Spiders are small creatures that usually like to hide in dark corners and crevices. You are probably going to notice spiders in the corner of your room or in places that haven’t been cleaned in a long while.
Arguably the most obvious way to determine if there is a spider in any part of the house is to keep an eye out for the spider webs.
Most spiders tend to make elaborate webs and usually lie in wait for their prey. In most cases, tiny insects get caught in the web, and the spiders are able to feast on them.
You wouldn’t really want to get rid of a few spiders in your house, as they are going to deal with other pesky creatures such as cockroaches or flies.
However, you should know that spiders tend to multiply very quickly, and the last thing that you would want is to see spiders inside your mailbox. When the mail carrier arrives, they are just going to put their hand in the mailbox and keep your mail inside.
If they notice a spider, they are probably never going to put their hand in and will just leave the mail outside. More importantly, you are at risk of not receiving mail at all, because you never know how another person might react to seeing spiders in the mailbox.
In most cases, their reaction will be one of derision and horror, and they are definitely going to avoid putting their hand in the mailbox.
Ultimately, this could impede your mail, and you most certainly don’t want that. Thankfully, there are several ways by which you can get rid of spiders in your mailbox.
First, you should know that spiders usually follow the trail of food, so if your mailbox has an opening through which other insects are able to enter, it won’t be long before spiders end up building their webs inside as well.
Most people leave their lights turned on as the evening grows darker. Spiders aren’t generally attracted to the light, but other insects are.
If there is a light located close to the mailbox, it won’t be long before other insects find their way inside, and spiders will soon follow.
Now, if you want to get rid of spiders in your mailbox, there are a few things that you can do. Here are some simple strategies to get rid of spiders from your mailbox.
1 – Using Conkers
There is an old wives’ tale that states that by placing chestnuts around any area, you can ward off spiders.
Apparently, spiders hate the smell and the sight of chestnuts. Some state that the spiders are instantly going to turn the other direction and run off, while others say that they are going to keel over as soon as they see a chestnut.
Obviously, this might be an exaggeration, and since there is virtually no backing around this, you should generally take this one with a pinch of salt.
However, if nothing else works, this might be worth a try!
2 – Sealing the Mailbox
Another important thing that you need to do is lock the mailbox properly whenever you take out the mail. Don’t leave the mailbox open, and make sure that any holes or nooks in the mailbox are sealed shut.
You might want to spend some time checking out the mailbox carefully to determine if there are any holes on the mailbox.
These will allow the spiders to get inside with considerable ease, and they are going to build up their nests very quickly. To avoid this from happening, you should make sure that the mailbox is sealed shut when not in use.
Keep in mind that spiders don’t really have the instincts needed to seek out smaller openings, nor do they have the ability to get through a sealant.
They are simply going to see if an opening is available, and if the mailbox is sealed shut, they are going to let it be. It’s probably one of the simplest, yet the most effective means of keeping spiders out of the mailbox without much of a problem.
Because the mailbox is mostly kept out in the open, you should know that it’s going to rust and corrode over the passage of time.
It’s important for you to make sure that you check it after every few months for any holes that might develop and seal them shut.
3 – Clean the Mailbox Regularly
Another simple way to keep spiders away from your mailbox is to make sure that you clean the mailbox on a regular basis.
Remember, cleaning the inside of the mailbox is going to be very important if you want to keep the spiders away. We have already talked about the fact that spiders are mostly attracted to areas that are completely ignored around the house.
If you regularly clean the mailbox, you won’t have much to worry about. Spiders spend a great deal of time building their nests, and if they notice that the mailbox is cleaned on a consistent basis, they will leave that place untouched.
It’s important for you to make sure that you clean the mailbox at least once a week.
Cleaning the mailbox from the inside doesn’t require much of an effort; just take an empty dust rag and run it on the inside. It’s going to be enough to get rid of any insects that might have settled on the inside.
A common mistake that many people make is that they tend to use pesticides inside their mailbox.
Remember, you are going to be handling the mail that is kept inside. You are going to bring the tainted mail inside, and then you are going to use the same hands around other things around the house, including your kids.
This could lead to a litany of serious problems, so it’s very important for you to make sure that you avoid using any kind of chemical-laden pesticides or even organic ones inside the mailbox.
A regular, thorough cleaning is going to be enough to keep the spiders away. They will soon begin to notice that the mailbox is regularly cleaned and used, and will avoid spinning their webs inside.
Brushing them away from inside the mailbox is an effective strategy that will yield desirable results in the long run.
4 – Use Citrus
Rubbing some citrus juice on the inside of the mailbox is also a great way to get rid of spiders that might call it home.
Spiders hate the smell of citrus, and they are going to stay clear of spaces where this smell lingers. Citrus usually smells quite pleasant to the average person, but for spiders, not so much.
If you want, you can also keep a small peel of citrus fruit inside the mailbox, at the far end. The smell is going to waft throughout the mailbox and you won’t have to worry about spiders at all inside.
Another thing that you can use is a bit of cedar and tobacco, as those are quite effective at warding off spiders as well.
These are just a few simple ways to get rid of spiders from your mailbox and keep them away.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.