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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how to get rid of house spiders?

156 replies

Davincisvault · 11/08/2020 11:44

I mean the massive ones that come in from now til end of Oct/ Nov.

Honestly the fear is quite honestly taking over my life Sad I’ll probably have to seek some sort of hypnotherapy but has anyone successfully managed to rid their house of them? I know people say about those plug in things but then often other people say they’re useless.

I have been using Indorex the last couple of years. Last Year I thought I’d conquered them as I only saw 1! Moved house since then and sprayed the whole house, window sills etc about a week ago but since then have seen 3. I just want something that works!

OP posts:
ArthurMrdr2 · 11/08/2020 14:13

Just leave them alone rather than spraying all those chemicals. However I know I'm in a minority and most people want to kill any creature which causes them an inconvenience, usually in a cruel way. But who cares they are just spiders that's the attitude isn't it.

AriettyHomily · 11/08/2020 14:19

@SingleHandSue

The only thing that has helped me is to leave all the spindly legged spiders alone and let them make as many webs as possible to catch the horrible big fuckers when they come in.
This. My kids call them the daddy long leg spiders. They at least tend to stay in the corners not bothering anyone.

Not like those big fat hairy fuckers.

Lockheart · 11/08/2020 14:28

I hate spiders too, but it's worth remembering that the big hairy ones you see running around this time of year are in all probability not new intruders.

Some spiders will come in through open doors and windows, however most house spiders you see will have been living in your house their whole lives. Mostly they stay out of the way (I don't care if I can't see them and I'm blissfully unaware) but at certain times of year they feel the need to go for a run and make their presence known.

PerditaMacleod · 11/08/2020 14:33

Make a spray with peppermint oil and white vinegar, they hate it. Spray it around doors and windows, and in any nooks and crannies. We've had much fewer spiders since I started doing this every year.

crosstalk · 11/08/2020 14:35

I have a car spider! and hoping for carspiderlets. Daddy long legs are annoying as they drift around but easily caught in a child's fishing net and deposited outside.

mamamilkmachine · 11/08/2020 14:36

I hate them too, and I had the worst experience of my life the other day, I had woken up and made myself a cuppa, then went and sat on the end of DD's bed, she's 3. One of them huge house spiders crawled across me (I think it may have been on my dressing gown when I put it on) then onto DD and across her face Shock she slept through it but the image has scarred me. It's burned into my brain. As it ran onto the pillow I removed the pillow from behind her and killed the spider. She had slept through it all. The next night she woke up screaming scared and got in bed with me. When I woke her up in the morning she said she was dreaming that spiders were in the bed Confused I now keep feeling things crawling on me while trying to get to sleep.

WanderingMilly · 11/08/2020 14:52

They do come in from outside but will happily live indoors and make nests. I hate the things, terrified of them. They have a 'homing' instinct and if you put them out, far away, they will come back....have experimented with putting a blob of paint on them and dumping them outdoors and yes, they do return....

I make sure the house is very, very clean...they prefer dark corners and webs so a clean house is not a happy spider house. Vacuum constantly as any tiny dust mite etc. is spider food.

I block every single hole, including those nooks and crannies, holes around heating pipes, holes in the back of the kitchen cupboard etc. Seal everything! I also have mesh sealed around open windows so that nothing can crawl in even when windows are left open on a hot day.

Spider spray (mix of mint and peppermint oil and other stuff) around doors and skirtings helps but doesn't completely clear them. If you spray and they are already in the house they will definitely come out as they don't like the smell but the spray wears off very quickly.

The above helps to keep they down but will never completely eradicate them...

JaJaDingDong · 11/08/2020 16:06

Get a cat. Ours eats them.

2ruddyhot · 11/08/2020 16:08

Don’t, they get rid of flies and other pests. Would you rather have a pile of other creepy crawlers??

Frazzled13 · 11/08/2020 21:03

I hate spiders too, but it's worth remembering that the big hairy ones you see running around this time of year are in all probability not new intruders.

Some spiders will come in through open doors and windows, however most house spiders you see will have been living in your house their whole lives.

That is not comforting. At all. You mean to tell me they're all already here, just biding their time, waiting to pounce?? Bastards.

Nowifi · 11/08/2020 21:07

OP I would recommend the Friendly Spider Course at London Zoo, it changed my life! I was terrified before to the point I couldn't even look at a photo of a "big" spider. Now I can put them outside using a cup and some card.

elfin79 · 11/08/2020 21:15

Another vote for a cat. I used to be inundated with the fuckers, got a cat and all the spiders miraculously disappeared.

I have seen her eat one once but I think it’s more the case that a giant, fearless, galumphing creature that goes into all the corners and crawls into hidey holes puts the bastards off.

Oysterbabe · 11/08/2020 21:15

I was just thinking today how we're approaching spider season, the season of fear. We always get a few massive ones and I'm absolutely terrified of them. I don't think anything works.

KickingItSince1966 · 11/08/2020 21:22

So the skinny daddy long leg types, that always look dead, actually eat the big spiders?

I’ve always been terrified of the house spiders. Have cancelled bath time, slept in kids room, eaten dinner in bedroom, before now- when home with a spider but no DH.

However, i currently have a “pet” spider. It lives in a top corner of my bedroom, in a little nook where cables are boxed away. Asked DH to remove it. He attempted to hoover it, but missed and it escaped behind dresser. A couple of days later, I saw it again, in its corner, and thought fair play. That’s one tough bastard. I’ve also observed that all flies and fluttery things don’t last long in my room.
I’ve decided that we have a mutually beneficial relationship.
It pops out of its corner when I make noise. I don’t bother it. It doesn’t seem to bother me. Really hoping it doesn’t decide to jump on my head, but seems unlikely now.

Buzz22 · 11/08/2020 21:25

Indorex seems to work well in our Victorian property that's full of nooks and crevices in the skirting/floorboards. Kills pretty much everything it seems. I do it twice a year.
I also use peppermint oil diluted and spray around windows ect.

Our dog also kills them. Sometimes she eats them afterwards, sometimes she swats them with her paws and squishes them with her nose but leaves us the corpse to dispose of 🙄

GladAllOver · 11/08/2020 21:25

(sigh) Here we go again. Another year, another load of spider posts.
House spiders are generally harmless, and they get rid of the real pests like flies that cause harm by spreading germs.
For the minority of people who have a genuine phobia, there are several different ways of getting it treated.
For others, who think it's clever or feminine to be frightened of little creatures, just get over yourselves.
And for fuck's sake, don't scream at spiders in front of your children and teach them to be frightened too.

Sunshineandeggshells · 11/08/2020 21:27

Spider Ex spray. Can buy from Amazon. Game changer. It definitely does kill them.

Rainbowchampagne · 11/08/2020 21:28

@mamamilkmachine 😱 it must have been terrified of you to go near your DD!

I have had a similar experience, it wasn’t a house spider though it was huge! Genuinely thought it was someone’s escaped pet tarantula! That was 5 years ago and ever since I act like I live in Australia and shake every think before I put it on/get in/sit on

ISavedTheBee · 11/08/2020 21:29

I don't think it's clever or feminine Confused I'm genuinely scared of them. I actively encourage my children to not be scared as I really don't want them felling how I do.

Frazzled13 · 11/08/2020 21:51

And for fuck's sake, don't scream at spiders in front of your children and teach them to be frightened too.

DD is only 13 months but my plan is to teach her to not be scared of spiders, so she can get rid of them for me.

Crabbo · 11/08/2020 22:05

For others, who think it's clever or feminine to be frightened of little creatures, just get over yourselves.

I just don’t understand this. Why on earth would I pretend to be hysterical with fear over something if I’m actually not bothered. I’d quite like to do one of those spider courses to try and get over it but the thought of being there on the course with them is too much. I can’t even look at a picture.

fuckedandbombed · 11/08/2020 22:12

Now the cellar spiders creep me right out - lurky lurky spiders I call em .

I'd rather have the big ones normal ones . You can spider vacuum thingies that suck them up and harmlessly you can deposit them elsewhere. Is that an option?

Frazzled13 · 11/08/2020 22:13

@Crabbo

For others, who think it's clever or feminine to be frightened of little creatures, just get over yourselves.

I just don’t understand this. Why on earth would I pretend to be hysterical with fear over something if I’m actually not bothered. I’d quite like to do one of those spider courses to try and get over it but the thought of being there on the course with them is too much. I can’t even look at a picture.

Agreed. I like the idea of a course, but would struggle to google one because I assume pictures of spiders would come up.
PawPawNoodle · 11/08/2020 22:21

Ah leave them alone, they're just horny and coming in to look for another spider friend to shag.

Lockheart · 11/08/2020 22:41

It's not about being "feminine" Hmm

I am fine with snakes, lizards, frogs, toads, newts, moths, bees, wasps, hornets, beetles, worms, snails, slugs (although I think they're disgusting), butterflies, caterpillars, and all manner of creeping crawling bug-like things. I'm very happy to be the one to evict the geckos from the shower and the treefrogs from the veranda, when required. Lots of people would have a fit at the thought. My dad will catch spiders with his bare hands but will run from the room if there's a snake. I love snakes.

Spiders just freak me out for some reason.

Also wild rats, but I blame Lady and the Tramp and associated childhood trauma from that scene for that Grin