I think you need to look up spidermites in Google and get to reading there boyz.
They are all over outside and you inadvertently bring them in, fact.
Every time you do yard work you run into them, weedeating, cutting the grass, pets bring them in, kids bring them in, yadda yadda yadda.
Bringing plants in and out and it don't matter what kind of plants.
Unless you got an out door shower and dressed for hazmat details, that you take off before you come inside, guess what you got them too.
They don't do any real damage until they are colonized.
So for people who say this is bullshit, you're probably standing in a cowyard.
Do some reading on the subject before flopping the lips. These are facts.
Not uneducated assumptions like most on here.
I've got one better than google, and that is an education including many courses in plant diseases and pests.
Yes it is possible and easy to bring spider mites inside, but they are not hazmat worthy. You're going above and beyond. A mite that hitches a ride on your shoes and clothes is not going to magically find your grow room across the house. Nor will it survive inside long enough for it to hitch a second ride into your room. They are really not that resilient.
For a home grower, just don't go directly from an outdoor garden to an indoor garden. And try not to let your dogs go from outside directly to your garden.
For a "commercial" or large scale grower, with lots of $$ invested, get a shower at your place, and
keep a store of clean clothes to change into before entering your grow space. Honestly you can probably skip the shower too.
I have got mites multiple times before I realized my problem. Now I've been growing 2+ years completely mite free. Don't bring infested plants into your room, including non cannabis. And my mite infestations have always started out very small. I believe if you spot any amount of spider mites/ongoing damage, they will inevitably colonize unless you eradicate.
But, if you do not physically introduce mites (or eggs) to your grow space, you will not have a problem with mites.
Last week I went to three different gardens all ran by the same person all infested with mites and thrips. All three filthy with dead leaves all over the floor and no preventative maintenance. I don't think I don't have any mites I know with a certainty that I don't have them it's painfully obvious what happens when even just a couple mites make there way in.
I disagree about the leaves. Leaves do not harbor spider mites if there are no spider mites to begin with. I keep a thick layer of leaves on top of my soil.
Now if an infestation is already in place, you absolutely MUST get rid of leaves and all debris in the room. Prior to a borax scrub of course, which is really what is going to kill all mites and eggs.