Replace cardboard storage boxes with plastic bins

What to Do

Replace cardboard boxes in basements, garages, attics, and closets with sealed plastic storage bins with tight-fitting lids. Store items off the floor on shelves where possible.

Why It Works

Brown recluse spiders thrive in undisturbed spaces with stacked cardboard boxes — the corrugated layers provide ideal hiding spots and nesting sites. Switching to smooth, sealed plastic bins eliminates this harborage. Decluttering storage areas also removes hiding places and makes infestations easier to detect during inspections.

Tips

• This is especially important in areas within the brown recluse range (south-central and midwestern US)
• Shake out clothing, shoes, and gloves that have been stored in boxes before wearing
• Keep items off the floor to reduce ground-level hiding spots
• Clear, transparent bins let you see contents without opening, reducing disturbance of stored items
• Reducing clutter is one of the highest-impact spider prevention steps in any home