Yes, spiders can hide in shoes although it happens less than folklore might suggest. Shoes are dark and enclosed, which makes them good places to take shelter during the day, although garages, sheds, patios, and closets are often better hiding places.
Yes, it’s a good idea to shake out your shoes before you put them on. Spiders can and sometimes do crawl in there. But if you’ve got a serious spider problem, your shoes are probably not the number one source of the trouble.
Spiders don’t always build webs, and many hunt instead. They’re the ones you’re most likely to find in shoes. They’d rather spend their daylight hours in a protected retreat until they can hunt at night. But again, this is more likely to happen with hiking boots that have been in the garage since last spring than your everyday shoes by the door.
Most spider encounters are creepy and nothing else. Most don’t want to bite. They just want to get away from you. Bites happen when feet go in and push the spider against the skin. Then they bite because they see no other option.
Still, shake out any footwear that has been stored for a long time. Turn boots upside down and knock them around. Do this with gardening gloves too. If you think you’ll have shoes that go unused for a long time, store them in sealed containers on a rack rather than the floor.
Reducing spiders also helps. Clearing clutter and using sealed bins rather than cardboard helps. It also helps to replace exterior lights with warm-toned bulbs, as they draw in fewer insects that spiders eat. Also seal gaps around doors and cables or pipes. This can not only help with spiders but also help prevent other pests from entering as well.
If spiders are settling into your garage and storage areas, Mosquito Squad of Los Angeles can help. Mosquito Squad's home and yard coverage treats the foundation, storage areas, and entry points where spiders shelter. This will help you protect the spaces your family uses.
