all night, wood debris, and livestock.

The only problem is that DIY is not ideal when dealing with heavy infestations. If there is any chance that you believe that you are dealing with an extensive attack, then you may have to contact an expert to help.

There is only one problem, and so many homeowners hold back from that, worried that the costs will be too high.

Luckily, that is not always the case; as a matter of fact, you can easily find an exterminator company with very fair pricing.

And, most companies will provide an assessment so that you can determine whether the cost is manageable.

How To Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders: Choosing a Company for Brown Recluse Treatment

Undoubtedly, there are so many exterminators that are operating in the US, and as such, it may be a little tasking to settle on just one. This is your first time? Then these tips will come in handy.

  • Licensing: Imagine handing over a job as sensitive as extermination to an unlicensed company. The first thing that you have to check is whether you are dealing with staff members who are qualified for the job and are actually recognized by the authorities. This way, you will be certain that they follow particular rules in everything they do.
  • Experience: Would you hire someone unskilled for any project in or around your house? In the same light, you have to be very careful with the exterminator company that you choose, making sure that it has been in the industry for a really long time because, with that, you will be certain that the job is in great hands.
  • Affordable Pricing: Forget the notion that all exterminators are too expensive. There are, in fact, so many professionals who do a great job but are still affordable. Getting rid of the brown recluse doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to break the bank.

You can even ask for free quotations and make comparisons to help with your budgeting.

Spiders can be creepy, and it is justifiable if you don’t want them to be in your space. It doesn’t matter if they are venomous or not; some people naturally fear spiders or, generally, any bug in their space.

So, you need to know how best to handle infestations if they come.

Photo of a pest control worker while working.

(Image: Copla Group3)

Prevention helps to avoid them before they attack and also after treatment, but in case they do infiltrate, you will be glad that there are natural DIY solutions that are very affordable.

How To Identify a Brown Recluse Spider: What Does a Brown Recluse Look Like?

First and foremost, you have to know the tiny house bug pictures and names before you get to learn how to get rid of brown recluse spiders. There are so many types out there that are completely harmless, but you have to be sure first.

Brown Recluse Spider

(Loxosceles reclusa)

Photo of the Brown Recluse Spider in an oval frame on a green background.
  • Image by: iamfindingplants4
  • Description: A member of the arachnid family with six eyes, known for its brown color and distinctive violin-shaped marking on its back.
  • Natural habitat: United States (South West)
  • Locations: Outdoors debris, underwood debris, logs, and rocks, but can also stay indoors in homes.

Just from the name, you can already tell that this arachnid is brown in color. But, you may wonder, why the nickname fiddleback/violin spider?

It is because of the violin-shaped markings that lie on its back. You will also be able to identify one of the six eyes. They look kind of like the brown widow, but the difference is in the markings on the back.

Also, interestingly, these spiders don’t spin their webs to catch prey like others do; theirs is for holding their egg sacs.

Does a Brown Recluse Spider Bite?

The brown recluse is one of the deadliest spiders in the country, right up there next to the black widow and Chilean recluse.

Many people constantly search for how to get rid of black widows and safe pest control for black widows because of their toxic, venomous nature, and being in the same class as the brown recluse tells you a lot.

Graphic that shows how to identify Brown Recluse Spider through violin-shaped mark on its back, 6 eyes set in 3 pairs, and light-colored legs with no spine.

The brown recluse is only lethal when provoked and does bite humans when it feels threatened. Initially, you may not even feel any pain; only hours later, causing a wound that usually heals on its own. You will have to place ice on the bite and immediately go to the doctor, and if possible, bring with you the particular brown recluse spider, dead or alive.1

What Attracts Brown Recluse Spiders to Your Home?

The brown recluse has found its home in many states in the US, particularly in the Midwest and the South.

So, there are high chances of bumping into one if you live in these regions; however, there are other possible explanations.

  1. If you constantly leave your lights on at night.
  2. If you have places with standing water, like ponds around your home.
  3. If there are so many hiding spots in your house, say wood debris and clutter.
  4. If there are livestock in your home.

On the other hand, there are unavoidable instances where the infestation is extreme, such that there is no possible way that you could DIY the treatment.

Yet, professionals know the safest and most effective remedies for how to get rid of brown recluse spiders, and they will definitely make it worth the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders

Are Brown Spiders Poisonous?

Unfortunately, the brown recluse is one of the few spiders that are venomous, such that its bite requires immediate medical attention. It contains necrotic venom that usually causes destruction of the tissue around the bit area. The bite is also painful, and the side effects range from dizziness to vomiting.

What Are the Spiders That Look Like Brown Recluses?

The brown recluse spider looks so similar to the wood-louse hunters, the southern house spider, and the funnel weaver spiders because of their colors and other features. It is only when you look closely that you will identify the distinctive markings on their bodies.

How Do You Identify a Brown Recluse Web?

Unlike other spiders, the brown recluse doesn’t have a well-defined and organized web. In fact, it doesn’t even use it to catch prey, only to hold its eggs. You can confirm that the web belongs to the brown recluse if it is loose, kind of sticky, and grey or off-white in color, and in most cases, it will be at ground level.

How Do You DIY Brown Recluse Removal? What Are the Ways How to Get Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders on Your Own?

There are a couple of homemade and chemical DIY treatment methods that you can use to get rid of brown recluse spiders. You can use homemade mixtures made of vinegar, dish soap, and water or even buy spider traps and insecticides, but the catch is that these methods are best for minor infestations.


References

1Alabama University. (2022, June). The Brown Recluse Spider: Facts & Control. Alabama Extension. <https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/home/the-brown-recluse-spider-facts-control/>

2Merchant, M. (n.d.). Control of Brown Recluse Spiders. AgriLife Extension. <https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/biting-stinging/others/ent-3003/>

3Photo By Copla Group – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0. Re-sized. From <https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61615378>

4Photo 212774699 Photo by iamfindingplants. (2022, July) / CC0 1.0 DEED | CC0 1.0 Universal. Cropped and added text, shape, and background elements. iNaturalist. Retrieved February 26, 2024, from https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/212774699 <https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/212774699>