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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be scared about the spider season this year

136 replies

Whatever555 · 18/07/2026 18:38

Had a bad time last August-October. I lived alone back then in a very old house which was riddled with giant house spiders, on the worst night I had 4 palm-sized ones in the house in the same evening, they'd just run out across the room. It was horrible coming home and seeing them every single evening and having nobody to help me out.

I ended up paying someone
from pest control to come round and fumigate the house, they found a nest in my kitchen. It worked for the rest of the season as I didn't see any more living ones. I also went around with sealant and eliminated every gap I could find. I didn't see a single one again for 6 weeks after that before I moved, but it made me anxious for a while. It sounds dramatic but I had frequent nightmares, I hated being there alone especially at night and I was constantly inspecting rooms.

No longer live alone and not had any huge ones here, just a couple of smaller ones which I can manage better. I've got some Indorex which I spray round every month, I have looked into the London zoo spider course but it's always booked up.

I've used apps to try and improve things but I don't think it'll ever fully go. Even if I can get spider catchers or whatever your home is meant to be your safe haven, and it doesn't feel like that when they're around. Anyone else feel this way, or got any tips?

OP posts:
Theworldsgonemadagain · 18/07/2026 19:41

I get a lot of spiders. There are loads in my garden so inevitably some get into the home. I would never kill them, that is so cruel. I catch them and put them outside. Honestly I'd rather spiders than flys. I was grateful for one once that trapped a fly that was really annoying me and wouldn't get out of the window. I let that one stay. I heard peppermint spray on the windows helps

Lunalara · 18/07/2026 19:41

YANBU I despise those giant spiders. I go into panic mode whenever I see a single one. What’s worse is my partner trying to push me to get over my phobia :( Doesn’t matter if they technically don’t hurt you as they are terrifying to look at.

Defrostedmariahcarey · 18/07/2026 19:37

Peppermint oil in a spray bottle mixed with water will help. Spray it round the doors, windows, corners, all over the bathroom.

hahabahbag · 18/07/2026 19:37

Depends where you live, in the uk it’s ridiculous they don’t hurt you, if in Australia, I’d be chasing them out

ohcomeonnowdaffy · 18/07/2026 19:37

I used to live in a ‘spider house’ too. It was a converted garage and during spider season, there would be at least 1 or 2 monsters every day. I don’t even know how I stuck it out for as long as I did!

Our house now is much better but come end of July I spray ‘pest shield’ spider spray on skirting boards and around windows etc. It really works - it’s quite rare for me to see one.

Whatever555 · 18/07/2026 19:36

It's also the fact that they will happily kill ants, flies, mosquitos, wasps and so on, anything they deem as 'useless' to the ecosystem.

OP posts:
AstonUniversityPotholeDepartment · 18/07/2026 19:34

My personal opinion is that if you consume animal products and consume vegetables produced through conventional farming, you have no business commenting on people who kill spiders.

Have you seen what pesticides people use to cultivate crops? Also, one's kitchen isn't supposed to support any ecosystem at all. I'm quite happy with aiming for lifeless desert anywhere I prepare food, thanks!

Whatever555 · 18/07/2026 19:32

As I said we're not here to berate people for having phobias and making rude remarks, majority of us on this thread are in agreement, if you don't like it this is not the thread for you.

OP posts:
JudeMyHero · 18/07/2026 19:31

@Whatever555 * an area where they were congregating " absolute bastards 😲

Pieceofpurplesky · 18/07/2026 19:30

@NoCommentingFromNowOnI have a spray bottle with peppermint oil and water. I spray often! Insects hate the smell of peppermint. I can only do bedrooms though as it makes the cat ill. She is old and doesn't go upstairs anymore.

Theyreeatingthedogs · 18/07/2026 19:30

BloodandGlitter · 18/07/2026 19:23

Find this thread really sad actually, spraying toxic poisions to kill off essential parts of the ecosystem just because you have an irrational fear is awful. You can't just kill something because you're afraid of it.

People with spider phobias are really something else.

This!

Whatever555 · 18/07/2026 19:27

I know they don't 'nest' as such, I meant an area was discovered where a number of them were congregating.

OP posts:
Whatever555 · 18/07/2026 19:26

Not going to be turning this into a debate over which phobias are 'acceptable' or not. No, we're not 'something else'. Phobias ARE irrational, we're fully aware. Complete lack of empathy and understanding there.

Anyway..

OP posts:
BloodandGlitter · 18/07/2026 19:23

Find this thread really sad actually, spraying toxic poisions to kill off essential parts of the ecosystem just because you have an irrational fear is awful. You can't just kill something because you're afraid of it.

People with spider phobias are really something else.

soddingspiderseason · 18/07/2026 19:22

You are not alone! Hence the user name X

Cla7 · 18/07/2026 19:17

YANBU they’re horrible. I found my first giant one of the season last week in our bathroom and it was bigger than anything I’ve ever seen before (in the UK). I’m scared of more encounters over the next few months.

ToadRage · 18/07/2026 19:17

My brother used to be designated 'rescue Rachael from spider' person. He kept a plastic cup and old beer mat in his room for such occasions. Now it's my husband. We used to get huge ones in the flat, most of the ones in our house are smaller but no less scary. We had a huge beast hanging out on the outside of our lounge window last year, I refused to allow my husband to have the window open til he put mesh up in case it tried to come in.

LittleGreenDragons · 18/07/2026 19:11

Livelovelaughfuckoff · 18/07/2026 19:07

I use Indorex every year and spray it around thresholds, skirting boards and carpets. Definitely helps.

Raid ant spray also works and is cheaper from the supermarkets. I originally bought it to stop the ants coming in and slowly realised I rarely had a spider problem. So every spring I clean the windows and spray around the openings and doors. It's bliss.

JudeMyHero · 18/07/2026 19:11

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 18/07/2026 19:01

Keep a clear plastic or glass jug handy, plus strong but thin cardboard to slide under it. If you’re prepared you might feel less worried? If you get the jug over the spider then there’s no rush, you can leave it there until you’re ready to slide the cardboard under the jug, flip it and chuck it outside. If you’re not ready then in the time it takes to find the jug the spider can hide again which isn’t good.

I couldn't get near enough to get a jug.i have also worried with the hoover because if you mis time it it may run up the hoover shaft

JudeMyHero · 18/07/2026 19:09

@Whatever555 can you tell me what you mean by a nest ?

Four giant ones at one time would send most of us to the edge .
That sounds horrific .

Op don't forget the false widows are smaller but much more nasty.

Unfortunalty with the summer we have had I think it's been boom season for spiders and lots of food for them.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 18/07/2026 19:07

Pieceofpurplesky · 18/07/2026 19:04

You have a cat otherwise peppermint spray is brilliant - if your cats don't go in the bedroom perhaps use it in there. And get yourself a pet cellar spider as they eat the big ones!

Peppermint spray? Do you make it with peppermint essence and ?water? And just spray randomly or in specific areas?

Livelovelaughfuckoff · 18/07/2026 19:07

I use Indorex every year and spray it around thresholds, skirting boards and carpets. Definitely helps.

Fontet · 18/07/2026 19:05

The amount of spiders in the house atm is crazy….more than ever b gore. They seem to disappear as quick as they appear though so…..don’t bother me.

Pieceofpurplesky · 18/07/2026 19:04

You have a cat otherwise peppermint spray is brilliant - if your cats don't go in the bedroom perhaps use it in there. And get yourself a pet cellar spider as they eat the big ones!

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 18/07/2026 19:01

Keep a clear plastic or glass jug handy, plus strong but thin cardboard to slide under it. If you’re prepared you might feel less worried? If you get the jug over the spider then there’s no rush, you can leave it there until you’re ready to slide the cardboard under the jug, flip it and chuck it outside. If you’re not ready then in the time it takes to find the jug the spider can hide again which isn’t good.

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