You can get rid of daddy long legs safely and effectively with a mix of gentle removal, home tweaks, and prevention, without resorting to harsh chemicals.

How to Get Rid of Daddy Long Legs

(Without Nuking Your Whole House)

“They don’t hurt you, but they sure don’t pay rent either.”

Quick Scoop

  • Daddy long legs (often cellar spiders or harvestmen) are usually harmless but can gather in creepy clusters.
  • Best approach: physically remove them, clean and declutter, close entry points, and tweak light and moisture so they stop wanting to be there.
  • Chemical sprays are rarely necessary and often discouraged unless you have a severe infestation and a pro says it’s needed.

Step 1: Remove the Ones You Already Have

Think of this as an eviction with minimal drama.

Gentle physical removal

  • Vacuum them up
    • Use the hose attachment on your vacuum to remove spiders and webs from corners, ceilings, and tight spots.
* Empty the bag/canister outside into a sealed bag if you don’t want them crawling back out.
  • Sweep or brush
    • Knock them down with a broom or long-handled duster, then sweep them into a dustpan and discard outdoors.

Traps and DIY sprays

  • Sticky traps
    • Place sticky traps near windows, light sources, basements, and cramped areas where they tend to cluster.
  • Mild home-made spray
    • Mix water with a little dish soap, or water with vinegar (and optionally peppermint oil), and spray in corners and around hiding spots to discourage them.
* Always check pet safety before using essential oils, especially around cats and small animals.

Step 2: Make Your Home Less Attractive to Them

If your place is cozy for them, they’ll keep coming back.

Deep clean and declutter

  • Declutter hiding spots
    • Remove or move unused boxes, piles of papers, old furniture, and anything with little gaps and holes where they can hide.
* Pay extra attention to basements, closets, laundry rooms, garages, and under-stairs areas.
  • Clear webs and debris
    • Go through upper corners, under beds, staircases, and window frames to knock down all webs and egg sacs.

Control moisture

  • Fix damp spots
    • Repair leaks, improve ventilation in bathrooms and basements, and avoid leaving standing water (even small puddles from mops).
* Use fans or dehumidifiers in very damp rooms if needed.

Step 3: Block Their Favorite Entrances

This is how you stop new ones from moving in.

  • Seal gaps and cracks
    • Caulk or seal cracks around foundations, window frames, door frames, and where pipes or cables enter the house.
* Repair damaged window and door screens so they can’t just stroll right in.
  • Tidy the outside perimeter
    • Trim plants and bushes away from exterior walls so they don’t use them as a “bridge” into your home.
* Move woodpiles, trash, and other clutter away from your foundation to reduce outdoor hiding spots near entries.

Step 4: Use Natural Repellents (With Care)

These don’t “kill” so much as say, “Wrong house, buddy.”

  • Essential oils (repellent, not poison)
    • Peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus oils—diluted in water—can be sprayed around entry points, corners, and windows to deter them.
* Never use strong essential oils directly on pets, and double-check which oils are safe for your specific animals.
  • Vinegar and vanilla / vinegar mixes
    • Spray diluted white vinegar around window frames, corners, and baseboards; some people also use a 1 cup vinegar to 1/2 cup vanilla mix for a nicer smell.
  • Light management
    • At night, reduce bright outdoor lighting or switch to “warmer” or yellow lights, as bright white lights can attract insects and, indirectly, the spiders that eat them.

Step 5: When (and Whether) to Go Chemical or Call a Pro

Many pest experts note that daddy long legs are generally harmless and even helpful because they eat other insects, but they can be unnerving in large numbers.

  • Avoid strong chemicals if you can
    • Because they’re not dangerous and are often beneficial, many guides recommend avoiding heavy-duty insecticides unless you really have a large, persistent infestation.
  • If you have a serious infestation
    • You can use a perimeter insecticide product around baseboards, window/door casings, and the outside foundation as labeled, or ask a licensed pest control company to inspect and suggest options.

Different Viewpoints: Kill, Relocate, or Coexist?

Online forums and pest blogs show a surprising range of attitudes toward daddy long legs—everything from “burn it all down” to “these are my roommates now.”

[2][6][4] [6][4][9] [3][5][6][1][8] [5][6] [1][5][8][9] [2][5][8][1]
Perspective What People Do Why They Choose It
Coexist Leave a few in basements/garages, only remove ones in main living areas. They are harmless and help keep other bugs in check.
Humane removal Vacuum or cup-and-release, use repellents and sealing to keep them out. Don’t like seeing them but don’t want to kill them if it can be avoided.
Full control Heavy decluttering, regular web removal, sticky traps, and sometimes insecticides or a professional service. Large “infestation” (hundreds), phobias, or concern about guests and aesthetics.

Example: A Simple 7-Day Plan

Here’s a practical way to handle a light–moderate infestation without going overboard.

  1. Day 1–2: Declutter and clean
    • Clear boxes and piles from closets, laundry room, and basement, then vacuum webs and spiders from corners and ceilings.
  1. Day 3: Seal and tidy outside
    • Inspect and seal small gaps, fix torn screens, and move wood/debris away from the house.
  1. Day 4: Moisture and air
    • Fix leaks, run fans in damp rooms, and avoid leaving standing water.
  1. Day 5: Repellent line
    • Spray a diluted peppermint or vinegar solution (pet-safe) around windows, doors, and known spider hangouts.
  1. Day 6–7: Monitor and trap
    • Add sticky traps in basements and corners, check nightly, and keep knocking down any new webs.

If after a couple of weeks you still see huge clusters (especially in sensitive areas like bedrooms), it can be worth calling a local pest control pro to check for underlying issues (excess moisture, other insects, or structural gaps).

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.