7 Best Spider Killer Sprays for DIY Exterminations

Updated on by Jared Belson | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page.

I know of many ways to deal with your garden variety spiders, whether you want to trap them or kill them. That said, most of the time, I prefer using one of the best spider killer sprays available to me if I have the time to get hands-on with the extermination.

If you would also like to avoid paying top dollar to a professional, take a look at some of my favorite picks in this niche. All of which are easy to use with little to no experience.

 Best Spider Killer Sprays for Indoor & Outdoor Use

The Terro T2302 is an efficient Black Widow, Hobo, and Brown Recluse spider killer. It should be a must-have in all households as far as I’m concerned. That’s because it can kill spiders as well as other insects like ants, crickets, bed bugs, and cockroaches.

I like that the spray knocks spiders out on contact. Even though it may not kill them immediately, it does put them out of commission. And, there’s a decent lingering effect too. The residual control extends to a couple of hours.

That means that you don’t have to go hunting for spiders. You can just as easily use the spray to treat the high-traffic areas. Although it doesn’t come with accessories, you can find some nozzle extensions for cheap.

You may find them useful if you want to use the spray for crevices or broad treatment applications. As it stands, the Terro T2302 nozzle sprayer has a decent dispersal pattern for home use, but it’s quite narrow if you want to treat multiple rooms in record time.

  • Highly potent formula
  • Non-staining
  • Quick knockdown
  • A couple of hours of residual control
  • No accessories for multiple types of applications

If you’re looking to get a top-notch spider killer in large quantities, then Miss Muffet’s Revenge may fit the bill. It is an odorless and non-staining formula that kills most spiders directly on contact.

It’s also one of the few formulas that you can use outdoors, too, due to its high concentration of active ingredients and weatherproofing.

The 0.5-gallon canister comes with a sprayer attachment and an extension tube. That should give you enough reach to spray up to 10ft above the ground. I recommend this product for room treatments, attic treatments, and others that involve high elevations.

For indoor use, the residual control should last up to 12 months. However, you may not want to spray your entire kitchen floor with it. The formula is toxic and may be harmful to you, your kids, and your pets even months after application.

At the same time, you can wash it off, which is why I recommend it for both outdoor and indoor use.

  • Sprayer and extension tube included
  • Ideal for outdoor use
  • Long residual control effect
  • Kills on contact
  • Toxic for humans and pets

The 11oz Hot Shot Spider & Scorpion Killer spray can kill Black Widow, Wolf, and Recluse spiders. Although it kills on contact, the formula will remain active for up to 16 weeks, depending on where you use it. In high traffic areas or when used outside, the residual control period will be shorter.

I also recommend this spray if you’re trying to treat your property for other insects, too, such as crickets, carpenter ants, roaches, and so on. Unfortunately, the spray won’t do much against fire ants and harvester ants.

Since this is a water-based formula, it won’t leave any residue. It’s also mostly odorless after it settles on the treated surface, despite having two potent active ingredients. I like that it’s non-staining too, although you may want to be careful when spraying walls and ceilings up close because the dispersal pattern is rather concentrated.

I should also point out that you can buy this spray in single cans or 12-packs. I recommend the latter if you want to treat both the indoors and outdoors for spiders. As previously mentioned, the residual control effect is not impressive outdoors.

  • Residual control up to 16 weeks indoors
  • Can kill a variety of insects on contact
  • Non-staining water-based formula
  • Available in packs for large scale treatments
  • Limited weatherproofing

The Harris Home Pest Control Spider Killer comes in 32oz plastic spray bottles. I like that it’s an odorless formula, even while you’re actively using it. Also, it doesn’t stain wood, carpeting, or other materials and surfaces.

Although recommended for a variety of insects like silverfish, ants, roaches, etc. this formula seems to be most efficient against spiders. Whether you have a couple of Black Widows or an infestation of Recluse spiders, this Harris spider killer spray will help you.

The formula is potent but not strong enough to kill on contact. Instead, the spiders will die as soon as the spray dries on them. Once dried on treated surfaces, spiders that crawl that way should also start dying off.

I’m not a big fan of non-adjustable nozzles, but one can’t argue with the formula’s results. Besides, if it’s imperative to you that you’re not using an unapproved insecticide, the Harris Home Pest Control Spider Killer checks another box by being EPA-registered for residential use.

  • Ideal for residential use
  • Non-staining and odorless
  • 32oz spray bottles
  • Works on a wide range of insects
  • Slightly delayed effect

If you’re looking to kill spiders and scorpions, then the Black Flag Spider & Scorpion Killer can be of assistance. This formula comes in 16oz aerosolized spray cans with non-adjustable nozzles. It’s one f the top choices among homeowners as a targeted sprayer, which can be pretty accurate even from 5 feet away.

The formula will kill spiders on contact. It will take a bit longer for scorpions, but Black Widow spiders still drop dead on contact. If you want to solve the problem quickly, this is what I would recommend.

There’s no problem with using this Black Flag spider spray killer outdoors. However, residual control is not impressive and is entirely dependent on the right weather conditions. When used inside the home, this formula can keep on killing insects for up to 16 weeks.

I would also recommend spraying webs and egg sacs if you can see them. That’s the right way of killing spiders that may have eluded you during your first treatment attempt. For large-scale treatments, you could order a 12-pack and save a couple of bucks too.

You’ll find that this formula is most effective against the following species: Brown Recluse, Black Widow, and Wolf spiders. However, this is usually the case with most commercial spider killers, so there’s no reason to worry.

  • Accurate sprayer
  • Kills on contact
  • Can paralyze and kill scorpions too
  • Available in single or 12-packs
  • May need multiple applications for larger spiders

The Bonide 363 is a different kind of sprayer that also works against ground bees. Instead of using a traditional water-based formula, this one uses dust with Permethrin as the main ingredient. It’s highly toxic to most spiders, and it’s very convenient to use inside cracks and crevices.

It’s a niche treatment I’ll give you that. But not everyone has the luxury of seeing where the spiders are coming from. Besides, if you’re worried about having to buy additional accessories to get traditional sprays inside cracks, puffer-type spider killers are the next best thing.

You can also use this outside. Although, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it since one breeze is enough to blow away the dust. The formula has good residual control, great even since it won’t evaporate like most water-based formulas.

But, due to its texture and composition, this does mean that the residual control is only great when you use the duster inside cracks and crevices, where water, humidity, wind, drafts, and traffic won’t affect it.

  • Great to use in hard to reach places
  • Snorkel applicator included
  • Impressive residual control effect
  • Kills quickly after contact
  • A niche product that treats specific areas

I always try to include at least one natural insecticide, whenever I find one that can back up its claims. If you’re worried about introducing toxic chemicals into your home, then perhaps this MDX Concepts formula may be better suited for you.

The unique combination of peppermint oil, vinegar, and other essential oils can kill spiders, though not directly on contact. It may take a few hours, but if you spray it directly on spiders on their most traveled routes, it will guarantee kills.

The scent should be pleasant. If you’re worried about your carpeting and furniture, know that the formula won’t stain. However, I wouldn’t recommend spraying it on walls and ceilings because it’s an oily substance that could leave some residue.

Although sometimes advertised as a bee killer too, I see it more as a bee repellent. So, don’t expect it to do much more than take care of your spider infestation.

  • Natural formula
  • Non-toxic
  • Pleasant scent
  • Kills within hours of application
  • May stain some surfaces

Why and When to Use Spider Killer Sprays

Most people prefer not to use insecticides if they don’t have to. Such preferences have spawned various products like glue traps, trays for dust mites, gels for carpenter ants, and so on. Glue traps and spider catching go hand-in-hand these days.

But, they’re not foolproof solutions. Sometimes you can’t trace the spider’s crawling patterns. When that happens, placing glue traps randomly around the house can become quite infuriating. Not all glue traps feature formulas with high concentrations of spider attractants, either.

Last but not least, if you can’t identify the spider species, then it’s very likely that you won’t be able to get the right kind of bait.

When all else fails or when you want to get rid of them quickly, insecticides in the form of spider killer sprays become the logical choice. These are easy to use, as long as you have a good idea of where you might find the spiders lurking around in your home.

Natural vs Commercial Synthetic Insecticides

Two things differentiate these types of spider killers. First and foremost, one will introduce certain chemicals in the environment while the other one will not. Secondly, it’s highly unlikely that a natural or organic spider killer will kill spiders quickly.

Most of them will take a few hours, some even days, before the results start to show. Synthetic commercial insecticides are quite the opposite as most of them are formulated to kill on contact and provide residual control for hours, days, weeks, even months.

Of course, there are other minor differences too. While some people may find natural spider killers more appealing, you should know that there’s a higher chance that a natural insecticide will stain. That’s because most formulas are oil-based and not water-based.

How Important are Attachments?

Depending on what areas you have to treat, attachments can be critical. Narrow, concentrated spray patterns are great for disposing of a handful of spiders. They’re even more ideal when using an oil-based formula since the spray pattern will make it hard to hit the surface behind the crawlers.

However, if you want to make sure that spiders aren’t coming into your home through cracks and crevices, then a regular spray nozzle may not be enough. Wands, snorkels, and even adjustable nozzles might become mandatory.

But, some spider spray killers come with all those things included. If you’re looking to save money in the long run, then getting a spray killer with included attachments is cheaper than going out and getting them separately.

Spray Creepy Crawlers for Good

The ingredients in the spider killer sprays may differ quite a lot, even though most commercial sprays target the same common spider species. That said, it’s nice to have some variety if you’re prone to allergies or if you’re trying to be very selective with your extermination.

Each product on this list has something of value to offer. So whether you have to treat a single room, a garage, a mansion, or just a few cracks in the wall, you should be able to find something that suits your needs.

2 thoughts on “7 Best Spider Killer Sprays for DIY Exterminations”

  1. I live in spider heaven. I burn wood but even years back when father in law lived here it was the same. I have been bit twice one was bad. I started using black flag spider and scorpion but I have a lot of area that needs spraying inside and out and tractor shed. I am tired of spiders.

    Reply

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