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An Ideal Home report says spiders may shelter in the narrow, undisturbed space behind picture frames. Pest-management expert Mosh Latifi recommends dusting behind frames regularly, including weekly during September and October, but the report does not establish that a five-minute task will eliminate spiders for good.
An Ideal Home report identifies the narrow space behind picture frames as a place spiders may shelter and recommends regularly dusting behind frames to make the area less undisturbed. The article cites pest-management and artwork-care experts, but it does not provide evidence that a five-minute task gets rid of spiders permanently, as its headline suggests.
Mosh Latifi, co-owner of EcoCare Pest Management, told Ideal Home that spiders are drawn to tight spaces that offer contact on several sides. The gap between a frame and wall can provide darkness and protection from disturbance, he said. Latifi also said warm walls may attract small insects and dust mites that form part of a spider’s food supply.
Latifi recommends disturbing and cleaning the space behind frames. He said a weekly dust during September and October, which he describes as spider season, can make the area less appealing. The report does not set out a measured effect or say that this routine will prevent every spider from entering or settling in a home.
Julia Kindermann, a manager at print and framing business Custtom, advised using a soft, slightly damp cloth and gentle circular motions when cleaning a frame’s surface. She said clean water is usually enough and warned that abrasive pads or harsh cleaning could damage a canvas or remove ink. For frames in damp places, she recommended checking for warping, which can widen the gap between the frame and wall.
A Small Gap Can Stay Undisturbed
The advice draws attention to a part of home cleaning that may be missed when people dust the visible surfaces of frames but not the wall-facing side. Latifi’s explanation is that spiders may find the gap appealing because it is dark, enclosed and rarely disturbed, while nearby insects can provide food.
For readers who want to reduce the chance of spiders settling behind artwork, a light dusting is a simple maintenance step that also helps keep frames clean. It should be understood as prevention advice, not a guarantee: the report offers no trial results, quantified reduction or evidence that the task removes spiders from a home for good.
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Why Frames Can Offer Shelter
The report’s explanation centers on the physical space between a wall and a hanging frame. Latifi described spiders as “thigmotactic,” meaning they are instinctively drawn to tight, enclosed spaces where their bodies touch surfaces on multiple sides. In his account, a frame can provide a protected recess away from routine movement and vibration.
The article also notes that dust and old web remnants can accumulate behind frames when the area is not cleaned. Latifi said removing those remnants and disturbing the spot can make it less suitable as a settled hiding place. Kindermann added a separate maintenance consideration: damp conditions near bathrooms or exterior walls may affect wooden frames, so occasional checks can identify warping.
“A quick dust behind frames once a week during spider season in September and October makes a meaningful difference to how many choose to take up residence.”
— Mosh Latifi, quoted by Ideal Home
What the Cleaning Advice Cannot Prove
The source material does not give a publication date, identify a study testing the method, or quantify how much regular dusting changes spider activity. It also does not establish that a five-minute task removes spiders “for good”; that wording appears in the supplied headline, while the cited expert advice describes reducing the appeal of a hiding place.
How often a particular home needs cleaning may depend on its conditions, the number and type of frames, and whether spiders or insects are already present. The report does not specify a cleaning duration, provide a measured before-and-after comparison, or address every way spiders can enter a home.
Check Frames During Routine Dusting
Readers following the report’s advice can add the backs and edges of picture frames to regular dusting, with Latifi suggesting weekly checks in September and October. Use a soft cloth and avoid abrasive materials on artwork; check wooden frames in damp locations for signs of warping.
The report describes routine cleaning and inspection rather than a new product, formal guidance or scheduled follow-up. It provides no later results showing whether the suggested task changes spider numbers in homes.
Key Questions
Where does the report say spiders may hide?
It identifies the narrow gap behind picture frames, between the frame and the wall, as a possible sheltered place.
How often should people dust behind picture frames?
Pest-management expert Mosh Latifi recommends once a week during September and October. The report does not establish that this schedule is necessary for every home.
Does five minutes of dusting get rid of spiders permanently?
The report does not show that it does. Its expert recommends disturbing and cleaning a potential hiding place to make it less attractive; permanent removal is not established.
How should artwork be cleaned?
Julia Kindermann recommends a soft, slightly damp cloth and gentle motions, saying clean water is usually enough. She cautions that scouring pads and harsh cleaning can damage canvas or strip ink.
Should frames in damp areas be checked?
Yes. Kindermann says to check wooden frames near bathrooms or exterior walls for warping, which could pull a frame away from the wall and create a wider gap.
Source: rss
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