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An Ideal Home report says the narrow, dark space behind picture frames can attract spiders seeking shelter. A pest-management expert recommends dusting behind frames regularly, but the report does not establish that a five-minute task will eliminate spiders permanently.
Spiders may shelter behind picture frames, according to a home-care report from Ideal Home, which cites a pest-management expert recommending regular dusting of the narrow space. The advice offers a simple way to disturb a potential hiding place, but the source does not show that a brief cleaning task can get rid of spiders permanently.
Mosh Latifi, co-owner of EcoCare Pest Management, told Ideal Home that spiders are drawn to narrow, enclosed spaces where they can touch multiple surfaces. The gap between a frame and a wall can provide darkness and shelter, particularly when it is rarely disturbed.
Latifi said warm walls and small insects or dust mites may also make the area appealing. He recommended a quick dust behind frames once a week during September and October, which he described as spider season. The report does not provide research data or quantify how much this routine reduces spider activity.
Julia Kindermann, a manager at the art-care company Custtom, advised using a soft, slightly damp cloth and gentle movements when cleaning artwork. She said clean water is usually enough and warned that abrasive materials can damage canvas or remove ink. She also suggested checking wooden frames in damp locations for warping that could widen the gap behind them.
A Small Cleaning Task, With Limits
For people who would rather not find spiders behind wall decorations, the report points to a low-effort prevention habit: move or gently lift frames as appropriate and clear dust and cobweb remnants from behind them. It also draws attention to a spot that can be overlooked during ordinary room cleaning.
The advice is about making a potential hiding area less undisturbed, not guaranteeing that spiders will leave a home. The article’s headline promises a task that gets rid of spiders “for good,” but the expert’s quoted explanation supports a more limited claim: regular disturbance may make the spot less suitable for settling. No permanent removal claim is established by the material provided.
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Why Frame Backs Can Offer Shelter
Latifi’s explanation centers on spider behavior he describes as thigmotaxis: an instinctive preference for close, enclosed spaces with contact on several sides. The space between a picture frame and a wall can fit that description while remaining out of sight and away from routine activity.
The report also connects cleaning with maintaining the artwork. Kindermann said a frame hung near a bathroom or on an exterior wall may be exposed to damp conditions, so it is worth checking for warping or separation from the wall. The article says taking a print down completely is rarely necessary; a light dusting and occasional inspection may be enough for routine care.
soft damp cleaning cloth for artwork
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What the Cleaning Advice Cannot Prove
The source does not state when the report was published, cite a study testing the suggested routine, or give figures for how often spiders hide behind picture frames. It also does not establish that five minutes is enough, that dusting removes every spider, or that the effect lasts permanently.
Latifi’s recommendation focuses on a particular seasonal period, September and October, but the report does not explain whether the same schedule applies across regions, homes, or spider species. The source also offers no detail about what residents should do if they find a spider or a larger infestation.
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A Routine Check Behind Frames
The practical next step in the report is to dust behind frames periodically, with weekly checks during September and October suggested by Latifi. Use a gentle cloth around artwork, avoid abrasive cleaning, and inspect wooden frames in damp areas for signs of warping.
Ideal Home’s report does not announce a formal study or a follow-up test of the advice. Whether the routine makes a noticeable difference in a particular home will depend on conditions the source does not quantify, including access to the gap and the presence of insects or other shelter nearby.
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Key Questions
Where does the report say spiders may hide?
It identifies the narrow gap behind picture frames as a possible hiding place, describing it as dark and often undisturbed.
How often does the pest expert recommend dusting?
Mosh Latifi recommends a quick dust once a week during September and October. The report does not give measured evidence for the size of the effect.
Will dusting get rid of spiders permanently?
The source does not show that it will. Latifi’s advice is that disturbing and cleaning the space may make it less attractive as a place to settle, not that it guarantees permanent removal.
How should artwork be cleaned?
Julia Kindermann recommends a soft, slightly damp cloth and gentle motions. She cautions that scouring pads and harsh materials can damage canvas or strip ink.
Source: rss
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