Do Mothballs Keep Spiders Away?

Do mothballs deter spiders? Do they keep these insects away?

Let’s discuss this and more in this article.

Spiders are considered a nuisance due to the webs they weave around homes. Also, people view spiders as being creepy. It’s common to find homeowners taking appropriate action to rid their surroundings of these arachnids.

This includes the use of methods that may be effective or ineffective.

Do Mothballs Repel Spiders?

One home remedy that has been promoted as being an effective spider remedy (at least from anecdotal evidence) is mothball application.

These are basically small chemical pesticides shaped round or in the form of balls and applied for moth control. We’ll be finding out if it can work as a spider repellent.

About Moth Balls

As briefly stated above, mothballs are moth killer pesticides composed almost entirely of active ingredients. Such active ingredients could either be naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene.

Now, the problem is, both of these active ingredients are known to be toxic to humans.

Kids are the worst hit when exposed to mothballs for a significant amount of time. These solid balls are easily dispersed through sublimation.

That is, it works by transforming directly from the solid phase to the gaseous phase.

Gases released act to kill off moths and other pests.

Using Moth Balls For Spiders

While some homeowners will swear by its efficacy as a spider repellent, there’s no clear evidence pointing to such. In other words, these claims are mostly anecdotal evidence that has no real backing in terms of scientific proof.

However, we must state that the unreliability of mothballs to repel spiders should be the least of your worries.

This is because mothballs are known to be toxic. More than anything else, you want to ensure safety first before repelling a pest through whatever means available.

With mothballs, there’s no such guarantee as it’s toxic to humans. Whether you’re using mothballs made from naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, the outcome is mostly the same; exposure to toxic substances.

This is something you don’t want to experience.

Why Use a Pesticide Considered Toxic and Unreliable?

With the right knowledge, people have reservations about mothball and permethrin use for spider control. Whether mothballs repel spiders or not isn’t the issue as long as it isn’t safe for humans and pets.

The claims pointing to mothballs as spider repellents simply aren’t backed by scientific fact.

In terms of its toxicity, it’s little wonder then why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires clear warnings on pesticide products having or containing naphthalene.

With mothballs applied around a particular area, it begins to give off naphthalene fumes or vapor.

Asides from slowly poisoning members of your household and pets, it doesn’t get the job done for which it was applied.

In other words, your spider problems are going nowhere. You’ll have to find alternative ways of repelling spiders from your home.

Why Are Moth Balls Thought to Repel Spiders?

The misconception of mothballs as spider repellent is deep-rooted among certain individuals probably due to stories they’ve heard.

These pesticide balls give off a pungent odor and most strong odors (whether natural or chemical) are thought to disorient pests. This isn’t entirely false.

Smells from plants like essential oils will readily drive away spiders, wasps, and bugs among others. This could be the reason why mothball as a pesticide is thought to have such a repellent effect on spiders even when it doesn’t.

It mostly takes a simple trial of mothballs on spiders to discover it’s not reliable as earlier thought. At this point, a strong doubt about its reliability develops which pushes such a person to look for reliable alternatives.

Reliable Alternatives to Moth Balls For Spider Control

Mothballs don’t have any repellent effect on spiders.

As such, you’ll need to find alternatives that are actually reliable and repel spiders. Luckily there are lots of options to pick from.

One of the most comprehensive ways to combat a spider problem is by calling a reputable pest management service.

i. Adopt Preventive Measures

These are mostly considered proactive in that, steps are taken to make your surroundings unwelcoming to spiders. Preventive measures are among the best ways to keep spiders at bay.

It consists of several actions that focus on spider attractions.

By eliminating such incentives, spiders won’t have to be around in the first place. Simple actions like the turning of the lights go a long way to keep spiders away. How is that possible?

At night, lights attract insects which in turn attract spiders because they feed on these insects and bugs.

A chain reaction is set off which leads to spider presence. By putting off the lights and installing screens, you’re able to keep insects out. Spiders won’t come around as long as there’s no clear incentive.

• Seal Cracks on Wall

You may wonder how spiders make their way into homes when your doors are always kept shut and screens are installed on windows. Well, it may be through cracks along your walls.

You’ll need to close inspection your walls for any such cracks no matter how little. Have these caulked up sealed up?

• Declutter your Home

Spiders find a cluttered surrounding welcoming as it provides lots of hiding spots.

Such clutter may be found both indoors and outdoors. By having these cleared or removed, you’ve succeeded in making your home an unsuitable habitation for spiders.

• Dust Regularly

This might sound surprising for some, but basic cleaning activities such as regular dusting goes a lot to keep your home free from spiders. With less dust, spider web spinning is drastically reduced.

• Clear Vegetation from Entrances

When there’s vegetation around entrances, these may be used as hideouts from which spiders sneak into your home. You can prevent such problems by clearing such vegetation further away from entrances.

This does a lot to reduce spider presence.

• Properly Store or Dispose of Leftovers

After a meal, leftovers may be scattered about or disposed of improperly. This attracts bugs like roaches among others. Before long, spiders come around as they find ample prey around your home.

By eliminating the problem (leftover food), you’ve succeeded in making your home less inviting to spiders.

ii. Essential Oils are Great Repellents

With essential oils, you can rid your home of spiders.

These are natural and environmentally safe treatments that can easily be applied. Some essential oils that will prove useful include eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, tea tree oil, lavender oil, and citronella oils.

Mothballs do not repel spiders and are also toxic to humans and pets. You’ll need to avoid using such for your spider problem.