Photo: Samson Katt

Do log cabins attract spiders?

Sharing is caring! We all love the warm, inviting feel of a log home. Unfortunately, so do spiders. Many cabin owners report seeing lots of spiders living in their logs and even egg sacs on the exterior walls.

log-cabin-connection.com - Spiders and Log Homes - Log Cabin Connection

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Sharing is caring!

We all love the warm, inviting feel of a log home. Unfortunately, so do spiders. Many cabin owners report seeing lots of spiders living in their logs and even egg sacs on the exterior walls. The best way to treat this is to not panic, but address several underlying issues that will make your cabin less inviting to them.

Sweep Your Logs Clean of Spiders

The first step is to sweep your logs using an ordinary broom. This will remove the spiders and their egg sacs and discourage them from returning. Generac 6922 2,800 PSI, 2.4 GPM, Gas Powered Pressure Washer Designed with ergonomics in mind, the cushion grip handle improves comfort during cleaning. And you can hold the easy-to-pull spray trigger with minimal effort, reducing fatigue

Integrated ½-inch gallon detergent tank provides convenient on-board storage for cleaning detergents

Featuring a Generac OHV horizontal-shaft engine, the pump is well above the ground at the same level as the engine, which makes hose connections a snap

Designed with 10” never-flat wheels, maneuverability is easy, regardless of the terrain

Quick change nozzle tips 4 included (0-degree, 25-degree, 40-degree, soap) for tackling any job An alternative to sweeping is to use a hose to wash them off the cabin logs. This makes it easier to reach the higher portions of the logs instead of using a broom. A pressure washer makes for quick work, but be careful not to point it directly at the logs as it can easily strip off finishes and damage the underlying wood.

Seal Cracks and Gaps

Sashco 45153 Log Builder Sealant, 29-Ounce Cartridge – Tan Ultra flexible and elastic - won't crack or pull away

Go-to product for log home manufacturers throughout the US - trusted product

Water-based for easy application and clean-up

Freeze-thaw stable: OK to leave in your truck overnight

You need to seal up any openings that allow spiders to get inside your cabin. This means using a log caulk like Sashco to fill in any cracks around windows or door openings. Pay special attention to your log corners. There can often be small gaps here that require sealing. An extra benefit from this care will be lower utility bills as you eliminate the air transfer both in the cold winter months and in the heat of the summer, too. This improves the energy efficiency of your cabin. Ensuring that you have good screens on all of your doors and cabin windows is another way to keep out any insects that may want to creep inside.

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Cut Back Vegetation

Have a good walk around the outside of your cabin and make sure that you don’t have places that might harbor spiders close to your logs. Pay attention to areas such as these and cut them back or eliminate them altogether:

Wood piles

Brush

Tree limbs

Other vegetation

Keeping the outside clear of close-lying vegetation is a good strategy for your cabin landscaping anyway. Spiders are attracted to bright lights at night. If possible, use yellow lights or sodium vapor lights on the cabin exterior - or do without lights at all.

Spray Lemon Scent

Pledge Furniture Spray, Lemon (14.2oz., 3pk.) New larger size

45% more compared to 9.7 oz. size

Allergen Trappers remove dust and up to 90% of the allergens found in dust Some people report good results using lemon-scented Pledge sprayed around door and window openings, claiming that spiders hate the smell of lemon and this will deter them from making entry into your cabin. Obviously, this won’t last forever so you would need to maintain a regular schedule to be effective, but this can be a good natural way to combat intrusion without using chemicals.

Treat Logs with Cypermethrin

An effective, but aggressive way to address the problem is to use a spider repellant such as Miss Muffet’s Revenge. This is mixed in a solution and sprayed onto your log walls using a battery-powered sprayer built into the handle for quick results. This won’t stain your logs. The instructions state that you should spray a 4”-wide band as a barrier zone. Attached sprayer for quick and easy application with a spray range of up to 10 feet for those hard to reach places Treat all areas were spiders are found, spray until wet but not soaking and for long lasting results leave spray undisturbed Apply in calm weather where rain is not expected for 24hrs and allow to dry completely before entering treated area Miss Muffet's Revenge has unlimited shelf life, is ready to use, and especially formulated for all spiders except Black Widow and Brown Recluse Sale Syngenta Demon Max Insecticide, Yellowish Note: The "REL" before the month and year stands for the "release" or production date. This product does not have an expiration, "use by", or stated shelf life. Under normal storage conditions, this product will remain effective for 3 to 5 years

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The important thing is using a product that contains the active ingredient cypermethrin as this has been found to be the most effective against spiders. Another plus is that cypermethrin will also treat other insects, which has the benefit of eliminating the spiders food source. DemonMax Insecticide has a high level of cypermethrin and is very effective against not only spiders but other insects as well. This concentrate makes up to 32 gallons of finished spray and is best applied with a handheld portable sprayer. Keeping your log home free of spiders can feel like one more chore you’d rather not face, but regular upkeep and careful planning as part of your ongoing log cabin maintenance will keep your cabin pest-free. Check out our page about dealing with log homes and termites, too.

More Cabin Maintenance Pages:

Termites and Log Homes Learn how to identify and treat termites in log homes. Fall Cabin Maintenance Guide Fall cabin maintenance is a necessary chore, so do it right to preserve your investment. Top Spring Maintenance Tips These Top Spring Maintenance Tips can help keep your log cabin in excellent shape. Log Cabin Maintenance -- Issues Unique to Cabins Log cabin maintenance is a necessary chore but it's important to address issues unique to log homes. Log Stain Tips for Log Cabins Best tips for applying log stain to your cabin.

log-cabin-connection.com - Spiders and Log Homes - Log Cabin Connection