Will WD-40 Prevent Spiders From Gathering In Your Window Corners?

Could WD-40 be the solution to your spider problem? The lubricant spray is typically used on door hinges and gears, but some insist that it can help keep the eight-legged creatures away from your window corners. It can be difficult to get rid of pests in and around the home. Some might find spiders to be particularly tricky, as they often create webs that collect dust, especially in hard-to-reach spaces like corners or ceilings. It would be rather convenient if WD-40 kept your home bug-free, as many people already have the product on hand. However, some pest control professionals believe the multi-purpose lubricant spray is not the best solution to keeping spiders out of your window corners.

As for those who swear by WD-40 to get rid of spiders, many believe that the spray makes surfaces too slippery for spiders to attach to and climb. The product's strong smell is also thought to deter spiders. This makes sense in theory — how can spiders hunker down in your corners if the perimeter is too slippery for them to make way their way there? If you've ever caught a whiff of WD-40, it's also not hard to believe that spiders would avoid the strong smell. Although WD-40 as a spider-repelling spray is somewhat believable, experts have explained why it is not as effective as many people think.

Pest control expert Caleb Fabry spoke out against using WD-40 to keep spiders away during an interview with Homes & Gardens. He shared some insight on why the product doesn't work as well as many people think it does. "WD-40 is not an effective way to kill spiders and it will not repel or keep them away either," Fabry told the outlet. "It is a lubricant and solvent, not a pesticide." It turns out that while WD-40 will make it difficult for a spider to move by coating its exoskeleton, it evaporates over time. This may allow spiders to roam your home freely once the WD-40 wears off. An excessive amount of WD-40 sprayed can drown or suffocate a spider, so it isn't entirely useless for this purpose.

Although spraying enough WD-40 might successfully suffocate a spider, Fabry also shared that excessive use of the popular lubricant spray poses risks. "In addition, WD-40 is flammable and can be harmful to humans and pets if inhaled or ingested," he told Homes & Gardens. "It can also stain certain surfaces such as wood, cloth, paint, siding, and doors." WD-40 may be particularly ineffective when used as a repellant in window corners because it reportedly has no lasting effect. "WD-40 also has no residual and no repellent effect so any new spiders or hatching egg sacks will just continue to be an issue," Farbry also shared. 

When exploring methods for keeping spiders out of your window corners, it may be best to turn to the experts for guidance. Black Pest Prevention CEO Nicole Carpenter recommended addressing spider problems at the source. "It is far more beneficial to begin by sealing cracks and gaps with caulk or weather stripping to prevent spiders from entering your home, as these areas are common entry points — this can also help to keep other common pests out too," she told Homes & Gardens.

If you would like to also use a pest control spray in your home, vinegar may be a better option to get rid of spiders. Not only is vinegar already a household staple for many, but it can also kill spiders on contact due to its high acetic acid content. To create a vinegar solution to prevent spiders from gathering in your window corners, simply mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. It is best to use white vinegar in this solution because it has the highest acetic acid content. When you have prepared your homemade spider control spray, apply it to your window corners and anywhere else you notice spiders in your home.