I use diluted white vinegar water around all of my doors and windows and on the steps leading up to the doors to keep spiders out of the house. True, I have to re-apply it periodically, but it's worth it.
I also wash the pallets that I stack my winter wood on with vinegar water. I haven't come face to face with a spider since I started doing that.
@greene ... for roaches ... When I was in college and lived at the beach in San Diego, the apartment house where I lived was totally infested with roaches. I went out and bought a gecko and let him lose. I had one very happy lizard and was the only tenant in the building who never had any roaches. I never saw him except for once in a while when I reached for something where he was hiding. Yeah, I did have to clean up evidence that he lived with me, but that was easier than dealing with roaches.
Smiles,
Lyn
