Hedge apples or Osage oranges for spiders?

[wendow]

We bought a house recently that is new to us but not new. We have spiders. LOTS of them. I am phobic of them. I am finding them everywhere...basement, family room, baths, bedrooms...

I read that hedge apples (maybe also called osage oranges) would repel them. Has anyone ever heard that or know anything about this? Also, where can I buy these. We are in Colorado. Would my local nursery have them? I've honestly never heard of these.

Btw, we've been in the house for over 2 mos. My dh has sprayed outside with pesticide several times and it's not really changed the inside situation. Inside, I've used peppermint oil, mixed with dish soap and water but that hasn't helped. I have 4 kids so I'm hesitant to spray pesticide inside.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

My tenants had spiders in our rental home this year...lots of them. Had to have exterminator come several times to finally take care of the problem. That was in sc. We are in tn and have a ton this year too, but luckily all outside.

 

[kymom99]

I have heard this but I don't know if there is anything to it.

 

[Earstou]

I have an Osgae orange tree in my yard and my sister asked for some because she had heard the same them. I delivered a large bag of them to her and she tried them. She told me the next year that she felt like they didn't do a thing, and she's never asked for more.
I've never tried them because they are sticky, with sap oozing out, and I didn't want that mess in my house!
She saw them at her farmers market, but asked me if I had any after seeing the high prices being charged.
Mine haven't dropped yet, so it might be a bit too early for them.

 

[wendow]

I have an Osgae orange tree in my yard and my sister asked for some because she had heard the same them. I delivered a large bag of them to her and she tried them. She told me the next year that she felt like they didn't do a thing, and she's never asked for more.
I've never tried them because they are sticky, with sap oozing out, and I didn't want that mess in my house!
She saw them at her farmers market, but asked me if I had any after seeing the high prices being charged.
Mine haven't dropped yet, so it might be a bit too early for them.

Thank you for sharing. I read they were sticky so I read that you want to put them on a lid from like a sour cream tub or butter. You can buy them off Amazon and the reviews are great. Was your sister using them for spiders? I am optimistic that you live in KS and have a tree in your yard. Maybe I will be able to find them here. I am getting desperate and it gives me hope to keep trying things LOL. Isn't that sad. I just want the spiders inside the house gone!

 

[wendow]

My tenants had spiders in our rental home this year...lots of them. Had to have exterminator come several times to finally take care of the problem. That was in sc. We are in tn and have a ton this year too, but luckily all outside.

I have heard others say this year has been worse too. I wonder why?

 

[cglaura]

I use Ortho Home Defense inside and out. I have kids and pets, and it is safe once it is dry.

I spray around the baseboards and windows first. Then wait a day and spray around the outside foundation, windows and roofline/soffits.

I also bomb my attic twice per year w/ one that kills as well as repels. I don't have a basement, but perhaps could bomb there as well.

Since I started this routine, I only get a few spiders, or any bugs really, inside, in spring and fall when windows are open (during times of year I don't need air/heat).

I think they are attracted to dampness too, so maybe running a dehumidifier might help.

 

[stsomewhere]

I use Ortho Home Defense inside and out. I have kids and pets, and it is safe once it is dry.

I spray around the baseboards and windows first. Then wait a day and spray around the outside foundation, windows and roofline/soffits.

I also bomb my attic twice per year w/ one that kills as well as repels. I don't have a basement, but perhaps could bomb there as well.

Since I started this routine, I only get a few spiders, or any bugs really, inside, in spring and fall when windows are open (during times of year I don't need air/heat).

I think they are attracted to dampness too, so maybe running a dehumidifier might help.

I use this,too. I spray outside as needed.(Once I see webs appearing again.)

 

[Badamon]

I use Ortho Home Defense inside and out. I have kids and pets, and it is safe once it is dry.

I spray around the baseboards and windows first. Then wait a day and spray around the outside foundation, windows and roofline/soffits.

I also bomb my attic twice per year w/ one that kills as well as repels. I don't have a basement, but perhaps could bomb there as well.

Since I started this routine, I only get a few spiders, or any bugs really, inside, in spring and fall when windows are open (during times of year I don't need air/heat).

I think they are attracted to dampness too, so maybe running a dehumidifier might help.

We're in Massachusetts and have had success with Ortho Home Defense and like products as well. Never had to spray the interior as outside foundation spraying has done the trick for us. Maybe not a zero issue, but certainly 99% better. We do have a basement, but it is fully finished, living space (all three floors of our home are). Before using the spray we had tons of big spiders in baths and mostly lower level (basement). Would see great big, hairy ones literally "running" across the floor. Yuck. We do have tons of them in the yard/gardens.
Sorry you're struggling, can appreciate the battle. Good luck!

 

[Jaime4004]

Morbid curiosity had me clicking on a subject involving spiders since I have a huge phobia of them. If they were trying to live with me, I'd become a big fan of an exterminator or pesticides!! I have a few bottles of raid in different rooms, so they are always in reach when needed.

 

[Rose23]

http://shop.avon.com/product.aspx?pf_id=45388

You can try the AVON Skin-So-Soft Oil and put it around your windows, doors and baseboards (it is oil based so watch staining). I have used the Ortho before when I had a new built home and it worked also, first doing inside of the house and then outside of the house a couple of days later.

If the problem is severe enough, I would spend a few extra dollars and call the professional to tackle the problem to create a barrier inside and outside of the home. He may be able to get you ahead of the game for next year.

September and October are always spider season in Ohio so we normally spray a little extra. We have had our dog for seven years and we've seen no detrimental affects; she gets full physical exams every six months with a clean bill of health every time.

Best Wishes!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Spend the money and have an exterminator come out. If you are phobic (like I am!) it is worth every penny to not jump every time you *think* you see something out of the corner of your eye. Good luck!

 

[wiigirl]

Spend the money and have an exterminator come out. If you are phobic (like I am!) it is worth every penny to not jump every time you *think* you see something out of the corner of your eye. Good luck!

 

[msmama]

SELL THE HOUSE!!

LOL. Personally, I'd call a professional. I use terminix just because I use them for my termite prevention, but many smaller family run exterminators around here advertise "safer" alternatives (though anything is safe once it dries, theoretically).

I had a GIANT spider attack me in my pantry the other day (okay, maybe it was running scared from my scream) so I can feel your pain.

 

[angierae]

If you have that many I'd spring for an exterminator, as well.

As for us, we have three cats, so spiders/centipedes/flies don't last long in our house. I rarely see them, and if I do, it's because I notice one of the cats is tracking it. Soon enough - snacktime!

 

[ktate82]

If you have that many I'd spring for an exterminator, as well.

As for us, we have three cats, so spiders/centipedes/flies don't last long in our house. I rarely see them, and if I do, it's because I notice one of the cats is tracking it. Soon enough - snacktime!

This! I have always said, the day I see extra critters, is the day I stop buying cat food!

To the OP though, hiring a professional could be your best bet and save you money in the long run. I have heard of the hedge apples as well (but was told to put them in a burlap bag), but never used the idea.

 

[wendow]

Thanks everyone for the help! I really appreciate it!

Our basement is the primary place we are seeing them. It is about 95% finished with just a few small areas that are unfinished for furnace, water, etc. We also have been running a dehumidifier down there for about 6 weeks. When we first moved in, it always smelled a bit musty. We took a gauge that measures humidity down there and it was 70-80%!! Living in CO, where it stays pretty dry, I was shocked. So we bought a dehumidifier and not it stays 45-50%. Is that dry enough to keep the spiders away?

I guess we'll look into having someone spray. I know it's probably what we need to do to get control. The people we bought the house from never sprayed and left their windows open all the time. When the house hit the market and we came to see it, they were actually out of town. Yet there were a few windows left open a couple of inches. It's no wonder the place is 'crawling' with spiders.