Faced with a spider living inside one of your garden boots? Find out how to stop it happening again, in this short guide.
Last week I was cleaning up the patio, and rediscovered a pair of joggers that I had forgotten around. A tangle of white inside one of them alerted me to the obvious. I dragged the shoe onto the grass, and after 10 minutes with the garden hose, I finally washed an angry-looking Black House Spider out of the shoe.
I consider myself an outdoors person, but something about spiders sends a chill up my spine, and the thought of having one inside the tiny space where I put my delicate footsies just terrifies me.
So, to help prevent you (and me) coming across this spider-shoe situation again, I whipped up this quick guide.
How to Keep Spiders Out of Garden Boots
One of the downsides to working in the garden is having to deal with spiders, especially when they’re crawling in your boots. Yikes! It’s no wonder, though, that this happens when the apparel is typically stored outdoors or in the shed. If this is a problem you’re faced with, try these ways you can keep spiders out of garden boots:
Make a pantyhose shield
- Grab a pair of unwashed pantyhose and cut off the legs. You won’t need the waist section, so you can get rid of those.
- Take one of the legs and roll it over the open area of the boot, pulling it all the way down to the toe portion. Then, the toe part of the pantyhose should be laid across the open section of the boot. Remember, you’re using the pantyhose as a barrier.
- Repeat the previous step with the other boot.
- When you’re out wearing the boots, make sure that the pantyhose stays neatly rolled up.
- After a while, with all the wear and tear, the pantyhose will need to be replaced.
Store Your Garden Boots in a Spider-Free Place
Pick a special place indoors to store your boots.
Whether you choose the laundry or a spare closet, find an area inside where you can leave your boots when you’re not using them. This is a simple solution to the problem since spiders don’t usually live indoors.
Buy a small cupboard, with doors that close properly.
You need a box that is big enough to fit your boots, so buy a wooden cupboard that can hold them. Whatever you buy, though, there need to be doors on it that close shut. This will prevent spiders from sneaking inside. Or if you have an enclosed garden shed, a dedicated shelf will do nicely.
For more tips on keeping spiders out of your tiny home spaces, check out this guide to keeping spiders away from your windows and doors.
Good luck and happy gardening!
