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AIBU?

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Massive spider in lounge, shut the door and sealed with masking tape last night,now what?

342 replies

lightclock · 09/08/2026 13:20

What do I do now? Never enter the lounge again?

OP posts:
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7
Lokiswife · 10/08/2026 18:12

We have a squishing device! It's actually this https://amzn.eu/d/036hGxrl

But it's only been used for this once & is now the squisher!!! Heavily arachnophobic house, no man to help!!!

Amazon

Amazon

https://amzn.eu/d/036hGxrl?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-5564550-massive-spider-in-lounge-shut-the-door-and-sealed-with-masking-tape-last-nightnow-what

BeddysMum · 10/08/2026 18:11

Grenade.

Bowies · 10/08/2026 18:06

What did you do?

I usually release spiders outside, but if it is huge and fast or ‘non compliant’ to usual techniques, unfortunately as a last resort it gets vacuumed (as I have been bitten on the hand before).

Depending on the spider and your vacuum it could potentially survive this process and still be released outside?

Sheepsmellnice · 10/08/2026 18:05

Is it a man eating spider ?

Lizziespring · 10/08/2026 17:55

Spiders avoid coming near people and can sense us and keep away, so that's a bit reassiring. I used to ask friends and neighbours to put them outside. I spent three days avoiding my sitting room once so fully understand. Weirdly after years of horrified aversion I've stopped being scared of them, so can tolerate being in a room with one now.

BillieWiper · 10/08/2026 15:54

DBSFstupid · 10/08/2026 14:29

Do not do that FFS. Get the Spider out. He has done you no harm.

I said to put it outside. 'FFS'?!

But yes you can use insect spray if you wish. I personally wouldn't.

DBSFstupid · 10/08/2026 14:29

BillieWiper · 09/08/2026 13:23

I would just try and catch it in a glass or tissue and throw it outside. Or you can use spider killing spray if you want to be mean. Open all the windows and it'll probably leave of its own accord.

Do not do that FFS. Get the Spider out. He has done you no harm.

Allseeingallknowing · 10/08/2026 14:11

Doingtheboxerbeat · 09/08/2026 20:16

I just love your dedication 🤭 you demonstrate necessity being the mother of all invention .

All the other methods on here are useless. No, Amazon doesn’t pay me to promote it !

Allseeingallknowing · 10/08/2026 14:08

honeyrosesandwich · 10/08/2026 00:01

I chucked the hoover after lol. was only a £20 one

FGS! So unecessary. Get a spider hoover. It’s simple, and you have no contact with the spider.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 10/08/2026 07:55

topcat2014 · 09/08/2026 13:28

Seek medical attention for this phobia. There is nothing wrong with spiders. We all eat a few in our lives in our sleep.

'Eating spiders in your sleep is an urban legend and a total myth. Humans swallow zero spiders per year on average because spiders actively avoid people, sense our breathing vibrations, and would trigger a wake-up response if they touched our skin.

Most users on Reddit agree that this fake statistic was originally made up to show how fast false stories spread online.'
(And it's still spreading!)

Wingingit73 · 10/08/2026 07:45

😂😂😂😂😂😂
Put house on market. Pack.

SummerSummerSummertime · 10/08/2026 07:32

What did you do OP? Did you get someone to help?

SummerSummerSummertime · 10/08/2026 07:30

NeverDropYourMooncup · 09/08/2026 14:18

Generally, they aren't. Arachnophobia (and similar reactions to insects, etc) are a feature of comfortable, Western lives.

Genuinely they are. Educate yourself!

maxslice · 10/08/2026 03:07

I found out by accident that a generous dousing with hairspray will slow a spider down enough to scoop it and toss it out or smush it with your shoe, whichever you choose.

ExOptimist · 10/08/2026 00:29

Samysungy · 10/08/2026 00:23

Drugging ppl for normal reactions is not really ok. Why do it?

Mental illness isn't normal though, that's why it's called illness. Phobias are not normal behaviour. That's the issue. If drugs or talking therapies work then the sufferer should take whatever help is available.

Samysungy · 10/08/2026 00:23

ExOptimist · 09/08/2026 23:19

I have compassion for people who have mental health issues and do their best to deal with it with professional help/medication.
If they chose to ignore it and present it as a quirk of their personality, as many of those on here with phobias appear to, then I have no sympathy whatsoever.

Drugging ppl for normal reactions is not really ok. Why do it?

honeyrosesandwich · 10/08/2026 00:01

Allseeingallknowing · 09/08/2026 16:56

No, it will crawl out! Just get a spider vacuum from Amazon and let it go outside.

I chucked the hoover after lol. was only a £20 one

Sobersally · 09/08/2026 23:32

What did you end up doing OP? @lightclock i have spider phobia too it’s awful I have had to call friends and family to come round and catch them for me before it’s a real panicky feeling.

ExOptimist · 09/08/2026 23:19

Pollymollydolly · 09/08/2026 23:10

A phobia is classified as a mental health illness, specifically an anxiety disorder.

Do you lack compassion and understanding for people with other types of mental health issues?

I have compassion for people who have mental health issues and do their best to deal with it with professional help/medication.
If they chose to ignore it and present it as a quirk of their personality, as many of those on here with phobias appear to, then I have no sympathy whatsoever.

Franjipanl8r · 09/08/2026 23:19

Can you go in if you wear a full boiler suit with hood and googles?! That would protect me from my phobia.

Pollymollydolly · 09/08/2026 23:10

ExOptimist · 09/08/2026 22:53

Then surely the best thing would be to get professional help to overcome it rather than live with it?

Many people on here seem to be talking about their phobia like it's a funny, charming quirk of their personality and it's cute that they have to get a man to deal with spiders and they're ever so brave to hoover them up.

But in reality it's a form of mental illness, and judging by some comments on here, makes people act in highly abnormal ways.

If it's insensitive and rude to point out that it is irrational and silly then I'm happy to be insensitive and rude.

A phobia is classified as a mental health illness, specifically an anxiety disorder.

Do you lack compassion and understanding for people with other types of mental health issues?

ExOptimist · 09/08/2026 23:03

TheFormerMrsTruelove · 09/08/2026 23:00

Ah, that’ll account for it then. Long may that continue because seemingly irrational fears can develop with age. You’re going to feel pretty silly if the same thing happens to you as it did me, where one minute I happily went to the top of the Effeil Tower and desperately wanted to abseil, and the next, the second step of a step ladder was a step too high.

Well I'm in my sixties and it hasn't happened yet. Hasn't happened to my 89 year old widowed mother either, her fears, like mine, have a rational basis.

TheFormerMrsTruelove · 09/08/2026 23:00

ExOptimist · 09/08/2026 22:24

Not much. And certainly I'm not afraid of something harmless thousands of times smaller than me. I'm afraid when things happen which can cause death or serious illness to me and members of my family or irrevocably change lives for the worse, that's it really.

Ah, that’ll account for it then. Long may that continue because seemingly irrational fears can develop with age. You’re going to feel pretty silly if the same thing happens to you as it did me, where one minute I happily went to the top of the Effeil Tower and desperately wanted to abseil, and the next, the second step of a step ladder was a step too high.

ExOptimist · 09/08/2026 22:53

Pollymollydolly · 09/08/2026 22:28

A phobia is an irrational fear. Anyone who has one is aware that it’s irrational.

i wonder if people who are insensitive and rude are aware that they are insensitive and rude.

i think I’d prefer to live with a phobia.

Then surely the best thing would be to get professional help to overcome it rather than live with it?

Many people on here seem to be talking about their phobia like it's a funny, charming quirk of their personality and it's cute that they have to get a man to deal with spiders and they're ever so brave to hoover them up.

But in reality it's a form of mental illness, and judging by some comments on here, makes people act in highly abnormal ways.

If it's insensitive and rude to point out that it is irrational and silly then I'm happy to be insensitive and rude.

Pollymollydolly · 09/08/2026 22:28

ExOptimist · 09/08/2026 21:11

Whether it's recognised still doesn't stop it from being an embarrassingly pathetic phobia.
A phobia such as fear of flying is something that's more understandable as planes can crash and you can die. But in the UK being afraid of spiders is self-indulgent stupid behaviour.

A phobia is an irrational fear. Anyone who has one is aware that it’s irrational.

i wonder if people who are insensitive and rude are aware that they are insensitive and rude.

i think I’d prefer to live with a phobia.