To ask how to get rid of cellar spiders?

@BloodandGlitter I hate killing them, that's why I've tried to learn to take the big ones outside and let them go with those soft spindly catcher things.

But given I just shrieked, dropped my phone and my heart rate went up as I scrolled and the spider at the top of your poem pic appeared, and didn't know I'd done it till it had already happened, there is clearly an irrational fear somewhere in my psyche 😭

I have been trying hard all my life to not be scared but the big scuttly ones or any sudden appearances produce an immediate "I am going to die" panic response in me regardless of how ridiculous I know that is!

I don’t have an infestation but have had loads more of these than usual this year. I had no idea that they ate the big hairy ones and I have noticed that I’ve only had one of these lately.

I don’t think I could have slept knowing he was under the bed

This poem sums it up well.

I don't think it's right to kill something just because you're afraid of it. I had a huge house spider drop down an inch from my face while reading my kindle in the pitch black at 1am. I just nudged him over behind the bed and left him to it.

Oh and we don’t have a damp issue so unsure if that’s definitely the reason?

We have them too, OP.

I do tolerate a few but when I see to many getting a tad comfy I scoop them up quickly (they’re bloody speedy buggers) and dispatch them outside. What I REALLY don’t like about them is their violent reaction if you touch their web! They vibrate really quickly in defence! Eek!

I actually don’t mind the bigger ‘cuddly’ spiders, felt a bit sorry for one that had been caught by a cellar spider, amazes me how that works, you would have thought the bigger beasties would kick ass but nope! Cellar spiders must be ninjas!

Don’t hoover them up though, if you can gently scoop and put them outside.

I used to have this problem except with actual black, chunky spiders in a basement flat. It turned out they had just turned a basement into whatever closely resembled a flat but hadn't bothered to seal it! Environmental health ended up condemning the place. I would contact them in your area, they were very helpful. They'll also be very interested in the damp issue

Yes. Daddy long legs are insects, so 6 legs not 8, and they have wings.

I’d gladly take them!

It took me a long time to learn to love them though.

Yes our house is full of them too. I hate spiders but can just about tolerate them if I know where they are and they don't move. If they get a bit too active DH has to catch them and put them out the window. I'd be freaking out about finding them in pans and bags!!

Keep them! They eat the big hairy spiders!

Edit: No. I’ve lived in a house that had constant hairy beasties. Currently live on a building site so the big spiders are often looking for new homes. Been here 2 years and just got my first cellar spider and I’m going to look after her (and her babies!)

Honestly, wouldn't got nuclear with the indorex etc as that's strong stuff. It's designed for flea infestation etc. conkers etc don't have much effect on those spiders but they do put off your standard house type spider.

They're harmless, and eat other spiders so if get yourself a dehumidifier (amazing things, dry the washing SO fast) and have that on to dry the dampness out and see if that helps.

It's been a damp year so spiders have done well and everyone who garden knows it's been a slug massacre of their plants too.

Please don't kill the poor things 😢 they are completely harmless to humans and do a great job controlling pests for us. Hoovering them up is just evil! If you don't want them, gently scoop them up with a feather duster and shake out the window. At least they have a chance of finding a new home. We have such a delicate eco system that is being destroyed by clueless people with their overly sanitised lives and horrible toxic sprays, it will be the undoing of us all.

Don't mind a daddy long legs or a money spider.. I think because their bodies are small.

Not heard of crane flies being called daddy long legs but they aren't too bothersome.

I'd never heard of them being called Daddy Long Legs until a work colleague called one that name. I'd only ever known of the crane fly Daddy Long Legs.
In my house, we refer to spiders as big fat (fuckers), or spindly spiders! Can't stand any of them!

I don't mind a couple of them hanging around but we seem to have had loads this year too. Not quite as many as you by the ssounds of it though. The only effective way I have found of dealing with large numbers of spiders is to keep hoovering them up. Eventually, the numbers go down.

I like them but so hoover them if they start trying to hang over my head in bed or something ridiculous.

If you wanted to reduce the number just hoover all corners and across ceilings, they have invisible webs that are often stretched across our ceiling. They also make webs in the top half of the kickboard under the kitchen cupboards where you can't see unless you're lying down.

I nearly started a thread about cellar spiders OP. I don’t really want to google as I can only imagine the images it will bring up. We’ve got cellar spiders in a lot of corners now, there are more than we’ve ever had before and I’m not sure why. If they like damp maybe because of all the rain we’ve had?? I don’t think our house is damp though. I dont really mind them too much as they eat the big black ones but don’t want too many!

This year is particularly bad for them. I hate hate hate spiders, but have developed a sort if truce with these guys but this year is really pushing that. Every time I turn around they're there. I said the same to my mom and she's said it's the same for them. Obviously the conditions have suited them. Not helpful, sorry.

Daddy Long Legs spiders - leave them be, they’re useful. They won’t do you any harm and they get rid of other spiders and bugs.

(There are three things called Daddy Long Legs - harvestmen, crane flies and these spiders)

Are the pans kept under the kitchen sink? It might be worth checking that the drain isn't dripping slightly or anything. And do you squeegee the floor dry after using the wet room? That would help keep the moisture down (assuming that the wet room floor is sound).

Other than that I've no suggestions.