How To Keep Spiders Out of Playhouse

Are you battling with a spider infestation in your children’s playhouse? We understand the discomfort associated with knowing those funny-looking arachnids are around. Although most spider species found in homes do not pose any health threats, you can’t afford to ignore their unwanted company around your kids. With kids involved, a lot can go wrong in your absence.

In this post, we will discuss some effective pest-deterring strategies you can deploy to keep these arachnids away from your kids’ playhouse.

In the following headings, we will walk you through five simple ways to deter spiders from your children’s playhouse. Also, we will answer some common questions about spider infestations in homes.

5 Ways To Keep Spiders Away From Playhouses

Spiders are in your children’s playground because your kids seldom use the place. There are several other possibilities, though. However, they are no big deal and nothing to worry about.

Below, we discuss five practical ways to keep them at bay from your children’s playhouse:

1. Sweep and Clean Your Playhouse Regularly

A lot of carefree activities happen in a playhouse. That is where most kids feel they can mess things up and get away with it.

The leftover sweet and biscuit sachets and toys falling all over the place can attract insects spiders feed on. To maintain a spider-free playhouse for your kids and their friends, sweep it up after each use. Unlike other household pests, spiders waste no time setting up their webs when they move to a new location.

You don’t want to take chances, so ensure you clean up quickly to keep them from visiting. But suppose the spiders are around already. Your cleaning should involve using a long broom to clear existing cobwebs. You can spray spider repellants in the playhouse after removing the webs to ensure the spiders do not return.

Also, check the edges and hidden corners of the playhouse and toys for dust, and clean them up properly. Dust is a significant attraction for spiders. You can use a scented wet towel to clean them off the playhouse surfaces.

2. Visit and Use the Playhouse Often

It is just as simple as you read. Spiders maximize every vacant and stocked-up space they come by. They may be everywhere in the playroom because you last used the place a while ago.

Spiders love to own wherever they are no obvious threats, and your locked-up and forgotten playhouse meets that need. This does not mean that your kids must always use the playhouse.

We understand that there are times when you may want to limit their access to the playhouse. That is still fine. But that shouldn’t prevent you from keeping it tidy until they are ready to use it.

Even if it is not in use, you can visit once in a while and clean up. A better alternative is to pack the toys in a bag and cover up other immovable things with a leather or linen sheet.

Most playhouses are dark, with the doors and windows shut. But, then, dark spaces attract insects like ants, which draw in spiders. So, open up the windows and doors for proper ventilation. This signals to them that whoever owns the property still needs it.

3. Use Essential Oils

You cannot talk about a spider-free environment without essential oils. They have always saved the day and still do. Essential oils are chemicals extracted from natural plants and flowers.

These essential oils release strong smells that repel insects and pests like spiders. However, you have to pick the ones that repel spiders the most. For instance, peppermint essential oil keeps spiders away successfully.

Always keep your children’s playhouse scented, so you are not taken unawares by those cunning arachnids. Don’t spray it into the air only. Instead, go to the tight corners and edges and pour generously since that is their usual hideout.

Aside from peppermint oil, there are other essential oils to complement it. These include citronella and citrus oil.

4. Expose Your Playhouse to Sunlight

Spiders thrive in dark places, and the sun naturally keeps them at bay. If possible, ensure that the playhouse is in an area with sunlight exposure. You can get the open mobile options or windows and doors directly facing the sunlight.

If spiders are already in the playhouse, you can also expose the facility to sunlight while cleaning it. That way, other spiders will come out of their hideouts. This is why you should go for mobile playhouses, which you can quickly move from one place to another.

5. Turn Off the Lights

Remember that spiders feed on insects, including those attracted to light. So, light attracts spiders not because they like the light. They only draw near because of the insects flying around.

With this in mind, ensure that the lights are on only when necessary, maybe at night. If you must switch on your playhouse light, it is best to switch to the LED types, as these are less attractive to insects. Depending on your preference, you can get a blue or red-colored LED bulb.

However, if spiders are already in the playhouse, do not put the lights on, even during the day. This should continue until the last of them leaves the playhouse.

Conclusion

Spiders are a kind of “clingy” creatures that can be hard to eliminate once they are in your space. Although they are not harmful, their webs can make your playhouse messy.

Above, we discussed some practical ways to deter these arachnids from your kids’ playhouse. As a brief recap, ensure you visit and use your playhouse often. Also, expose it to sunlight.

You can also apply essential oils with spider-deterring properties like peppermint and citronella around their hideous. These usually include the playhouse corners and edges.

Above all, keep your playhouse and its surroundings clean and dust-free. A dirty and dust-full playhouse is a big attraction to spiders.