Cleaning Cobwebs
If the inside of your home looks like you started decorating for Halloween early, then you may have a problem.
Cobwebs are a sign of spiders. Spiders help get rid of other pesky bugs like mosquitoes and flies, but when it comes down to it, the critters just aren’t pleasant to encounter. Left to their own devices, they creep into tiny cracks and crevices, their webs collecting dust and remnants of their (cringe) meals.
So what exactly is a cobweb? Unlike spider webs, which spiders use to catch and trap their prey, cobwebs are vacant “homes” spiders have abandoned to move onto better pastures – in this case, usually just a new area of your house. The stray spider silk left behind is incredibly sticky and a magnet for pollen, dust particles and other debris.
They need to go.
Combating the sticky strands is not that tough — and can be done with some distance between you and the abandoned abodes.
Using a extension nozzle on the vacuum to suck them up is the easiest solution. Make sure to attack the corners of ceilings and any other nooks and crannies, especially around windows and doors. Soft dusters with long handles work well, too, and also keep you off chairs that could topple. Get creative and use a rubber band to attach an old sock or cleaning cloth to the end of a broom or yardstick.
If cobwebs have found their way onto curtains or other fabric, follow the vacuum method and then use a lint roller to pick up those remaining sticky strands. Always wash the fabric if you are able to.
The best way to stop spiders from leaving their mark is to prevent them from ever coming in. Fall is the perfect time for them to seek shelter, so stay one step ahead of them and block their access. Seal cracks in windows and door frames. Dusting with citrus furniture polish goes a long way. As creepy as it sounds, spiders’ taste buds are on the tips of their legs and they can’t stand the taste of lemon.
With those pesky little creepers at bay, you can focus time and energy making your house spooky – for all the right reasons. When guests come to visit for Halloween parties, they’ll be swatting at the fake webs, not the real thing.
