The Best Spider Bombs and Foggers

As you probably know, spider bombs and total release foggers are nasty products to use, especially in a residential area.

These bombs work by filling the target space with poisonous gas. This gas will then cover every surface and seep into fabrics and most cracks and crevices. Which is crucial since insects such as spiders tend to hide in places that are quite inaccessible.

The gas released by the spider bomb is often thought to be the only thing that can reach far enough into the cracks and get rid of them. However, in reality, the aerosols rarely penetrate deep enough into insect hiding places to be effective. In fact, a recent study found that bug bombs are ineffective at eliminating cockroaches, and an older study found them to be ineffective against bed bugs. What’s more, the typical active ingredients in total release foggers don’t kill spiders. The insecticides used in spider bombs vary, but pyrethrin is the most common active ingredient. 

The drawbacks of spider bombs

1. One of the main drawbacks of bug bombs for spiders is that if the cracks and crevices in which your unwanted spider guests are dwelling are too deep, even the gas from the best spider bomb might not reach them. If that happens, not only are the pests likely to survive but they will also often spread even more around your home, setting up new nests and dwellings. Which is why spider bombs shouldn’t be the only pest control strategy you use. They should only be used as part of an integrated pest management plan. 
2. To be honest, spider bombs are also a pain to use. When used properly, however, they can help eliminate your pest problem. Just remember that they are really only effective on pests that are out in the open. You’ll need another product or strategy for the ones that are hunkered down in their shelters.
3. And thirdly, another thing to remember about spider bombs is that they usually only kill adult spiders. They will sometimes kill baby spiders as well but these bug bombs will only rarely kill the eggs since the eggs of most bugs, including most spider species, are typically deposited in sheltered locations that aerosols can’t penetrate. Therefore, you can expect a repeat infestation a couple of weeks after using a spider bomb. Because once the eggs hatch, the newborns will begin to make themselves seen. Sadly, manufacturers often fail to mention this fact, which can leave consumers unpleasantly surprised. When this happens, most people think that there has been another infestation. But the reality is that the eggs laid by the previous generation have simply hatched. And if that happens to you, you will need to treat the premises again using a spider fogger or other spider control method.

And remember, you should be maintaining sanitation and exclusion practices at all times, even after the spider infestation has been eliminated because this is the surest way to prevent recurrent infestations. 

Other options to control spiders 

If you do not feel like bombing your home with poisonous gases (which is perfectly understandable), you do have options, since there are other products and methods that you can use to get rid of spiders. For example:

• You can use aerosol sprays for spiders instead of bombing your home with a bug fogger.
• You can also employ spider glue traps.
• For a more humane spider control option you can catch the spiders using spider catchers and then releasing the arthropods outside.
• Eliminating other insects is also a good option since this is what spiders eat.
• And keeping the interior and exterior of your home clean and free of debris and encroaching vegetation will also help with keeping spiders away from your home.

Or, you can simply call an exterminator. People often refrain from calling exterminators because their services are quite expensive and they often use the same products that you can buy yourself. But the thing to keep in mind about exterminators is that they are more experienced which means that they are more likely to choose the best possible treatment as well as to apply it correctly.

There are three things to keep in mind when shopping for a spider bomb:

1. Is this spider bomb designed for the type of bugs I am dealing with (in this case – for spiders)?
2. How big or small of a space I want to treat using a spider bomb? 
3. Is the bug bomb I’m looking to buy a quality product?

The first question is usually quite easy to answer. Most bug bomb and fogger manufacturers tend to specify which insects their products are meant for. Deep-reach foggers are usually designed for insects that dwell deep inside cracks and crevices, like spiders. While foggers that are not deep-reach are better for use on flying insects. And if you are still uncertain or do not want to trust the product label, you can simply ask a professional for advice.

Each spider bomb comes with a recommended treatment area, given as the total square footage of enclosed and unobstructed space. So, if you want to treat a bigger space, find one meant for large spaces. And don’t ever use multiple foggers in one room. Alternatively, if you want to bomb a space that is smaller than the recommended area, such as your car or closet, do not set off a whole can inside the smaller space. Instead, bomb the surrounding space (such as your garage or the room the closet is attached to), and let the fumes enter the smaller space.

In regards to the quality of the product, you obviously cannot trust the manufacturers because they will always claim that their products are the best. That is why, when choosing a product, we usually have to rely on advice from professionals as well as on consumer reviews. Neither of those is ideal. The reviews of professionals are sometimes biased. While consumer reviews are often subjective, inconclusive, and fail to take into consideration some of the surrounding factors. Still, if you read enough of both types of reviews, you will eventually get a clear picture of which products are worth buying and which are not.

To further aid you in your decision, you can also base your decision on the brand. Not all brands are created equal. The ones we would recommend to keep in mind include Raid, Hot Shot, Black Flag, Durvet, and Spectracide. These brands are generally held in high regard when it comes to quality and efficiency.

Using bug bombs for spiders as well as other insects is not an enjoyable thing to do. It is time-consuming because it will fill your whole house with insecticide which means that you have to leave your home for a few hours as well as take thorough safety precautions. People are injured and even killed while bombing their houses every year. So, to help you out, here are the most important steps to keep in mind.

A quick To-Do list when using a spider bomb:

• Read all labels and safety information before setting off a bug bomb.
• Set bug bombs at least 6 feet from an ignition source.
• Turn off all pilot lights before setting off any bug bombs. Turning off the pilot light in your furnace as well as all in other possible ignition sources is a must to ensure that no accidents happen.
• Remove all dishes, and utensils used for food from your home before treating it. Everything you leave at home when you set off the bomb will need to be cleaned afterward.
• Make sure to alert neighbors (especially if you live in an apartment complex) of your plans to use a fogger on your premises.
• Do not allow any humans or pets to enter the space before the bombs have finished their job. It will not be safe for anyone to enter until the whole space has been completely aired out.
• Once the bombs have done their job, air out all treated areas for at least a couple of hours.
• Once you have finished bombing, use preventive measures against further infestations.
• Use the second set of bug bombs 10 to 14 days after the first set. This will eliminate any spiders that may have hatched from any eggs left behind.

Spiders are arthropods that breathe oxygen, so the gas from bug foggers will affect them significantly if it lands on them. Additionally, spiders tend to hide in cracks and crevices. This is exactly what the deep-reach bug bombs claim to be for. Still, a lot of people who have tried spider bombs know that even good, high-quality foggers are ineffective against some spiders. This is true for a couple of reasons:

1. There are over 40,000 different species of spiders in the world. Every species varies in size, shape, venom, and susceptibility to pesticides. This effectively means that what works against some spiders can still be ineffective against others.
2. As mentioned, foggers often don’t penetrate as deeply as they claim, so they may not reach spiders.
3. Insecticides that settle on the ground won’t provide residual control for spiders because their bodies remain off the ground as they walk. Thus, the pesticide only gets on their feet, which they rarely clean using their mouthparts. 

What this means for us is that if a couple of bombings with one type of fogger are not effective, that does not mean that the fogger itself is bad. It can simply mean that that fogger’s insecticide is not meant for your particular species of spider. Instead of continuing to bomb your home with the same product, try a different spider bomb or a different approach altogether. Consider consulting a professional because they can determine the exact species of spiders you have and how best to deal with them.

It should be rather clear by now that spider bombs have their pros and cons. They are messy, time-consuming, and, when applied incorrectly, can cause more harm than good. But, when used properly, they can be an asset in your fight against unwanted spiders.

Of course, to make sure that the spiders will not reappear, you will have to make sure that you exterminate their eggs as well. Doing so often requires a second bombing. To make sure that there will be no further infestations, you should start using preventive measures right after the bombing.

Most bug bombs for spiders and other insects say that their effects will last a certain number of weeks. While this is usually true, it does not guarantee that new spiders will stay out of your home, regardless of the bomb’s residual effects. That is why taking preventive measures is so important. You don’t want to be fighting pests forever.

Still, if you know exactly what you are getting yourself into and how best to use them, spider bombs can do a pretty good job. 

Our Top 3

Finally, before we part ways, let’s review the Top 3 spider bombs that we recommend:

• The Raid Concentrated Deep Reach Fogger is a great spider bomb for both single-room and whole-house treatment. It is also one of the best spider bomb products for use in garages. This Raid fogger is effective not only on spiders but also on all manner of crawling pests. This is thanks to its deep-reaching potential that allows it to get into nooks, cracks, and crevices. It comes with three bombs per pack, so make sure that you get enough.
• The Hot Shot No-Mess! Fogger is effective against much more than just spiders. Its special dry formula achieves deep penetration into cracks and crevices while its continuous air presence combats flying insects. It also leaves no stains or wet residue and the included odor neutralizer makes it even more convenient. The dry formula also protects you against accidents as it is not flammable. This means that you will not have to turn off the pilot light on your furnace. (Even though we would still recommend it, for safety’s sake.)
• While the Hot Shot Indoor Fogger With Odor Neutralizer is much more oriented towards crawling insects in particular and is less effective against flying pests. Its effects can last up to two months when used properly. Four cans come in each pack and each bomb can treat 2,000 cubic feet of enclosed and unobstructed space. This Hot Shot bug bomb also has an odor neutralizer and will leave no wet stains or residue. It does not create a dry fog, however, so do not forget to turn off your furnace’s pilot light.