Halloween is here, which means your home is likely decked out with a variety of creatures from goblins and, naturally, spiders. While you may have stretched fake spider webs across the length of your porch, cobwebs on the inside of your home are not considered decorative any time of year.

Don’t let spiders take over your house with their organic “decorations.” Check out the following tips on how to clean cobwebs and some ways to keep them from forming in the future.

But first, what are cobwebs?

Many people question whether cobwebs are made by spiders. Final answer: They are. A cobweb is typically made up of the leftover threads of an abandoned spider’s web. The web stays sticky after a spider dies or migrates elsewhere. And those sticky threads are great at snagging dirt, dust, cat hair and so forth. While the thin silk of an active spider web may be hard to spot, the accumulation of dust and dander on a cobweb can quickly become an eyesore.

How to clean cobwebs

There’s no great secret to figuring out how to clean cobwebs. All you have to do is dust regularly. Ideally, you should dust your house on a weekly basis. But over the course of a week, your schedule may be so hectic that you find yourself wondering how to dust, clean the kitchen, make dinner and take the dog to the vet without sacrificing sleep or purchasing a time machine. Since time machines and sleep deprivation aren’t viable options, you can push out dusting every two weeks.

When you do dust, you’ll want to work from top to bottom, making sure you hit upper corners where cobwebs tend to form. Cover any furniture or items below corners with a towel so they don’t get dusty. Vacuum the floor afterward to prevent the dust and dirt from recirculating.

Additionally, don’t forget to dust your windows and blinds, ceiling fans and around air conditioning vents. Because these items move or circulate air, they play a large role in spreading dust and dander about your home.

How to prevent spiders in your home

OK. So you know how to clean cobwebs. But how do you keep them from forming in the first place? Well, to prevent cobwebs from accruing in your corners, you need to spider-proof your home as much as you can. The following regiment can help you prevent spiders from getting cozy in your home:

Maintain a routine dusting and Regular cleaning regimen clutter is a haven for spiders and their cobwebs. Dust at least once a week and keep clutter in your home to a minimum. The best way to keep cobwebs out of corners is by dusting and vacuuming regularly. Remove all cobwebs as soon as you see them. And when those variables are eliminated, cobwebs can’t form.

Vinegar: Distilled white vinegar is great for everything from cleaning the shower, to keeping spiders away. Mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle and mist corners—high and low—along with baseboards, window sills and the bases of doors.

How to Prevent Dust Buildup

No matter how much you clean, some dust collection in your home is unavoidable. This is especially true for the areas in your home that you probably don’t think about cleaning during your routine dusting.

One easy-to-overlook surface in your home is lamp shades. A lint roller or vacuum extension is an effective way to remove dust from your lampshades without damaging the shade.

Another dust-collector that you may be overlooking is your houseplants. Some houseplant’s leaves lie at an angle that captures dust or dander.

Watering the plant from the top down helps wash away dirt that may collect on the tops of the leaves. If the plant’s leaves are too far from the pot to water from above, you can use a toothbrush or damp cloth to gently lift the dust.

A professional cleaning service can help you make sure every surface of your home is dust and cobweb free, no matter how hard to reach. Enjoy clean, breathable air and a pest-free home, all while saving yourself time and effort. Hire a professional house cleaning today.

Check out our follow up blog entry on How To Get Rid of Dust In Your Home.