Help with spiders!

[survivalmodemum]

We moved house a few months ago and from the very start it was clear we would be sharing with many a spider friend. The house had been sitting empty for a year so thought it would be a temporary thing as we clean etc.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that this is going to be an ongoing thing… I’ve just had to jump out of bed as there was a spider crawling on my pillow!

Now I am not against the odd spider, and will happily relocate those of a certain size when they are in my way/at risk of touching me lol. But I was wondering if anyone had any advice on spider deterrents? Is that even possible or am I just going to have to woman up? And spider check my bed every night.

thanks in advance!

I read on a spider page lately that all deterrents are myths. If you have cellar spiders, they are the best for keeping all other bugs away. They predate even the giant house spiders. And if you have eyesight like mine, you'll rarely notice them 😅
I think the time of year is a thing too, we're having windows open almost 24/7 so they're bound to come in eventually.

Join the British Spider Identification Group on Facebook. The more you learn about them, the better you'll cope (speaking from experience! 🤣) now I try to look at them better so I can guess the species instead of freaking out, jumping spiders are cute up close and mouse spiders have furry looking butts, cucumber spiders look like they're carrying a watermelon on their backs... Yes, I'm a spider nerd now 👉👈😁

I had a similar thing in my last house, it was those spindle spiders that hang out in ceiling corners. I would hoover up 30+ every day. Yuk. I literally hoovered every corner for about 2 months and that seemed to do the job.

Omg that’s horrific. My windows are never open for long and I rarely see spiders despite it being an old place.

This is an old wives tale but I was told that Conkers (horse chestnuts) keep them away. I've put a few around the house and haven't seen any so far . Might just be a coincidence though 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Spray the house with Indorex. I got this tip from a friend a few years ago, I’ve not seen a spider in years in the house. When I did the initial treatment the house was like a spider grave yard with dead ones. I also spray the outside of doors and windows. Before anyone starts how nice spiders are buggar off, when you’ve spent a month in hospital due to a spider bite and nearly lose your arm come back to me. There is absolutely no mercy shown to these things in our home.

Peppermint oil works wonders

I’m with you, op. Here’s me just sat with mummy spider & her trillion babies..😱

I was told mint helps keep spiders at bay. I think I've gone thru about three bottles trying to spider proof my bedroom. I haven't seen any since I began doing this and my room smells marvelous 😂

We were plagued with house spiders. Those big fuckers that run at YOU when they spot you.

After some late night hyperventilating googling I learnt that cellar spiders eat them. We had a colony in our outside loo, so every so often I'd get DH to bring a couple into the house.

Can happily say that we have been house spider free for two years. The newest tenants keep themselves to themselves, have no interest in running at or dangling near us, and are very good at their job.

The only trade off I have had to make is I leave their corner ceiling webs alone.

Yay love that you are a spider nerd now! Tbh I used to be terrified of butterflies and moths, but like you read more about them and now not scared! I will try this with spiders with the hopes of getting to your level of chill! Thank you!

Noooooo 😱😱

Ok so peppermint, conkers, indorex! Plus cellar spiders are our friends!

I did manage to sleep last night eventually. Thank you all for your suggestions!

Get a cat. My three hunt spiders.

That’s terrible! Can’t believe that happened to you, hope you are ok now? I had no idea that was possible. Assuming you are in the UK?

Indorex or Staykill as PP says above. I have a conker tree in my garden. Conkers don’t do a thing.

Second the cellar spiders I have seen them kill a giant house spider with my own eyes, it was a sight to behold I’ll tell you. They are now my best friends 😂

Indorex is really potent and will kill all bugs and can be toxic to pets. It has its place if you're dealing with a flea infestation for example, but please consider all the other tiny lives it will snuff out needlessly.

I happily leave all spiders alone and because we have cellar spiders in a few rooms, I now see nothing else. Never seen a big spider in this house and we live rurally and have our windows open all the time. The Pholcidae rule unchallenged.

Yes I’m in the UK. We have a bug free house 😂. I hate anything that crawls. @ShowOfHands if it’s used properly it’s perfectly fine, I know a lot of people who also use it in outhouses etc. We live very rurally too, there’s no way I’m risking being bitten again.

I was replying to the op who doesn't seem to be allergic to spider bites or terrified of spiders or anything similar. Indorex can be safely used in specific situations when there is a clear need for it, but using it when there are other options is like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut, only with the cost being the decimation of all living creatures in your house. Your situation is different to the op's.

My good friend was bitten by a ladybird and hospitalised for 3 weeks, needing surgery and rehabilitation.

Thankfully no one in my house has any allergies that we know of. I had no idea ladybirds could bite!

I will definitely try the less invasive measures to control our spider population.

I have just googled cellar spiders and I have definitely relocated many of these with my feather duster, doh! They are creepy looking things but I’m determined to make peace with them if they help with the big ones 🤞