What keeps spiders out of shed?

Natural spider deterrents like essential oil spray (like eucalyptus and peppermint ) can help discourage them from hanging around. Applying spray pesticides regularly to the exterior surface of your shed, with regular cleaning, will also suffice.

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Are you looking for ways to keep spiders out of your garden shed?

Even if it is a weather-tight backyard structure, your shed can still be a haven for spiders. It doesn’t matter if it’s a wooden, plastic or metal shed; spiders can always find a way in. And if you don’t take steps to prevent it, especially as chilly winter weather rounds the corner, spider infestation could get worse. So we’ve put together this handy guide on how to spider-proof your shed, once and for all.

Key takeaways:

According to a study, about 45% of the population in the UK admit to being terrified of spiders! Garden sheds have long been a popular structure for many homes. Unfortunately, outbuildings and spiders tend to go hand in hand. If you’re arachnophobic, keeping those 8-legged creatures at bay will give you relief. Get started here, and don’t let your storage building be turned into a spider house!

Spider-proofing Your Shed

Seeing different types of spiders scurrying across your shed floor, paired with spider webs, could well be the last thing you want to occur in your shed. This is especially accurate if you’re an arachnophobic, a.k.a. someone with a fear of spiders. This can also be difficult for anyone who finds giant house spiders particularly frightening. And chances are, you’re here because you want to know how to handle them and keep spiders at bay for good. Here’s what you should keep in mind. Spiders are predators: they go where the food is. And your shed is no exception for these long-legged critters, including pesky bugs. So getting rid of prey or food for spiders and bugs could include tackling:

Any nearby vegetation

Standing water (such as puddles and soil that soaks up moisture and attracts bugs) Gaps in the shed (this allows them to get in and out of your structure) Natural spider deterrents like essential oil spray (like eucalyptus and peppermint ) can help discourage them from hanging around. Applying spray pesticides regularly to the exterior surface of your shed, with regular cleaning, will also suffice. Before we get into our tips and tricks in detail, we thought you might want to know about the dangerous and common spiders you’ll likely find in your shed.

What type of spider are you likely to find in your shed?

Giant house spiders

As the name suggests, this type of spider is big in comparison to other common spiders. They can find their way into sheds when they want to rest.

The false widow or the false widow spider

The female variety of false widows are known to have bitten humans. False widows are one of the most venomous spider species.

Daddy long-legs spider

This creepy crawly isn’t considered a poisonous spider, but it can reach up to 45mm in size!

Lace web spider

These small creatures usually hang around on garden fences, walls during autumn. But they also take cover inside sheds, away from rainfall.

The cardinal spider

At 14cm long, it’s the UK’s largest spider! The cardinal spiders are known for their spider bites, but the biting doesn’t have much effect. They may be harmless but considering their size, it’s best to not meddle with them.

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Effective Tips to Make Your Shed Spider-Free

Here at Garden Buildings Direct, our sheds are so great that even spiders love them. But we’re no stranger to the question ‘how do I keep spiders out of my shed?’. Check out below our curated top tips on how to spider-proof your shed, once and for all.

Tip #1: Ensure there are no shed gaps

Your first port of call when dealing with spiders in the shed is plugging any gaps. Stopping spiders from getting into a garden shed is easier than trying to get them out. If your wooden shed is brand new, you’re less likely to find gaps. Yet, older models may have wood that’s worn away and cracked a bit, which is a perfect opportunity for our eight-legged friends. Start by making sure that all the joints are silicone sealed to ensure no gaps for spiders to crawl through. If you have an older shed, it may be a case of simply going back over previous joints and giving them an extra boost. You could go a step further and insulate your shed. Shed insulation provides better regulation of heat. Moreover, an extra level of resistance against spiders and other creepy crawlies.

Tip #2: Secure all windows and doors

Garden sheds are a hotbed of arachnid activity. Stopping spiders from entering through the windows and doors is arguably the hardest job. For one, the flexibility of the pesky dark-dwellers means they can squeeze through almost any gap. Nevertheless, it can be done. You can use a draft seal, which will barricade all the potential entrances and stop any of the pesky fly hunters from getting in. It’ll keep the shed a bit warmer during the cooler months, too!

Tip #3: Use spider repellent lining paper

Lining paper is perfect for sealing up cracks and gaps. It also comes in handy when keeping out spiders, as it provides a solid blockade against any potential invaders. You’ll be able to see any rips in the paper quickly, and it’s cheap as well, so you can replace it whenever necessary. Spraying it with repellent may also help the cause.

Tip #4: Paint your shed in spider repelling colours

Apparently, spiders don’t like the colour blue. The origins of this claim are disputed, but research has found that spiders do react to colour in some manner. While humans can see in red, green and blue hues, spiders only see in the green wavelength. This makes them almost colourblind. One of the claims is that painting the outside of your shed sky blue will ward off these furry friends. But you’ll have to try it yourself and see if it really works!

Tip #5: Invest in heavy-duty roofing felt

You’re nearly an expert on spider-proofing a shed. Our fifth tip for a perfect spider-proof shed is the installation of felt. You’ve probably got some felt on your shed roof already. But heavy-duty polyester backed felt provides the best protection and is ideal for getting rid of spiders. The weight and thickness of the felt can cover every nook and cranny where the crawlies can scuttle through. As a result, no spider is getting into that shed!

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With the bonus of extra protection against the elements, heavy-duty roofing felt is indeed a must-have if you’re looking for a spider-free shed.

Tip #6: Consider scented oils

Peppermint oils and other naturally occurring oils can act as an excellent spider repellent. You can do your own repellent by mixing a bottle of water (put it in a glass spray bottle) with your oil. Just fill a spray bottle with a few drops of peppermint oil (no more than five), a splash of soap and a lot of water. Spray generously around the areas you think the spiders are most accustomed to spending time in. Then watch your custom spider repellent work its magic! Don’t worry; it won’t kill the spiders; it’ll just ward them off. Refresh the shed with a new round of oil spray around once a week. Or you can do this every few days if the spiders don’t seem to be leaving you alone. Top tip: Citrus oils, including lemon oil, have also been rumoured to have a similar effect. It might be worth trying them out, too!

Tip #7: Set up a decoy

One method for preventing bug infestation in a garden shed is the use of a decoy. By setting up a similarly dark indoor space nearby the shed, you can passively usher some of the spiders away from the garden shed. Whether it’s an old shoebox with holes in, a disused water butt or an ancient Wendy playhouse, it gives the spiders the privilege of having two outdoor homes to choose from. Hopefully, they’ll set up camp in the other one! Top tip: Make sure the decoy is dark and damp, as this is effective for all kinds of 8-legged creatures.

Tip #8: Utilise a slippery surface

On occasion, it can seem like spiders will always have the upper hand no matter how hard you try. But there’s one thing that spiders can never seem to grasp: how to climb up a slippery surface. Think about it. Why do we get so many spiders stuck in our bathtubs? Because they can’t climb out, that’s why. Spiders, unlike some leggy insects, don’t have the capabilities to clamber on greasy surfaces. So consider greasing the bottom edge of your shed to make it more difficult for them to crawl on.

They might even give up altogether!

The Bottom Line

If you’re thinking of investing in a heavy-duty shed like ours but have always been put off the idea of spiders making it their home, worry no more! By keeping our tips in mind, you can make your garden building free from spiders. Don’t let the pesky crawlies stop you from having the garden building you have always dreamed of. Also, make sure the shed’s interior is clean and organised to keep them at bay.