Domakihub How to Get Rid of Spiders in Your Home for Good
A practical room-by-room plan to keep spiders out of homes, rentals, and hotels in Greece.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Spiders are a year-round reality across Greece — they slip through gaps around window frames, hitch rides on firewood, and settle into every undisturbed corner of a holiday villa or city apartment. The video above walks through the professional approach in under ten minutes; this article breaks it down into five ordered steps you can carry out yourself, along with the context you need to choose the right products for the Greek climate. Whether you manage a rental property or simply want peace of mind at home, the process is the same: remove what attracts them, seal entry points, and apply a targeted treatment that keeps working between visits.
Why Spiders Move Indoors in Greece
Greece's warm summers and mild winters mean insects are active almost all year — and where insects thrive, spiders follow. Coastal holiday homes are especially prone because the combination of external lighting, ground-floor gaps, and seasonal vacancy gives spiders months of undisturbed habitat to build webs and lay egg sacs.
Hotel rooms and short-term rentals face an additional reputational risk: a single spider sighting in a guest review can damage a property's rating. Treating the problem structurally — rather than just vacuuming webs as they appear — is the only approach that produces lasting results.
Know Your Spider Before You Treat
Most spiders found indoors in Greece are harmless house spiders (Tegenaria and Steatoda species) that hunt other insects and pose no medical risk. The European black widow (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus) is present in rural and scrub areas; it rarely enters homes but can shelter in outbuildings, garages, and stored equipment. Knowing which species you are dealing with helps you decide whether DIY treatment is sufficient or whether a licensed pest-control technician is the right call.
For the vast majority of infestations — ordinary house spiders appearing in bathrooms, cellars, and window corners — the five-step method below is fully effective without professional help.
5 Steps to a Spider-Free Home
- 1
Remove webs, egg sacs, and clutter first
Before any product goes down, do a thorough physical clear-out. Use a vacuum with a hose attachment to remove every web — including those tucked behind radiators, under furniture, and in ceiling corners. Vacuum up egg sacs immediately and empty the bag or canister outside. Removing existing webs eliminates the food-storage signal that keeps spiders in the same spot and makes later treatment far more effective.
- 2
Seal gaps around windows, doors, and pipes
Spiders do not chew through walls — they walk through existing openings. Inspect every window frame, door sweep, pipe entry, and cable grommet. Use silicone sealant for hard gaps and self-adhesive door-bottom strips for thresholds. Pay special attention to the junction between window frames and rendered walls, a common weak point in older Greek buildings where the render has shrunk away from the frame.
- 3
Cut off the insect food supply
Spiders stay where food is plentiful. Switch outdoor lights near entrances to warm-white or yellow LED bulbs, which attract far fewer insects than cool-white or blue-spectrum lights. Keep fly screens on windows in good repair. Remove leaf litter, stacked wood, and outdoor furniture cushions from the immediate perimeter of the building — these are prime harbourage for both insects and spiders.
- 4
Apply a residual insecticide to the perimeter and entry points
A residual pyrethroid spray (such as cypermethrin or lambda-cyhalothrin, both readily available in Greek hardware stores and agro-shops) applied around the full exterior perimeter — focusing on the foundation line, door frames, and window sills — creates a chemical barrier that kills spiders on contact for weeks. Spray indoors along skirting boards and behind appliances in kitchens and bathrooms. Allow surfaces to dry completely before re-entering treated rooms; ventilate well. Always follow label directions and keep children and pets clear during application.
- 5
Maintain and repeat every 8–12 weeks
A single treatment is not enough for ongoing protection, especially in holiday properties left vacant for weeks at a time. Set a reminder to re-treat the perimeter every two to three months through the active season (April to October). Each time you re-treat, do a quick web-and-egg-sac vacuum first. For managed rentals or hotels, logging each treatment with a date and product used helps demonstrate diligence to guests and satisfies any insurance or hospitality audit requirements.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted pest control pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- Are the spiders common in Greek homes dangerous?
- The overwhelming majority are harmless. The European black widow is the only medically significant species in Greece and almost never enters occupied dwellings — it prefers outbuildings, dry-stone walls, and scrubland. If you find a glossy black spider with a distinctive red or orange hourglass marking, do not handle it and call a professional pest controller.
- Can I use natural methods instead of chemical sprays?
- Yes, though they work best as prevention rather than cure. Peppermint essential oil diluted in water and sprayed around entry points deters spiders moderately well, as does wiping surfaces with a citrus solution. Diatomaceous earth dusted along skirting boards is a safe, non-toxic option that damages spider exoskeletons over time. For a serious infestation, combine natural deterrents with a one-time perimeter spray, then maintain with natural products afterwards.
- How do I keep spiders out of a holiday rental between guest stays?
- The key is not leaving the property undisturbed for long periods without a check. At minimum, run the vacuum through all corners before each changeover, keep exterior lights switched off between bookings, and apply a fresh perimeter spray at the start of each rental season (typically late March or early April in Greece). A professional quarterly treatment contract with a local pest company is the easiest hands-off option for owners who do not manage the property themselves.