How to Get Rid of Spiders on an Outside Desk

Written by Kevin Carrillo | Edited by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: November 15, 2021 References

If you’re trying to get some work done at an outside desk, the last thing you want to see is a spider nearby. Even though spiders mean you no harm, we know it’s still pretty freaky when you see one up close and personal. Keep reading for some helpful tips on repelling spiders from your desk and what to do if you find any crawling around nearby.

This article is based off an interview with our MMPC-certified pest control specialist, Kevin Carrillo. Check out the full interview here.

Method 1

Method 1 of 12:
Vacuum the desk.

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Suck up the spiders and egg sacs to quickly kill them. A spider and its egg sac can’t survive the suction from a powerful vacuum. Bring your vacuum outside and use the hose attachment to vacuum the entire thing. Make sure you focus on any corners, drawers, or dark areas where a spider or egg sac might be hiding. Try to vacuum at least once or twice a week to keep your desk clean.^{[1]
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- Be sure to throw the bag away or empty the filter right away just in case the spiders survive.
- Egg sacs look like round tan or white balls made of spider silk, and they’re usually tucked away in dark crevices.

Method 2

Method 2 of 12:
Spray essential oils on your desk.

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Spiders will avoid the strong odors from essential oils. Use rosemary, lavender, or peppermint essential oils since they’re the most effective against spiders. Add 5–7 drops of the oil, 2 cups (470 ml) of water, and a drop of dish soap to a spray bottle. Spray the essential oil solution around the base of your desk, in dark corners or drawers, and over the entire surface.^{[2]
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- Whenever it rains or if your desk gets wet, reapply your spray.
- Essential oils are safe to use around your children and pets as long as you dilute them first.

Method 3

Method 3 of 12:
Leave citrus near the desk.

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Spiders hate the smell and acidity of citrus fruits. Rather than throwing away orange, lime, or lemon peels, set them on your desk or on the ground nearby. You can instead try mixing equal parts lemon or lime juice and water and rubbing it on your desk’s surface.^{[3]
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- While citrus works for some spiders, it’s not always the most effective. If it doesn’t work, you may need to try another preventative method.

Method 4

Method 4 of 12:
Get rid of any clutter around your desk.

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Spiders love to build their webs around these dark, undisturbed areas. Leaving clutter on your desk gives spiders a ton of hiding spots and places to lay eggs, so clear anything off of the surface that you don’t need.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.} Pay attention to the objects surrounding your desk too, since woodpiles, bricks, and yard toys could also be potential homes for spiders. Try to keep these away from your desk and the sides of your home so spiders are less likely to get into your things.^{[5]
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- If you do need to store some of your things in your desk outside, keep them in sealed plastic containers so spiders can’t get inside.

Method 5

Method 5 of 12:
Trim the plants near your desk.

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Pruning and regular maintenance discourage spiders from making webs. If you notice your plants are brushing against your desk, you’re giving spiders easy access to it. Take a pair of pruning shears and cut your plants back so there’s a gap between them and your plants. Just be sure to only remove about a third of the growth so you don’t stress your plants out.^{[6]
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- You can instead move your desk or transplant plants that are too close.

Method 6

Method 6 of 12:
Mow your lawn down to 1 in (2.5 cm).

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Spiders are more likely to hide in tall grasses near your desk. If you have your desk right next to your lawn, it’s easy for spiders to access.^{[7]
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Research source} Set your lawnmower blade so it’s only about 1 in (2.5 cm) off of the ground and mow your entire lawn. Try to mow your lawn at least once a week during the warmest months, and cut back to every 2 weeks when it cools down.^{[8]
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- Avoid letting your lawn become overgrown because removing more than ⅓ of the growth could stress your grass.

Method 7

Method 7 of 12:
Turn off your outdoor lighting.

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Spiders eat the insects attracted to the lights outside. Spiders mainly build webs around your home or desk when there are prey insects nearby.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.} At night, turn off your lights or get motion sensors so bugs are less likely to fly near your home. If you’re unable to completely turn off your lights, try switching to yellow bulbs since they’re less likely to attract bugs.^{[10]
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- If you can, move your outdoor lights to a post that’s away from your home and desk to draw spiders further away.

Method 8

Method 8 of 12:
Knock down webs with a broom.

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Spiders will have to find a new place to hide and call home. Whenever you see one of those pesky webs around your desk, use a broom or vacuum to knock it down. If your outdoor desk is waterproof, you can even spray the webs with your hose to break them apart. Check your desk each time you use it so you can catch new webs right away.^{[11]
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- Try to take care of the webs on your patio or in the area around your desk as well.

Method 9

Method 9 of 12:
Set out sticky traps.

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Spiders are attracted to the traps, but won’t be able to escape. You can buy sticky glue traps from any big box store. Set the glue boards next to your desk or on the desktop. Weigh the trap down with a rock so it doesn’t blow away. When you see spiders or other pests stuck on the trap, throw it away and replace it with a new one.^{[12]
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- Sticky traps could catch other pests besides spiders, such as roaches, rodents, and ants.
- Sticky traps will work best if your desk is in a screened-in patio or close to your home so it’s less exposed to the elements.

Method 10

Method 10 of 12:
Crush spider and egg sacs to kill them.

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Squash any spider to stop it in its tracks. If a spider comes out of hiding when you’re at the desk or if you see an egg sac, do what you can to stay calm in the moment. Take a shoe, flyswatter, or rolled-up newspaper and forcefully hit the spider with it. Clean up any residue leftover with a paper towel.^{[13]
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- Spiders aren’t aggressive towards people, and won’t actively try to bite you.^{[14]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kevin Carrillo
  Pest Control Specialist
  Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.} They’ll only bite if they’re disturbed.

Method 11

Method 11 of 12:
Catch and release spiders to keep them alive.

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Relocate the spiders if you’d rather not kill them. Since spiders are beneficial and catch other pests in your yard, you don’t have to kill the ones you find on your desk.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.} Set a cup over the spider and slide a piece of paper underneath to keep the spider from escaping. Carry the spider to the other side of your yard or somewhere away from your home and let it go.^{[16]
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- Wear thick gloves and long sleeves when you capture spiders for an extra layer of protection.
- Only handle spiders if you’re positive they aren’t poisonous. Avoid catching black widows and brown recluses since they’re poisonous.

Method 12

Method 12 of 12:
Apply insecticides if nothing else works.

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Contact pesticide works on spiders, but it may work as well outside. Opt for a pyrethrin or bifenthrin insecticide since it’s the most effective against spiders. Follow the directions on the packaging to apply the spray around the base of the desk and any areas where spiders could be hiding.^{[17]
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Research source} However, insecticides aren’t a great long-term solution outdoors, so it may not work as well as other methods.^{[18]
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- Pyrethrins can be harmful to children, pets, and natural pollinators, such as honey bees.^{[19]
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  Trustworthy Source
  National Pesticide Information Center
  Organization run by Oregon State University providing objective, science-based information about pests and pesticides
  Go to source}

Warnings

Spiders will not bite unless they’re provoked, and they usually only feel like a bee sting. If you have any severe reactions or if you were bitten by a black widow or brown recluse, call a doctor right away.^{[20]
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Call a professional exterminator if you have a severe spider infestation since they’ll be able to locate the source and use stronger chemicals.^{[21]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}

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