Be Sure To Check This Unexpected Spot When Trying To Rid Your Home Of Bugs

Horror movies rarely show anything you should really be afraid of, but there's one exception to that rule in the 1990 movie "Arachnophobia," where we see an unsuspecting person slip their foot into a spider-infested shoe. This is not only a real thing, it's very possible. Though, of course, they don't usually happen to be lethally venomous spiders like in the movie. Real-life spiders, scorpions, and all sorts of insects love to find their way into shoes and slippers. They're dark, often damp but not wet, cool, and perfectly sized for an insect to hide out or even make a nest. So, if you've noticed a few spiders, scorpions, ants, or other insect pests around the home, you should check the insides of your shoes. 

One of the top ways you may be inadvertently luring spiders into your shoes is by leaving them on the ground. That's why it's key to always check your shoes if they've been on the ground for a while to ensure there are no insects, arachnids, or nests inside, and stop storing them on the ground altogether as a preventative measure. 

Many pests, including spiders and scorpions, love a dark cave to chill out in but only if it's undisturbed. It's unlikely that your favorite pair of sneakers that you wear almost daily will attract a spider or other unwanted critter. So if you tend to leave your shoes unattended for a while after kicking them off when you come in the door or have left a pair outside after a muddy run, you should definitely do a quick check before sliding your feet into them. 

To check for insects, scorpions, and spiders, just tilt your shoe and give it a good shake, or bring it down on the floor to remove any critters holding onto the sides. Generally, this will remove the intruder, but you can also do a quick sight-check or even use a vacuum hose to pull up any possible hangers-on. If you do shake a pest loose from your shoe, dispose of it however you prefer (once you've calmed down). But it would be best if you also were sure to check for any remnants of the visitor, as some may build webs and nests or lay eggs. Some people may be tempted to just toss the shoe out entirely, but if you're keen to keep a hold of it, hit it with a vacuum. To wash a shoe, remove the insole from the shoe if possible, give it a good rinse in some hot water, and let air-dry.

If you don't already have a shoe rack or you have a shoe rack that isn't exactly in use, it's time to change that. Raising your shoes a few inches off the ground could help ward off creepy crawlers. There's no scientific study saying spiders, bugs, and scorpions will never scale these racks, but it's more likely that they'll come across your shoe on the ground as they make their way across the floors of your house. Adding a shoe rack is a simple way to reduce the likeliness of finding these invaders in your shoes. 

To be clear, you don't need anything fancy or expensive for a shoe rack.  It only needs to be a few posts and shelves, so there's no end of options for any budget, space, and skillset. To keep costs down, look for models made out of affordable materials such as MDF, plastic, aluminum, or wire. You could also hit up your local thrift store to find a shoe rack. For the crafty folks, you can try your hand at a DIY shoe rack or shelf. 

If you happen to be on the extra cautious side, consider storing your shoes in a box with a secure, air-tight lid. This is good practice for shoes that you don't wear often, like heavy winter boots. As one last, easy, supplemental preventative measure, spray your shoes with cedarwood essential oil every now and then, as this scent repels spiders and smells lovely to most folks.