Whether you have a steel, plastic or wooden playset, spiders will find a way to live in it. A lot of people have this misconception that if they have Cedarwood playset, then it should automatically repel spiders. However, during my research, I found out that spiders are not part of the insect category. They belong to the Arachnid class and so have to be dealt with differently.
How to keep spiders off playsets? There aren’t any permanent solutions to this problem. However, there are multiple steps you can take to make sure the spiders aren’t interfering with your child’s play. One of the best options is to make sure you’re constantly cleaning your child’s playset and the area around it.
So cleaning is one option, but there are plenty of other things you can do to deter the spiders from making your child’s playset their permanent home.
Related: How to Keep Birds Off Playsets
How to Keep Spiders Off Playsets?
For some, spiders are nature’s best friends and for others, a terrible nuisance. Whichever side you fall on, both agree that spiders should be kept away from kids. But how do you get rid of these pesky creatures especially if they end up in the very places you don’t want them to be? Just follow these simple tips and hopefully you’ll be able to get rid of them for a long time.
1. Clean the Playset
Here are some things you can do to make sure the playset is clean:
Dust Everything
Make sure you are constantly cleaning your child’s play area. You want to clean every couple of days by dusting everything, especially all the nooks and crannies in the playset. Just an FYI, brooms are excellent for catching and removing cobwebs.
Hose Down the Playset
You can double down on the cleaning by hosing the playset every once in a while, to make sure you get rid of any stubborn cobwebs and any spider eggs.
Be Consistent with Cleaning
Just make sure you are diligent in your cleaning process because when you disturb a spider’s nest, they get discouraged and want to find other peaceful places to rest.
Watch Out for Cracks
Be sure to pay special attention to any cracks, crevices and hollow areas in the playset. Those are a spider’s prime location.
2. Clean the Area Around the Playset
Cleaning around the playset is important as well. You want to make sure that there aren’t things around the playset area that are causing spiders. Here are some things to look out for:
Trim Trees and Bushes
Check the area around your playset to see if you have any low hanging branches or bushes that can attract spiders. If so, then make sure you’re regularly trimming these so that the spiders stay away from the playset.
Clear Leaves
Check for any piles of leaves or debris in general, these can be potential food sources for the spiders and cleaning that up will help eliminate your problem.
Eliminate Breeding Grounds
In general, you want to eliminate any areas near the playset you think can be potential breeding grounds for insects which then leads to spiders.
3. Check the Light Source
If you have lights, especially during the evening and night hours, that directly shine on the playset, you might want to direct it away from the playset.
Light attracts insects which is the main ingredient in a spider’s diet. By moving the light to another location, you’ll drive the insects in that direction which in turn will force spiders to build their homes in that area away from the playset.
4. Location of the Playset
The proper placement of your playset is essential. Here are a few tips that will help you make sure that you pick the perfect place.
Choose a Ventilated Area
As mentioned above, it is important where you place your playset. Essentially, you want the playset to be in a proper ventilated area where there aren’t any bushes or trees around.
Choose an Area with Plenty of Sunlight
Avoid shaded areas. You want to place the playset in an area where there is plenty of sunlight. Sunlight is a natural deterrent for spiders.
If direct sunlight is not possible, then keep the playset as far away as your yard will allow from low hanging branches and trees to avoid any spiders from these things to migrate to your playset. Or you may want to consider trimming the branches so that you can allow direct sunlight.
Mulch with Cedar Chips
If possible, get cedar chips for the area underneath and around the playset. This will deter any insects and hence keep the spiders at bay.
5. Pesticides
To use or not to use… one of the many decisions you have to make when you own a playset. My opinion, avoid chemicals, but if you can find some green products that will help, then why not. Here are some tips to help you make your decision.
Avoid Chemical
- You want to avoid using chemicals whenever possible, especially if there is a likelihood that your child will get exposed to it.
- There is a possibility that the pesticides will not work with spiders since their genetics are different from other insects.
- If you do decide to go the pest control route to get rid of insects, then make sure you ask for green products. This way, they won’t be too harmful for your little ones.
Use Essential Oils
- Try using essential oils, which are much safer, in the dark areas and the nooks and crannies of the playhouse. Spiders tend to dislike strong scents and might just pack up, leave and never come back (fingers crossed).
- Popular essential oils to use include, but are not limited to, tree tea oil, peppermint oil, citrus oil and lavender oil. You can mix them in water or vinegar and spray in the corners, any crack and crevices, joints, hollow areas, etc.
Other Places You Can Find Spiders
Spiders are one being that can be found anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s cold, hot, wet or dry. You name a place and you’ll find spiders there, indoors and outdoors.
It seems like there is nothing you can really do apart from cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning to keep these annoying beings out of your life!
The good thing is that the tips and tricks above not only work for playsets but other outdoor furniture, sheds, dog houses and etc. as well. These are common areas where spiders will try and go to once you kick them out of the playsets.
So, to be sure that you can get rid of them, you may want to clean these areas as well.
Why Are Spiders Good for the Environment?
No matter how terrified we are of spiders, there are some very important benefits to having these creepy crawlies around.
- Spiders are considered to be nature’s best friends. This is because they help maintain that balance between predator and prey. Spiders are considered necessary predators for any healthy yard. They prey on insects that can be harmful to the health of the yard.
- Most house spiders are completely harmless to human beings. The two main spiders that you need to look out for are the black widow spiders and the brown recluse spiders, but this is a post for another day.
- Spiders can help with lowering those pest control costs because they will get rid of those troublesome insects that seem to appear out of nowhere as soon as the weather changes.
- Once you get rid of all spiders, if that is even possible, you will notice an increase in insects taking over your yard. You can still make sure that you’re keeping your yard as clean as possible by removing piles of leaves and dead branches on a regular basis, but at the end of the day, there really is no escaping insects.
So, all in all, spiders, no matter how terrified you are of them, can actually be a good thing in the long run. You just have to find a way to have a balance. You don’t want them to infest your yard and its surroundings but you don’t want to be completely rid of them.
