Brushing a cobweb smears it. Web silk is sticky, so a dry brush drags it across the surface and leaves a grey mark that is harder to remove than the web was. Vacuum them off instead.
Why the brush is the wrong tool
A cobweb is not dust. It is silk loaded with dust, and the silk is adhesive. A brush picks up part of it and pushes the rest into the surface — particularly on painted cornices and textured ceilings, where the mark then needs washing off.
| Tool | Result | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum with a brush attachment | Lifts web, dust and egg sacs away entirely | Best |
| Extendable duster with a head that traps | Works if the head holds rather than pushes | Good |
| Dry broom | Smears silk across the surface | Avoid |
| Damp cloth on a pole | Turns web into a grey smear on paint | Avoid |
| Bare hand | Spreads it, and you will not enjoy it | No |
Where they actually accumulate
Rarely in the middle of a ceiling. Spiders build where two surfaces meet and where air is still, which is why the same handful of places load up every year.
The method
Do cobwebs before anything else in the room
They are overhead work. Doing them after dusting means dusting again.
Vacuum, do not brush
A brush attachment on an extension wand lifts web, dust and egg sacs away in one pass.
Work the perimeter, not the middle
Cornice corners, window reveals, behind doors, above wardrobes.
Do the light fittings
Warmth attracts insects, insects attract spiders. Fittings are a reliable spot.
Then wash any remaining mark
If a smear is already there from a previous brushing, a damp cloth will lift it now that the web itself is gone.
Outside is where it starts
Most indoor webs come from spiders that live outside and move in. Clearing the eaves, porch, window frames and meter box makes considerably more difference to the inside of the house than doing the inside more often.
- Eaves and soffits all the way around
- Around external light fittings, which attract the insects
- Window frames and external reveals
- Porch ceilings and the meter box
- Under the deck or verandah rail
- The garage door track and frame
Keeping them away
The honest version
Nothing keeps spiders away permanently, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. What reduces webs is removing the food source and the still air: clear the eaves, reduce outdoor lighting that attracts insects near entries, and clear webs before they establish. Sprays are a pest controller's territory, not a cleaner's.
As part of a spring clean we clear cobwebs from reveals and eaves within safe reach. Anything needing height equipment we will tell you about rather than attempt.
We do spring and deep cleaning across Melbourne's eastern suburbs. If you would rather not spend a weekend on it, tell us what needs doing.
Frequently asked questions
Why do cobwebs leave a grey mark?
Because they were brushed rather than vacuumed. Web silk is sticky, so a brush drags it across the surface instead of lifting it off.
How often should cobwebs be cleared?
Perimeter corners are worth a quick pass with the vacuum each month. Eaves and outside areas twice a year, usually as part of a deep clean.
Do you spray for spiders?
No. We remove webs as part of cleaning. Pest treatment is a licensed pest controller's job, and we will not pretend otherwise.
3 Piglets Cleaning
We are a Croydon-based cleaning company serving Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern suburbs. Our technicians are police-checked and fully insured, and those working with NDIS participants and older clients hold NDIS Worker Screening Clearances. More about us.
