If you have a spider infestation in your home, you are probably desperate for a quick, powerful way to get rid of the eight-legged creepers. A fogger might be an ideal solution for your situation.
What is the best fogger for spiders? Some spider species may not be eliminated by general-purpose foggers due to the pesticides used. Foggers made specifically for killing spiders are the best options. Look for a fogger that contains active ingredients such as deltamethrin, tetramethrin, or pyrethrins.
There are many different foggers on the market that each have their own pros and cons.
In the following, you’ll find advice on how to prevent spider infestations, learn what to look for in a spider fogger, and see the best fogger choices that target spiders specifically.
Don’t miss out on important guidelines and elimination options for spider infestations. Click here to see all our spider articles.
Best Practices for Preventing an Infestation
Before you begin to fight an infestation in your home, it is important to know the enemy.
This is especially true with foggers or bug bombs since spiders are resistant to many types of chemicals that harm other bugs and insects.
The Spider
Spiders are easily recognizable and distinguishable from other bugs by some rather obvious details, if you know what to look for.
For starters, spiders are classified as arachnids, meaning they have eight legs, two body segments, a hard exoskeleton, eight eyes, and spinnerets that form silk webs.
Spiders also cannot fly, so if you see a bug flying around the room, it is not a spider.
There are over 40,000 species of spiders around the world, found on every continent except Antarctica.
Most of the spiders you’ll see will likely be brown or black, but some are quite colorful. For example, check out the pretty banana spider here.
Though some spiders are incredibly venomous, most household spiders around the world are not fatal or even dangerous to humans, except for those with preexisting conditions or special allergies.
Household spiders are carnivores with a diet that consists of flies (learn how to control fly populations here), grasshoppers, millipedes, mosquitoes, roaches, and other insects.
Because they help control the population of some of these other pests, spiders are often considered helpful.
Spiders’ respiratory systems are different from most other bugs, which is why they need a distinct type of chemical pesticide to harm them.
Check out our article “Does Hairspray Kill Spiders?” to find out how spiders breathe and why ordinary products often prove fatal to spiders.
Basic Guidelines
Spiders are constantly looking for food. Thus, the best way to prevent them from infesting your home is to get rid of the things that attract them.
Clean the House
Bugs that are prey for spiders – roaches, flies, gnats, millipedes, and moths – are often attracted to wet environments with plenty of food.
Keep them out by making sure your home is tidy, by putting food in airtight containers (these are perfect), and keeping moisture out of the house.
Fix broken pipes, repair leaky roofs, dry up puddles, and use dehumidifiers (this model with automatic sensors removes 5 gallons of moisture per day) in any area of the home that has excess moisture.
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Wildone Airtight Food Storage Containers, Cereal &... | Check Price on Amazon | |
|
Waykar 2000 Sq. Ft Dehumidifier for Home and... | Check Price on Amazon |
Additionally, remove bug and spider hiding places by cleaning up trash, dirty clothes, dishes, books, tissues, blankets, or anything else spiders or their food can hide underneath.
Clean up any spiderwebs you see around the home. (Learn the best way to clean up webs here.)
When spiders see a destroyed web, they recognize that there is danger, and they should move away.
Kill Spiders on Sight
This is a simple (and perhaps obvious) step, but kill spiders when you see them. The more spiders you can kill, the fewer there are in your home.
If you can kill a spider before it breeds, you will save yourself from having hundreds of more spiders within the next few weeks.
The best way to quickly kill a spider is to vacuum it up. (Use extra caution if the spider is considered to be dangerous, like the black widow.)
If you do not have a vacuum cleaner handy, you can catch the spider using a cup. Flip the cup upside down on top of the spider, then slide a piece of paper under the mouth of the cup.
Use this apparatus to transfer the spider to a toilet where you can flush it, or to a location at least 10 feet away from your home so that the spider is less likely to return.
Note: Do not attempt to relocate any venomous spiders. Find out the best way to deal with dangerous spiders here.
If you see an egg sac, vacuum it up immediately. Do not crush it, as you might be helping the baby spiders hatch.
Use Natural Repellents
Spiders are repelled by some naturally occurring scents that many people find tolerable or pleasant.
Look for ways to introduce these scents into your home as a way to keep spiders out without chemicals.
- Eucalyptus oil
- Peppermint oil
- Citrus peel (lime, orange, grapefruit, lemon, etc.)
- Mint or eucalyptus plants
- Vinegar
If you are a user of essential oils, you might try to diffuse eucalyptus or peppermint oils in your home.
This will be best accomplished with a cool mist diffuser, like this color-changing one on Amazon.
It doesn’t use heat that would destroy the beneficial properties of the essential oils, so you can enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy while chasing away spiders at the same time.
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Diffuser with... | Check Price on Amazon |
You could also create a spray to spritz in corners, along baseboards, and other favorite spider hangouts by diluting 15 to 25 drops of oil with 2 or 3 ounces of water in a spray bottle.
Citrus peels have some ability to repel spiders, though they are not very potent and dry out easily.
Similarly, mint or eucalyptus plants do not emit a very strong scent but have shown some power to repel spiders.
Try placing some in common areas of your home for a pleasant scent that keeps spiders away.
Vinegar is not a particularly pleasant smell to humans, but it is powerful in warding off spiders.
If you can handle its smell, dilute it with water at a 1 – 1 ratio, then spray it around doorways and windows.
Spider Foggers – What to Look for
If you are unable to keep a spider infestation away by using preventative measures, you can try to use spider foggers.
Foggers are products that distribute a large cloud of pesticide in an enclosed space.
They create a fine mist that is able to penetrate small cracks, gaps, and crevices in the room.
This is especially helpful for spiders that hide, like brown recluses, in addition to spiders that you can see.
Types of Foggers
There are two types of spider foggers: household and professional. Household foggers come premixed and in containers with included spray applicators.
Fogging machine pesticides are concentrated and powerful. They are added to a professional applicator that distributes the pesticide in a fog form.
Household Foggers
Foggers are designed so that the heavily concentrated pesticide seeps into every crack and crevice in the area.
The goal is for all surfaces that are in the open to be covered by the pesticide.
What’s the Difference Between Foggers and Bug Bombs?
The terms foggers and bug bombs are often used interchangeably, but they have different ways of being deployed.
A bug bomb is a device that has a trigger of some sort. When it has been activated, it cannot be stopped until it has completely emptied itself.
A fogger, on the other hand, is controlled by the user and can be stopped and started on command. It produces a cloud of chemicals, like a bug bomb.
Both of these devices are intended to fill a room or area with pesticides, solving the problem faster than most other types of products.
Fogging Machines
Fogging machines use either an oil or water-based pesticide, which they then turn into a fog-like substance.
They are useful for home or business owners who:
- Have consistent pest problems.
- Want to be able to do their own pest control for many years.
- Would like to be able to use fog disinfectants.
- Have situations where many bugs will be attracted (greenhouses, food storage facilities, damp basements, etc.).
If this seems like an appropriate tool for your situation, there are two different types of fogging machines you should consider: ULV or thermal.
ULV Foggers
When picking out a fogging machine, one option is ULV foggers. ULV stands for “ultra low volume,” and it uses large amounts of air to produce pressure in the liquid.
The ULV fogger has a motor that runs at high speeds. The pesticide is stored in a tank and is shot through a tube, where it is forced in a swirling motion through high-pressure force.
The now highly pressurized liquid is then shot through a nozzle that produces more pressure by forcing the product through minuscule openings in the nozzle.
It then produces minuscule droplets that can seep into all areas of the room.
These droplets are smaller in width than a human hair, and the nozzle is adjustable to many different sizes.
ULV foggers are helpful because they do not require large amounts of heat and can work almost instantaneously.
Many ULV foggers are designed to be used with both pesticides and disinfectants. This is possible because of the adjustable nozzle.
They also require less diluting, which makes them cheaper and more efficient to use.
Thermal Foggers
Thermal foggers work by heating up the liquid pesticide to a high enough temperature that it turns into a gaseous form.
They are able to create smaller droplets than ULV foggers because they are turning the liquid into a gas instead of simply producing smaller liquid droplets.
There is a preheated tube in the nozzle of the device, and when the trigger is pressed, the product is shot through that tube.
The vapors that are produced combine to form a cloud of fog.
This cloud is more visible than the fog produced by a ULV fogger, making it easier to see where the fog is aimed.
Most thermal foggers are powered by gasoline and oil, like many other machines.
This is a negative point compared to ULV foggers, as most people would prefer to use only electricity to run the fogger.
Having to purchase gasoline and oil is an added expense, and combustion engines are more likely to experience problems than electric foggers.
Effectiveness
Foggers are effective for widespread, out-of-control infestations. They should not be used for just a few spiders or in an area where you think there might be spiders.
Many general foggers do not contain active ingredients strong enough to kill spiders. General “bug” foggers are not always powerful enough to take care of the problem.
Alternatively, a good spider fogger will take care of many other types of pests such as bed bugs, roaches, and earwigs.
Look for a fogger that contains active ingredients such as deltamethrin, tetramethrin, or pyrethrins. These are both safe and professional-grade chemicals.
Safe for Use Around People and Pets
The fumes from foggers that are strong enough to be effective are too strong for young children or pets.
Because kids and animals cannot control their breathing, they are likely to inhale too much of the fumes.
Wait for the fumes to die down completely and thoroughly air out the space before letting children or pets enter the room.
Also keep in mind that foggers are often made out of flammable substances (you can find some nonflammable foggers, but they are not as potent as others).
Do not use them in any room that might have an active flame, like a pilot light or fireplace, or you might start a dangerous fire.
Ease of Use
Foggers are not the easiest pesticide form to use, since they use such heavy chemicals and the area in which they are used must be abandoned for a period of time.
Best Household Foggers
Take a look at all of our favorite foggers that will knock out your spider infestation before you make a decision.
After reading through your fogger options, if you decide that you’d rather use another method, we outline effective alternatives in our article “How To Get Rid of Spiders Quickly.”
Hot Shot Fogger with Odor Neutralizer
This product retains its power for up to two months, killing and controlling the population efficiently.
It won’t leave an oily residue or stain, and it has an odor neutralizer to help eliminate the pesticide’s fumes.
Pros:
- Also kills roaches, ants, and fleas.
- Odor neutralizing.
- Two months of protection.
- Treats up to 2,000 cubic feet.
Cons:
- Takes a lot of product to treat large infestations.
Hot Shot No Mess Fogger
Another product by Hot Shot, this fogger uses a dry fog that is nonflammable.
Like the version above, this fogger too contains an odor neutralizer and won’t stain or leave behind a visible residue.
Hot Shot also claims this dry fog formula seeps into cracks more efficiently than normal liquid foggers.
Pros:
- No meed to turn off pilot lights.
- Because it is a dry fog, there’s no residue or liquid.
- Odor neutralizing power.
Cons:
- Not as strong or consistent as other foggers.
- Struggles to kill larger species of spiders.
Raid Max Fogger
This product is actually a bug bomb (differences discussed above). It is an average-strength pesticide that contains enough liquid to cover 7,000 cubic feet.
Though it is designed to kill roaches and fleas, its active ingredient is cypermethrin, which is strong enough to kill most spider species.
Pros:
- Covers a larger space than most products.
- Will kill most pests in the room, not just spiders.
Cons:
- Might not be strong enough to kill all types of spiders.
- It’s a bug bomb, which means it empties itself instead of allowing you to control how much is sprayed.
Best ULV Fogging Machines
Silver Bullet ULV Cold Fogger Triple Jet
This is an industrial-strength fogging machine. Its spray can cover up to 40 feet, at least 10 feet farther than the nearest competitor.
It is a stationary device designed to “set and forget.” The nice thing about this model is that it will work with nearly any solution or pesticide.
It’s great for disinfecting, controlling mold and mildew, and,of course, for getting rid of spider infestations.
Pros:
- Very strong and will quickly fill large rooms with fog.
- Adjustable nozzles for many different products and rooms.
- Made of high-quality materials, so it won’t break down or fall apart.
Cons:
- Higher strength than most homes or businesses would need.
- Some customers have found the seal on the container needs to be improved.
Lonyeon 4.5L Electric ULV Fogger
This is a portable fogging machine that sprays up to 8 – 10 meters away. It can be used with a variety of products and has a convenient carrying handle.
Pros:
- Portable and lightweight (less than 8 pounds).
- 4.5-liter tank is enough for 20 minutes of nonstop spray.
- Made of sturdy materials.
Cons:
- Spray doesn’t reach as far as some other devices.
- Louder motor than some other products.
Gakus ULV Electric Sprayer
This is another portable sprayer that produces cold fog. It is durable and made with a convenient carry handle.
The 7-liter capacity is larger than most other handheld foggers on the market. This product is not just limited to spider control.
Use it with other pesticides to target a broader range of bugs, or use it to disinfect, sanitize, or control mold and mildew.
Pros:
- Larger tank than many other ULV foggers.
- Adjustable nozzle.
- High-powered motor stays cool for long periods of time.
Cons:
- Only sprays 6 to 8 meters.
Best Thermal Foggers
Smith Performance Sprayers Thermal Fogger
This thermal fogger has a trigger than begins shooting fog as soon as the motor has heated to the set temperature.
After taking a couple of minutes to heat up, it will continue to create steam for several hours.
Pros:
- High powered spray.
- Trigger that sticks makes the device easy to use.
- Heating element can be removed so the device works like a normal sprayer.
Cons:
- Makes a very loud noise.
Longray Pulse-Jet Thermal Fogger
This is a state-of-the-art, industrial-strength fogger. It is designed to spray pesticides and fertilizer throughout greenhouses.
It creates fog at the smallest particle level on the market, better than any other ULV or thermal fogger.
Pros:
- Creates particles at .5 micron levels.
- Strong enough to be used outdoors.
Cons:
- Is the most expensive product on this list.
- Too powerful for treating small areas.
Summary
When purchasing a spider fogger, you should know what you’re looking for.
If you’re interested in a simple product that you can use at home, try a premade product that pressurizes the pesticide enough to create a fog, like an aerosol can.
If you’re looking for a device to use long-term for several different pest issues, look at buying a UVL or thermal fogging machine.
As always, pay careful attention to the safety warnings on any chemical products and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Remember to head over to our spider page to access all of our articles to find prevention guides and elimination strategies and to see what other products we’ve found to be effective against spiders.
