How to Get Rid of Spider Webs on Your House Exterior: Eaves, Soffits, and Windows
You can have freshly washed siding and a spotless driveway, and the house still looks neglected if the eaves are full of cobwebs. Webs collect in the corners of soffits, around porch lights, inside window frames, and along the underside of the gutters. In Southwest Kansas, wind-blown dust sticks to every strand, so even old, abandoned webs turn into gray clumps you can see from the street.
Here's why spider webs build up where they do, how to clear them from your home's exterior safely, and how to make the house less inviting to spiders in the first place.
Why Spider Webs Collect on the Outside of Your House
Spiders build where the food is. Outdoor lights draw flying insects at night, and spiders take advantage of that. That's why porch lights, garage lights, and lit windows tend to be the worst spots. University of New Hampshire Extension notes that yellow outdoor bulbs attract many fewer insects than standard white lights, and that leaving lights off when you don't need them helps too.
Eaves, soffits, and window corners also give webs some shelter from wind and rain, so they last longer there than out in the open.
Some webs stick around long after the spider is gone. K-State Research and Extension explains that black widows belong to the cobweb spider family, known for messy, tangled webs, and that their webbing tends to remain, collecting dust and debris, even after the spider leaves. Those dusty leftover webs are what make an exterior look dirty.
Most Spiders Are Harmless, But Two Deserve Respect
Most spiders around Kansas homes are beneficial predators. K-State entomologists recommend leaving garden spiders alone because they feed on insect pests and aren't harmful to people. If a big orb web is stretched across your flower bed, it's doing you a favor.
Two native species are different. According to K-State, the black widow and the brown recluse are the only two spiders native to Kansas that may be of medical importance because of their venom. Black widows tend to set up in quiet, undisturbed places, including:
- Electrical, water meter, and control boxes
- Woodpiles, rocks, and lawn debris
- Garages, sheds, and crawl spaces
- Unused equipment and lawn furniture that rarely gets moved
K-State's guidance is to inspect an area before putting bare hands into enclosed spaces, and to wear leather gloves, long sleeves, and long pants when working where black widows are likely. Keep that in mind before you reach behind a meter box or under a deck to swipe at webs.
The Best Time to Clear Old Webs
Late fall and winter are a practical time to knock down exterior webs. K-State entomologist Jeff Whitworth says brown recluses and black widows are rarely seen from mid-October to mid-March, and that common field spiders lay their eggs and disappear before Halloween.
That leaves behind empty, dust-caked webs and egg sacs. K-State recommends removing spiders, webbing, and egg sacs with a broom, a long-handled tool, or a vacuum. Clearing them during the quiet months means fewer surprises when the weather warms up and a cleaner-looking house through the holidays.
How to Remove Spider Webs From Eaves and Soffits Safely
For most homes, the safest DIY approach is a long-handled cobweb brush or soft broom used from the ground.
- Work from the top down. Clear eaves and soffits first, then window frames, then lights and doors, so debris falls onto areas you haven't cleaned yet.
- Twist the brush to wind webs onto the bristles instead of smearing them across painted trim.
- Wear gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection. Dust and debris fall straight down when you're working overhead.
- Don't reach blindly into meter boxes, electrical boxes, or tight gaps. Use a tool, and never spray water into electrical fixtures, outlets, or meter enclosures.
- Be careful on ladders. If you need one, follow OSHA's portable ladder safety tips: keep three points of contact, use stable and level ground, and check for overhead power lines before raising it.
Why not just pressure wash the webs off?
It's tempting, but a narrow, high-pressure stream aimed up at eaves and soffits can force water behind trim and fascia and damage paint. The same concern applies to gutter faces and siding, which is why delicate exterior surfaces are typically cleaned with low pressure and the right cleaning solution. Our article on soft washing vs. pressure washing explains the difference.
A note on pesticides
Removing webs is cleaning, not pest control. If you're dealing with a real spider problem, especially brown recluses indoors, talk to a licensed pest control professional. K-State notes that general crack-and-crevice spraying usually isn't effective against black widows because the pesticide doesn't contact spiders that stay in their webs. Labeled products should be used only as directed.
How to Make Your Home Less Inviting to Spiders
A few changes reduce how quickly webs come back:
- Switch exterior bulbs to yellow or warm-toned lights and use motion sensors or timers so lights aren't on all night.
- Seal cracks around doors and windows and repair torn screens, which K-State recommends to keep spiders out of the house.
- Clear debris and woodpiles away from the foundation, since undisturbed clutter is good habitat for both black widows and brown recluses.
- Keep the exterior clean. Fewer old webs and less dust buildup make it easier to spot new activity early.
Let a Professional House Wash Handle It
Spider webs are one of those details that separate a quick rinse from a truly clean exterior. Our house washing service includes gutter face and soffit washing, which is exactly where webs and dust collect. If your windows are full of webbing and grime, our residential window cleaning includes optional screen cleaning as well.
Planning a wash? Our house washing day checklist walks you through what to do beforehand. And if birds, not spiders, are the problem under your eaves, read our guide to swallow nests and bird droppings first, because active nests come with legal protections.
Want clean eaves, soffits, and windows without the ladder work? Call 620-521-5811 or request your free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to remove spider webs from the outside of a house?
A long-handled cobweb brush or soft broom used from the ground works well for most eaves and windows. Work top down, wear gloves and eye protection, and avoid blasting soffits and trim with high-pressure water.
Will house washing get rid of spiders?
House washing removes the webs, egg sacs, and dust it reaches, which makes your home look cleaner and makes new activity easier to spot. It isn't pest control, so for an ongoing infestation, contact a licensed pest control company.
When is the best time to clean spider webs off my house?
Late fall and winter work well in Kansas. K-State notes black widows and brown recluses are rarely seen from mid-October to mid-March, so you're mostly clearing old, empty webs.
Are the webs under my eaves from black widows?
Not usually. Black widows prefer low, quiet, undisturbed places like meter boxes, woodpiles, and garage corners. Still, wear gloves and use a tool instead of your hands when clearing webs in tight spaces.
Do you clean eaves and soffits in Garden City and nearby towns?
Yes. Soffit and gutter face washing are part of our house washing service across our Southwest Kansas service area, including Garden City, Holcomb, and Dodge City.