Why are spiders everywhere, around Halloween time? Not the decorations; the real ones. It is probably as simple as the fact that in the fall, spiders have had all summer to grow, and are at their largest in both size and population, so they are more noticeable. Their webs are everywhere. And when spiders are noticed, especially big ugly full-grown spiders, they can produce quite a scare. This may be fine when we're talking about fake Halloween spiders falling on us, but what if it is a real spider? And, what if it is a real spider that can be harmful? If you are seeing spiders in your home, it is important to know which kind of spiders they are, whether or not they are dangerous, and how to get rid of them.

Fall spider problems.

If you are noticing spiders in your home, snap a picture of it and see if you can find an image online that matches the spider you have. There are lots of spiders in the world, but only a few that get inside your house. Using the words "house spider" in your search may help you get results faster.

Spiders are scary-looking creatures, but only a couple in New York are actually dangerous: the black widow and the yellow sac spider. So, the first thing you'll want to do is make sure your spiders isn't one of these two.

Things you can do to deter spiders from coming in.

• Spiders hate peppermint. Fill a spray bottle with peppermint essential oil and water, then spray it around your home. It will discourage spiders. Plus, your home will smell great!

• Keep your home clean and free of dust and webs. Vacuuming, dusting and keeping clutter to a minimum will help to keep all sorts of insects at bay.

• Use Vinegar. Use in the same way as peppermint oil. Fill a bottle with vinegar and water and spray all the cracks and crevices around your home.

• Felines. Cats can be a great deterrent to spiders. They cannot resist pouncing on a spider crawling across the floor.

• Clean up outside. Make sure your yard is free from leaves, grass clippings, wood piles and other things spiders use for a shelter.

• Seal up gaps and cracks in your foundation walls, around windows, doors, etc.

When professional help is needed.

There are many things a homeowner can do to try and get rid of spiders. But, if you want the problem taken care of correctly and completely, it might be time to consider calling in the professionals. At Thomas, we don't just take care of spiders, we eradicate all those other bugs that spiders eat, like flies, gnats, wasps, fruit flies, etc. Our trained pest-control specialists will also advise you on other things you can do to resist the pests spiders eat, like outside lights, light escaping through windows, open trash cans, pet food left out, etc. If you have tried everything and are still finding spiders in your home, or if you simply don't wish to tackle this problem alone, Thomas Pest Services can help.