How to Kill Brown Recluse Spiders

Co-authored by Chris Parker and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: July 31, 2024 References

It’s pretty scary when you come face to face with any spider, but especially with a venomous brown recluse. Since they have an extremely poisonous bite, it’s important to get rid of them safely as soon as you can. Luckily, you can kill a brown recluse without getting close to it. We’ll walk you through some quick and easy ways to kill a spider as well as give you some tips to keep brown recluses out of your home.

1

Spray the spider with aerosol pesticides.

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Liquid pesticides kill the spider right on contact and repel others. An insecticidal aerosol spray is one of the most effective ways for controlling brown recluse spiders. Get a spray that’s specifically made for spiders.^{[1]
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Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.} When you see a brown recluse, spray the pesticide directly onto the spider to kill it immediately.^{[2]
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- Some brands that sell effective spider pesticides include Demand, TalstarOne, and Tempo.
- These pesticides are non-toxic to humans and pets.^{[3]
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  PubMed Central
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2

Catch spiders on sticky glue traps.

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Leave these out around your home to catch spiders when they’re active. These work great if you’ve seen spiders around but you’ve lost sight of them. Place the traps sticky-side up along your walls or where you’ve seen spiders in your home in the past. Put out multiple traps at a time so you’re more likely to catch more spiders. Once a brown recluse steps onto the trap, it will get stuck and die on the glue.
- Check your glue traps every week to see if there are any spiders. If they are, just put on a pair of gloves and throw the trap away. Just be sure to set out a new trap in its place.
- Place your glue traps away from pets and young children.

3

Leave residual pesticides where spiders crawl.

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Spiders will get exposed to the pesticides and eventually die. Brown recluses tend to get into your home through cracks or crevices, and they walk along the edges of your wall rather than out in the open. Get an aerosol spray pesticide from the store and look around your home to see for any spots where spiders could get in. Apply the pesticide thoroughly over the area so spiders come into contact with it and die.
- Some pesticides may be unsafe around children and pets. Always read the warning label on the packaging.
- Spiders may be able to avoid residual pesticides because of their long legs holding them off the ground, so it may not be the most effective.

4

Dust inside your walls with insecticidal powder.

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Destroy spider nests within your home with this easy pesticide. Insecticidal powder coats and kills brown recluse spiders that you can buy at most stores. When you buy the pesticide, fill the duster that comes with it. If you already have a hole or crack in your wall, point the pesticide’s nozzle into it and pump the duster 3–4 to coat the spiders inside.^{[4]
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- Some brands that work really well include Tempo Dust and DeltaDust.^{[5]
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- If you don’t have access inside your walls, drill a small hole in your wall so you can insert the duster nozzle.
- Reapply the dust every 3 weeks.^{[6]
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5

Suck spiders up with your vacuum.

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The force of the vacuum kills the spider and cleans any webs. Rather than getting too close to a brown recluse, extend the hose attachment on a vacuum and catch the spider. Run the vacuum over the area where you found the spider to clean up any other webs or eggs that could be nearby.
- The brown recluse will die as soon as it’s vacuumed up, so you don’t have to worry about it staying alive if you don’t empty the bag.

6

Squash the spider with a swatter.

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Hitting the spider kills it instantly if you’re able to reach it. Try to use something with a long handle, like a flyswatter or a broom, so you don’t have to get too close to the brown recluse. Put on some gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and pants to cover up your skin. Hit the spider hard enough to crush it so you don’t have to worry about it anymore.^{[7]
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- Brown recluses can crawl pretty fast, so they may run away if you miss.
- If you are bitten by a brown recluse, seek medical attention as soon as you can.

7

Repel spiders with essential oils.

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The strong odor may drive spiders away from your home. Get some wintergreen, peppermint, or lavender essential oil and spray it around areas where you’ve seen a spider.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.} You can also apply it around holes or cracks around your home to deter the spiders from coming into your home.^{[9]
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- You can also use lemon, lemongrass, or wild orange essential oils but they won’t be as effective

8

Seal cracks and holes with caulk to prevent spiders.

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Fill in the spider’s common entry points to prevent them from getting in. Brown recluses can get into your home through any small cracks or holes around doors, windows, and walls.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.} Walk through your home and look for any areas where spiders could get inside. Apply a bead of caulk along the crack or into the hole so it’s completely filled and let it dry.
- You can also apply insecticidal dust into the cracks before sealing them to kill any spiders try to get through.
- If you have a gap underneath your door, install weatherstripping to keep brown recluse spiders out.

9

Get rid of other insects so can’t spiders eat.

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Control and prevent prey insects so the spiders have nothing to hunt. Brown recluses typically eat cockroaches and crickets, and spiders won’t stick around if they can’t find food. At night, turn off any outdoor lights to avoid attracting any insects. Put away food instead of leaving it out to keep pests away too.^{[11]
X
Research source} You can also spray pesticides made for cockroaches or put out bait traps to kill them.^{[12]
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- Brown recluses can survive up to a few months without eating, so this only works to prevent new spiders from coming in.
- Diatomaceous earth is a great natural powder you can spread to kill pests as well, though it won’t be effective on brown recluses.^{[13]
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10

Clean and declutter to remove spider hiding spots.

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Brown recluses hide in dark, cluttered areas, so deep clean your home. Brown recluses don’t like to be disturbed, so they stay where there isn’t a lot of traffic, such as cluttered closets, bookshelves, and areas underneath beds. Take some time to go through really messy areas in your home and organize everything neatly. Try to keep your home nice and clean so spiders have fewer places to go.^{[14]
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- If you ever take out clothes or blankets that you haven’t used in a long time, shake them out just in case there are any brown recluses hiding in the folds.
- Store trash cans, woodpiles, lawn trimmings, or any other vegetation away from your home if you see brown recluses outside.

11

Store items in plastic so spiders can’t get into them.

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Bins seal completely so brown recluses can’t hide in your things. Brown recluses love to hide in shoes, clothes, and any tight dark space, so they could get into your things if they’re closed up in cardboard boxes. Instead, get some plastic tote bins or bags and tightly seal your things inside.
- This works especially well if you’re storing things in a garage, basement, or attic where brown recluse spiders have easier access.

12

Hire professionals to control severe infestations.

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Leave it to exterminators if you’re worried about your safety. If you still have brown recluse spiders or you’re afraid to handle them on your own, contact a few of your local exterminators to see what they can do. They will find the areas where spiders live in your home and professionally apply pesticides to kill them. Just be sure to ask them what you need to do to prepare for they arrive.^{[15]
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- Even when you contact a professional exterminator, still clean up the clutter in your home to prevent brown recluses from coming back.

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How do you keep spiders away from your house?

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. Since 2016, Chris has been specializing in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker

Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Answer

Remove all foliage one foot away from the building. Cover the windows with curtains so that the light does not attract insects. Seal all the cracks and crevices through which spiders can enter the building.

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Question

How to repel spiders from outdoor spaces?

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. Since 2016, Chris has been specializing in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker

Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Answer

Replace the lights and use low-frequency light bulbs. Put bags of cedar chips to repel spiders naturally. Apply an insecticide on the surfaces to make them unfit for making cobwebs.

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Tips

Avoid using any type of foggers to kill brown recluses since the spiders stay hidden inside items and the fog may not reach them.^{[16]
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Many spiders look like brown recluses but are not dangerous. Ensure you’re dealing with a brown recluse by looking for a dark brown violin-shaped pattern on its body, long legs with fine hairs instead of spines, and main body that’s about ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) long.

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Warnings

Brown recluse spiders are extremely venomous and their bites cause pain, blisters, and possible skin legions. If you’re bit by a brown recluse, seek medical attention as soon as possible.^{[17]
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