There’s nothing like spending a relaxing evening on your patio—there’s also nothing looking over your shoulder and seeing a wolf spider relaxing next to you. We understand how you feel about it; nobody likes having pests near the house. But just because your patio furniture is in your backyard doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to sharing the furniture with spiders. Here are three ways to keep them out:
1. Get Rid of Hiding Spots and Crevices.
Make your furniture as uninviting as possible for pests by having very few places for them to hide. Insects, bugs, and furrier critters love clutter. Stacks, boxes, and debris provide lots of shade and tend to accumulate moisture, turning your furniture into a comfortable palace for pests and other unwanted creatures.
If you live in a region that has a lot of spiders, take that into consideration when you’re choosing your furniture sets. Ornate designs, tall chair backs, and trellises have more chance to attract spiders. Choosing a simpler design like Kettler’s beautiful Boston Collection doesn’t just give spiders fewer places to hide; it makes it hard for them to turn your furniture into their hunting ground.
2. Vacuum and Brush Your Furniture.
Make sure you make brushing and vacuuming part of your regular cleaning routine. Patio furniture is full of corners, ornate edges, and support bars. These form the perfect spots for spiders to put nests and start spiderwebs. If you are able to remove spider webs before the spiders start to feel too comfortable, you can prevent large-scale invasions.
Regularly applying chemical sprays is another way to keep spiders off the furniture. However, you have to keep in mind that chemical control is not as effective as good sanitation, and neither is it a long-term solution. If you want to keep the tabletop and your seats free of chemicals, try making a peppermint oil spray and apply it every few days.
3. Get removable and washable cushion covers.
Cushions are an important part of almost every outdoor furniture; it’s also the one place where we least want to find spiders. However, if left unattended, cushions can draw in pests. Regularly cleaning cushions and pillows will get rid of any nest you don’t see. It will also help you shake away any spiders that might be hiding in the layers.
Make sure your cushions are easy to clean or wash. The proper Patio Cushions and Outdoor Pillows should come with removable covers that you can throw in the wash. With these simple preventative measures, spiders will be forced to find new places to hunt and you’ll enjoy a Spider-free Patio.
Just by following these simple instructions, you can dramatically decrease the chances of finding a spider (or another unwanted insect) in your furniture. If you’re interested in knowing a bit more about avoiding insects in your patio furniture, read our article on how to pick the right furniture if you’re terrified of bugs.