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Spider invasion, moth balls to drive them out?

Jay_and_KatJay_and_Kat Member Posts: 269
in Camping & Travel

OK, I'm seeing some conflicting information and some information that gives me pause about using moth balls to drive out / prevent spiders in an RV. Now, we're not going to be putting them in while we're IN the camper, but when the camper is in our storage lot. For some reason this year, the spiders are HORRIBLE, every time we go to the camper we're sweeping spider webs from all over the outside and there's webs on the inside as well...

My concern is that some sites say "don't use moth balls out in the open, the smell is the pesticide and it's horrible for you," some don't mention that. So right now I've got a couple moth balls on a paper plate on the floor of our camper (nuCamp T@B400) at the storage lot to try to drive out / kill any spiders on the inside.

What I'm wondering is, when I go to get the camper in a bit more than a week for a trip, should I open a vent (possibly the roof vent) a bit for the drive to "air out" the moth ball smell as much as possible, or will opening things up at the campground (as well as when I'm loading) be enough?

 

Lastly, has anyone done this to prevent spiders? Did it work?

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Jay and Kat
Tow vehicle:  2022 Jeep Gladiator Sport S + tow package
Camper:  2022 T@B 400 Boondock w/Norcold 3-way fridge
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Comments

  • subkronsubkron Member Posts: 187
    Looks like there may be a couple of pesticide ingredients in mothballs. One (napthalene) has a short half-life of a day or so but the other's half-life (paradichlorobenzene) is 31 days. TBH I wouldn't want this in my camper no matter how long you wait.  
    I would recommend seeking out more natural means that are not harmful to humans/pets.
    2022 T@B 400 Boondock
    2015 RAM 1500 Outdoorsman Quad Cab
    South Jersey
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  • qhumberdqhumberd Moderator Posts: 597
    In my pediatrician days naphthalene was never a good chemical for exposure to kids, and particularly babies. It is an old and non specific repellent.

    So I’d think that we have something less dangerous after 80 plus years since naphthalene.

    2019  T@B400 Boondock Lite "Todd"

    2016 Toyota Tundra 5.7 Crew Cab
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  • Jay_and_KatJay_and_Kat Member Posts: 269
    So, based on what people have said here and elsewhere, we've got some cedar boards on order that should be here tomorrow. 

    We're going to remove the moth balls I put in and swap to the cedar, which according to some searching should dissuade the spiders

    Thank you all!
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Jay and Kat
    Tow vehicle:  2022 Jeep Gladiator Sport S + tow package
    Camper:  2022 T@B 400 Boondock w/Norcold 3-way fridge
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  • MickerlyMickerly Member Posts: 456
    Spiders are predators. They live where they find food. If there are many spiders, there are eating something, or most of them would move out. Remove the food source, any you remove most of the spiders.

    There are natural repellants. Try cedar.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
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  • Jay_and_KatJay_and_Kat Member Posts: 269
    @Mickerly I get that and I understand that's why the outside of the camper keeps getting spider-covered, but we keep the inside clean (no food left out or uncovered, swept after camping trips) yet for some reason the little arachnids keep coming inside!

    Heck, when I was out the other day putting the moth balls in, when I walked out (and I do NOT know how I missed it going in) I walked through a spider line across the doorway!

    But yes, we've got some cedar coming in today, intended for "clothes" that we're going to put in the camper in a couple spots to try to keep spiders and bugs out, or at least dissuade most of them...
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Jay and Kat
    Tow vehicle:  2022 Jeep Gladiator Sport S + tow package
    Camper:  2022 T@B 400 Boondock w/Norcold 3-way fridge
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  • MickerlyMickerly Member Posts: 456
    The do like propane exhaust. The refrigerator exhaust chimney in my parents class C needed cleaning at least once a year. Good luck.
    2018 320CS-S
    "Just Enough"
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