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Spiders when decorating

7 replies

HereForTheAnimals · 02/01/2025 19:36

Ok, I know this isn't to do with food, but I'm just looking for thoughts.

I've been vegan for longer than when I last decorated, and what I usually do with spiders when I'm cleaning is wait until they've left their home, then I'll dust the webs away.

The issue I have now is that I've been cleaning down the walls ready for decorating, and I've been relocating the spiders I can see to other rooms in the house, there is also a possibility that when I've vacuumed corners I may have caught a few cellar spiders which I can't see. It's playing on my mind a little - I drive, and so I know I will inevitably kill insects and spiders.

Do any of you feel guilty when relocating spiders, or potentially indirectly killing them by doing activities such as decorating/cleaning? If so, how do you reconcile your actions with your thoughts?

God this might sound like a goady and trivial post, but it isn't, I promise. If I accidentally stand on a snail in the dark, I'm mortified but I know I didn't intentionally do it, but it's different when decorating because technically I don't have to do it IYSWIM?

OP posts:
Forgottobuymincepies · 02/01/2025 19:39

We had a 7 legged spider called Tracey when 1 wandered into the paint... Saw her regularly around the house... Either Dustpan Relocation Program or out the window..
Not a killer of spiders here...

HereForTheAnimals · 02/01/2025 19:42

Forgottobuymincepies · 02/01/2025 19:39

We had a 7 legged spider called Tracey when 1 wandered into the paint... Saw her regularly around the house... Either Dustpan Relocation Program or out the window..
Not a killer of spiders here...

Oh no I'd never kill a spider intentionally. Glad you still see Tracey 🤣.

I suppose my guilt is because I'm probably unintentionally killing cellar spiders because they can be so small. I usually blow a web because they'll start to spin.

OP posts:
orangewasp · 02/01/2025 19:46

I relocate (without guilt as I'm saving their life), dust away the cobwebs and crack on with the decorating. I do hate it if I accidentally kill a spider. My aim is to do ad little harm in life as practicably possible.

HereForTheAnimals · 02/01/2025 19:56

orangewasp · 02/01/2025 19:46

I relocate (without guilt as I'm saving their life), dust away the cobwebs and crack on with the decorating. I do hate it if I accidentally kill a spider. My aim is to do ad little harm in life as practicably possible.

I was washing the walls with sugar soap earlier, and there was a small crane fly flying about, far too small to try and capture. I did a piece of wall, prompted it to fly off with my finger moving slowly towards it and just hoped it would fly in the direction of the walls I'd done 🤣

OP posts:
Newname09 · 23/10/2025 11:16

Yes I get this guilt too. We had a massive spider living in our doorway for absolute months and it built a thick web around itself. Partner painted and had to move it. I felt so guilty but think they find new homes to build quite easily. Just remember you’re doing your best for these creatures and most people wouldn’t give a s*.

Hoppinggreen · 23/10/2025 11:27

Not a Vegan but I relocate and spiders I find when cleaning or anything else, hopefully I don't miss any
I don't touch Sharon the wing mirror spider though

Joeninety · 05/11/2025 15:57

Relax. These creatures don't feel pain like we, and most mammals do.

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