How to Keep Spiders Away From Your Home
Why spiders move in, the habits that make a Melbourne home less inviting, and when to call for professional spider control.
Written by Muzi Tsolakis, Founder and Competency Assessor, Pest Management Victoria. Last reviewed 7 July 2026.
Most of the spiders that turn up around a Melbourne home are harmless, and outdoors they do a quietly useful job of eating other insects. Even so, few of us want them sharing the living room, and a small number of local species can give a painful bite. The dependable way to keep spiders away is to understand why they come inside in the first place, then remove those reasons one by one.
Spiders follow their food
A spider goes wherever there are insects to catch and somewhere quiet to shelter. The black house spider and other common web-builders set up near a reliable supply of prey, which is why porch lights, insect-friendly gardens and cluttered corners all draw them in. Reduce the insects and the shelter, and you take away almost everything a spider is looking for. Every step below works on one of those two things.
Cut down the insects they hunt
Outdoor lighting is the biggest single draw, because it pulls in the moths, midges and beetles that spiders feed on, and the spiders gather where the feast is. Switch off unnecessary external lights, use warm-toned or sensor lighting, and keep curtains drawn at night so indoor light does not spill outside. Fit and repair fly screens on windows and doors, and keep kitchen surfaces clean so you are not feeding the insects that feed the spiders.
If flying and crawling insects are already a problem inside, dealing with them directly removes the food source. Our residential pest control covers the general insects that spiders rely on, which takes the pressure off at the source.
Remove the shelter and clear the webs
Spiders favour quiet, undisturbed spots, so a declutter is one of the most effective things you can do. Tidy the garage, shed and storage areas, store items in sealed containers, and keep boxes off the floor. Outside, move firewood, leaf litter and compost bins away from the walls, and trim shrubs and branches so they no longer touch the house and act as a bridge.
Clear webs whenever you see them, indoors and around eaves, doorways and windows, using a broom or a long-handled duster. A web that keeps being swept away tells the spider the spot is unsafe, and it moves on. Regular clearing around the entry points you use most makes the difference over a season.
Seal the ways they get inside
Spiders come in through the same small gaps that let in draughts and other insects. Fit door seals and weather strips, screen the weep holes in brickwork, and use a flexible sealant on the gaps around window frames, pipes and cabling where they pass through walls. Sealing these entry points keeps wandering spiders out and helps with insects generally, which is a double benefit.
The Melbourne spiders worth respecting
A handful of local species deserve care. The redback is the one to know, often found in dry, sheltered spots such as under outdoor furniture, in letterboxes and around sheds, and its bite is painful and medically significant. White-tailed and black house spiders can also give a painful local reaction. The Better Health Channel and healthdirect both advise cleaning a bite, applying a cold pack for pain, and seeking medical advice if symptoms are severe or spreading. For a serious reaction, call 000.
When to call for professional spider control
If webbing keeps returning across the eaves and fence lines, or you are finding redbacks around the yard, a professional treatment gives you a level of control that household measures cannot match on their own. Our spider control applies a residual perimeter treatment that knocks down active spiders and keeps working on new arrivals, and we target the harbourage points where they cluster.
To have your home assessed and treated, call our Melbourne team on 03 9449 4244 or request a free quote.
Keeping spiders away FAQs
What keeps spiders away from the house naturally?
The most effective natural approach is to take away what draws them in: reduce the insects they hunt by managing outdoor lighting and fly screens, clear webs regularly, declutter garages and sheds, and seal the gaps around doors and windows they use to get inside. Home mixtures such as peppermint or vinegar are popular, but the evidence for them is limited and any effect is brief, so treat them as a minor extra rather than a real barrier.
Are Melbourne spiders dangerous?
Most spiders you see around a Melbourne home are harmless and even useful, since they eat other insects. A few are worth respecting: the redback can give a painful and medically significant bite, and the white-tailed and black house spiders can cause a painful local reaction. Keeping them out of living areas is sensible, and for a bite that causes severe pain, spreading symptoms or a reaction, healthdirect advises seeking medical advice, and you should call 000 for a serious reaction.
Why do I suddenly get more spiders in autumn?
Autumn is when many male spiders leave their usual spots and wander in search of a mate, which is why you notice more of them moving across floors and walls at that time of year. Cooler weather also brings some indoors looking for shelter. A tidy, well-sealed home with fewer insects to hunt gives these wanderers less reason to stay.
How long does professional spider control last?
A professional perimeter treatment knocks down active spiders and leaves a residual barrier that keeps working for a period afterwards, with the exact span depending on the product, the weather and how exposed the treated surfaces are. Pairing a treatment with regular web clearing and the prevention habits above gives the longest-lasting result. Our team can advise on a schedule that suits your property.
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