30
May

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Spiders

by Tiffany in A Green Home

Once the weather warms up it is common to find your house has become a spider habitat. Now this is not necessarily a bad thing because spiders are very useful in eating bugs. So unless the spiders that have taken up residence in your house are of the dangerous variety like the Brown Recluse or the Black Widow it may be wise to just live and let live. By trying to eliminate spiders from your house you may just be making it a more hospitable place for numerous other creepy crawlies.

That being said this is a tough situation for me personally because I am borderline arachnophobic after being bitten eight times by Black Widow spiders when I was a child. I won’t go into the heinous details but it was not a very pleasant experience. I am less then thrilled when I see spiders in the house so I am very sympathetic to those who do not want to share their house with eight legged friends. I like to leave the web spinners alone but I usually will try to get rid of hunter spiders, like the Brown Recluse. If you absolutely cannot live with them or they pose a danger to your small children here are a few natural ways to get rid of spiders.

1. Clean house! Spiders like cardboard and clutter, so clean up all cardboard and make sure closets and underneath beds are clean and without places to hide. And do not leave clothing, towels, and other debris on the floor where spiders can find refuge.

2. Clear out unwanted vegetation from around your house, including Ivy or other vines, which are a haven for them. Seal all cracks that may lead spiders indoors.

3. Keep trash bags and bins away from the house where spiders will lay in wait for bugs that are attracted to the garbage.

4. Cover pet food.

5. Use natural deterrents wherever you see spiders:

* Orange Oil
* Eucalyptus leaves
* Hedge Apples or pieces of Hedge Apples also called Osage orange
* Pennyroyal on a scrap of cloth
* Baking soda

Natural deterrents for other pests:

Ants: Bay leaves, cucumber peels sprinkled with salt, Cayenne pepper, chili pepper, dried peppermint, paprika, cinnamon, dried sage.

Flies: Whole or ground cloves in a small muslin teabag, flypaper made with honey.

Tuesday, May 30th, 2006

96 Comments

  • jan

    thanks for the spider info-I have been looking for a remedy for a long time-My mother has spider webs in her garage-even on the ceiling!!!!I can’t wait to tell her.

  • Meyer A Williams

    Good reading, this is a cheap and easy way to get bugs out of my house for good.

  • Joan H.

    We bought a house that was so infested with spiders we couldn’t go to the bathroom without spiders crawling up the wall beside us, or put on makeup without spiders crawling up the walls. I learned a “new” way to remove spiders (actually an old way–old-timers have known this trick forever) – it’s a safe bug killer (if you must kill them) and works because it sticks to the “slick” legs of insects. It’s Borax (a/k/ 20 Mule Team…) and can be sprinkled in corners, doorways, etc. It’s safe for animals (dogs/cats) and people, but it will kill spiders, ants, crickets, flies, etc.

  • Cassandra

    I was wondering where you could get a cheap bottle of eucalyptus and I was also wondering if you get a eucalyptus plant – will that work with the spiders.Thank you for the great tips on how to keep spiders away.

  • http://www.kebway.com Kat

    So glad I found you while searching how to naturally get rid of spiders! I have started using more and more natural ways in my home and love the benefits of going natural. Very nice and informative site.

  • Lauren

    Omigoodness!! I love this page. I had a major spider problem in my own bedroom, since I keep so many things in it. Even though I clean it everyonce or so, spiders are still on the walls of my bedroom This oage was very helpful! I cannot wait to try all these remedies!! Love this website by the way!

  • B.C.

    I just read up on Pennyroyal. Be very careful when using this product. It is said that it’s highly toxic and should not be used around pregnant women. I would assume, based on what I read, that is should not be used around anyone. Be Careful!

  • katy

    Iam new to site. Borax is not safe around pets or children…..June entry used on blog. Vet does not approve Borax near in pet home. KIAY

  • http://yahoo Melissa

    My daughters bedroom is in a refinished basement which is also near the laundry room. I would love to hear someones effectives ideas, my daughter is 13 and she is starting to get to the point that she doesn’t want to sleep in her room. Please I need some ideas and cheap ones, natural if they work. Do the ones about the Lemon Oil, Rubbing Alcohol, And how do you go about using the cedar chips and hedge apples? Someone HELP ME please!!!!!

  • Betty

    How do you use baking soda to get rid of spiders? Also, how do you use eucalyptus oil? Do you dilute it with water or use it full strength? Is it expensive to use?

  • karen

    Borax also works well for centipedes – I’ve put it along baseboards and never saw one again. Thanks for the helpful tips about bugs in the house!

  • http://www.naturemoms.com Tiffany

    Betty, sprinkle baking soda around wherever you want to detract spiders. Eucalyptus oil is not very expensive and you can put a couple drops on cotton balls and disperse.

  • http://creativeparentingtips.blogspot.com/ Jo Brielyn

    Thanks for the excellent tips! I have a sun room that the spiders love as much as I do. :=)

  • Shutterbug

    i have a spider and moth problem. Where would I sprinkle the baking soda?
    I already have killed one yesterday and see another in corner of the ceil as we speak- I just sprinkled baking soda around the front door. What I would if they are on the ceiling?

  • sunflower

    I have went to tunr my daughter’s bed and have found spideres in her bed on 2 diff times this spring. What can i do to keep them out of her bed; will these things work for that. She gets scared and comes to get in my bed, but h ave been bittne 3 diff times on same arm and hand by spider that is small, light brown w/ black strip on it.. I have tremedous fear of a spider getting on me; which they have, but the fear is always there.

  • happymom

    Thanks for the tips. I live in a small house and I hate spiders. There isn’t enough room for the both of us so one has to leave.

  • mercy

    I have a daughter who is pregnant (4 months) and has a spider in her bed that bites her almost every night…her husband sleeps in the same bed & doesn’t. What can she use to get rid of this spider?

  • S. Penn

    We were not making a big deal of the really small house spiders, but they started getting bigger. Harboring in the kids rooms, so we made them get all shoe boxes, old school papers, and anything else that showed a clutter. I was told to use cider blocks, or moth balls. That spiders hate the smell as well. Is that true?

  • Charlotte

    I would appreciate any tips anyone can give me. We are in a house only a couple of years old. Six months after moving in we encountered a spider nest under the front door stop. We sealed all the cracks around the door as much as we could, but they still get under the door. We have used double sided sticky tape around the door which manages to catch some but not all. Eighteen months on and although we eradicated the original nest, the spider problem is relentless. Every time the front door is open one shoots out. We find about 3-4 at least every day, mainly in the hall, but sometimes even crawling up the shower screen! I have been round the front of the house with boiling water, but to no avail. My neighbour’s front door is about ten feet from mine, he’s had about one spider in six months! I have also tried one of the plug in sound and electric pulse spider deterrers, but two months on, and it has no effect whatsoever! Please help, they are driving me insane, but i don’t feel its bad enough to get an exterminator! Also it isn’t one particular variety of spider, about 4 different types we get in. The only plus side is i used to be terrified of big spiders, but see so many now that my fear has reduced dramatically!

  • Carrie

    Ok I live in Black Forest(Colorado Springs) CO and have a major spider problem pretty much every spider this state has. All my life I’ve lived outside city limits in the “country” up in Washington and have never had spiders like this. It seems like everytime I kill one 5 more show up. It scares me because we have black widows and other poisionous spiders out here and I have 2 small children that like to get into things I dont want them to get biten. Last year its wasnt this bad seems like every where I go in my house theres a spider errr. I cant stand them I dont care what kind they are I just cant stand them I would rather have mice running around eating things than spiders crawling around and not knowing where they are. I have cedar chips if I put that around the house would that keep them out or at least lower the number of them creeping around here???

  • http://www.ilovedehumidifiers.com James Dalton

    There are spiders in our house and at first they did not annoy us, however over time they have started to go everywhere. You have spider droppings and cobwebs all over. I have reached my breaking point and really going to try some of these tips. Hopefully this gets rid of them.

  • charlotte

    Hi Guys, i wrote earlier about my house being overrun with spiders, well…. the good news is i appear to have found a solution, and have been spider free for 2 weeks! i know it is working because i get at least 3-5 big spiders every day normally.

    Okay, so i knew they were coming in through the underneath of the front door, and various attempts at sealing the door prooved unsuccessful as they could still get in! Although i’m sure it helped with the cracks in the front door step. I would definitely recommend going around your front door and windows and sealing any cracks that they might be getting through.

    Like i say, i knew they were getting in through the front door. I read they hate citrus, so i went to the store and brought an anti-bacterial spray, in citrus scent. I had also read spiders don’t like fumes. So I get home and wipe around my door with a lemon scented floor wipe. Then i vigorously spray the citrus anti-bacterial spray onto the wooden front door step, and all around the door frame.

    Instant success! In the first couple of days i still got some, but only one or two. But for the past 10 days, spider free! I spray the doorstep every day now, and one squirt in each of the top corners of the door.

    I’ve had the odd beetle and woodlouse come through, but no more spiders! My front door was covered in little red spiders before too, now they don’t cross the boundary, because you can still see them on the pavement running around.

    I hope this brings success to other people! I know how horrible it is waiting for the next one to show, and i now feel confident they are gone.

  • http://www.theparentpack.org Tina

    Great article, and a wonderful blog you have here! I will pass it along.

  • Carrie

    Im gonna have to try the citrus thing. Its hard to seal off a old trailer so I think using something around the doors and windows might work best. Thanks for that tip.

  • Angela

    This is a great site! I found a spider in my bed tonight, I will be using every tip!

  • Maria

    I tried it with ants & I closed the area where they were coming from with baking soda & It worked?? They did have wings. I have now ? If anyone has any info on ticks/Lyme Disease,I just moved to the country & the town paper doesn’t say much I do have a dog but I’m close to some woods.
    Maria

  • regina

    I am growing to hate God’s creation, the spider. I know they do some good but yuck. I don’t think I’d rather have mice but I don’t like finding them under my bed pillows. I am glad to find this information….thank you for sharing everyone. I just moved back to Washington from Arizona & I used to brag that Washington has no bugs whatsoever. No so, this time back I have encountered spiders which really surprised me. I am living in a basement type apartment so that could be a big part of it but I am working on sealing cracks and things and I too will be trying the citrus thing. Thank you again and keep sharing…please.

  • Aimee

    Thanks so much! I have found 4 very large hobo spiders crawling across my floor in my room in the past week. I’ve done my research on them and am not sure how they are getting in my room being that i live on the second floor and Hobo’s cant climb up walls. I have extensively cleaned my room and set off a bug bomb. However i just found another one tonight. I wouldnt care if these were just regular house spiders but these are dangerous and i’ve already been bitten once. Im really hoping these ideas work.

  • Charlotte

    Hi again…. Just writing to say ( I wrote about using a citrus spray), that two months on and I am completely spider free! I only spray every other day now too on the door step! Very happy – spiders no longer rule my life! Good luck everyone!

  • regina

    Hi Charlotte and thank you for sharing again. What is the name of the citrus spray that you use? Also, is your house pretty sealed up so that you are thinking the only way they are getting in is the front door? I think I’ll buy the spray you speak of and spray all around the baseboards. The other night I leaned over on the side of my bed and a spider with long legs was crawling up the bed skirt toward my head…oh my gosh…needless to say, I didn’t sleep all night. Not discounting God as the Creator but just need to redirect these little critters :)

  • Tom

    I’ll tell you what works for me. Monthly, I spray a perimeter all around the outside of the house, being sure to get the doors and window sills, with Demand CS. It’s a long lasting pesticide that is considered quite safe around food and people. I only use it outside though. Inside, I use food-grade diatomaceous earth. It’s so safe, you can and some people do, eat it. I dust it into baseboards, behind cabinets, under furniture, above drop ceilings, etc. You only need to dust once the entire time you live in the house, in most places. You can also use it as a deodorizer in your carpets and sprinkle it on your pets to de-flea. Feed it to them to de-worm. I have had ZERO crawling insects in the house since I started doing this.

  • Charlotte

    Hi Regina, it is by ZoFlora, it’s an anti-bacterial spray, in citrus scent. It isn’t an aerosol, it is like a liquid spray pump. As long as it is in citrus flavour, and it is a spray it will work, as spiders hate fumes as they can’t breath, and i they hate the smell of citrus, which they taste with their legs. But yes, they only seem to come in through our front door. On our second level we have balcony doors that we open daily, yet only the odd one ever decides to climb through. I think maybe three in two years, so we only concentrate on our front door. I used to see them crawling in, and they were hard to miss, every time i opened the front door as well they dropped off the door, so i was lucky in the fact i knew which entrance they were using. It’s quite funny, my neighbour never had a problem with spiders, but when we spoke to him the other week (after we had not long been using our spray), he said he seemed to be getting a lot of spiders coming in his house, which he has never had before. I said I think they are now bypassing our door and going to his! He he! So he had to go out and buy some spray too! :-)

  • http://naturesmom Jane

    Many Thanks for the great tip on my way ou the door to buy some Citrus Spray of some sort…..

    Fingers Crossed
    Many Thanks Jane

  • Nan

    Thank you everyone..We thought it would be a great idea to build a koi pond. It turned out beautifully. Unfortunately, we didn’t take into account that the 3 ton rock we used to build it would be a perfect spider habitat. Namely Black widows. Las Vegas is already known for these creatures, but now they are everywhere. The biggest problem is we have 3 dogs, one of which likes to chase any and all critters that move. Due to the 5 koi fish in the pond we are very limited as to products we can use. Any thing harmless to them is out of the question…Any suggestions please help. I’ve been reading a lot about vinegar and lavender oil mixed together….Appreciate any suggestions

  • Diane

    A few people mentioned cedar chips and lavender oil. I have large brown and black spiders in my garden and around my house. I’m absolutely terrified of spiders and have a young son, so I wanted to do everything I could to get rid of them. I bought lavender and planted them every couple of feet around my house and in my garden. Then I spread a thick layer of 100% untreated cedar wood chips through my garden and around my house. I still have just as many spiders as I did before. Neither helped a bit. I’m going to try the citrus spray that others have talked about. I hope that works!

  • Diane

    Hi, Thanks for the Info. I need to try something,I bought a 8 in 1 climber for my Granddaughter an I can not believe all the SPIDERS. I kill tons of them every Day.I took it apart and cleaned it with Bleach spray then hosed with water, let it dry before I put it back together.AND they are back.She is only 15 mo. and crawles around so I can not use any pesticides…I will try backing soda, What else can I use outside that won`t hurt the baby??? Please help.
    ALSO any natural way to get rid of Pantry Moths??
    THANKS

  • Lori

    Question about Pennyroyal. Just looked it up as a single word. It looks very dangerous. Thought you might want to check it out further for this site. Thanks.

  • suzi

    How can anyone say Borax is harmless for people. It is so dangerous. imagine a small child getting it on their skin. It causes severe alergic reactions and irreversible lung damage and chest problems.

  • Mommie

    Hey tom what are the name of the things you used to get rid of spiders

  • George Aginaga

    It is very difficult to get ride of spiders, they can lay 200- 600 eggs per sack… maybe more. I am constantly finding black widows around my house. I read that a natural way to keep spider population down is to raise Praying Mantis they are Natural Enemies to Black Widows. You can buy them online through mail order. BUT be careful or they can become a pest probblem as well. Do not release them in doors, use them preferably in gardens and bushy areas.

  • LinLee

    Borax has many many useful uses. Check out earthclinic.com for way to use for health.

  • Natalia L.

    um seriously the article said CLEAN YOUR HOUSE.. how is that new?
    people should always clean there houses its kind of the way the world turns thats extra gross if u don’t.

  • Michala Redeye

    I have big spiders around my yard, house, garage and in my basement. Some are as big as a half dollar (body and legs) I guess they are wolf spiders??? I am absolutely terrified of spiders…i often scream that there is a tarantula! I have them under and on my front porch this time of year. Any suggestions? I clean inside often and mow the lawn often…i will try baking soda. I would like to try moth balls but we have a pitbull and i am afraid she will get into them. I often find dead spiders too in dusty basement corners…do they kill each other? UGH! I will let you know how it works for me :)

  • Shawnie

    I recently moved into a house that was affected by the floods of Georgia. Unbeknownst to me I have a spider issue..It seems they like my stone tile floors because they are cool. But I also had a lot of cardboards boxes stored because of the recent move.

    Well I removed the boxes and my house is immaculate but I still see the spiders on the tile near the fireplace or on the kitchen tile. I have an industrial spray but all they do is roll and play dead and when I come back to get it they are dead, So I am going to get the citrus spray today!!! Hopefully I can get rid of these. I dont have any small children but I have a teen and he says he’s seen them as well. Wish me luck!

  • Nellie F.

    Plz someone help me. I have house spiders everywhere!!!!! They are taking over my ceilings, doorways basically every part of my home. They have even taken over my shower area wich is very disturbing. I need some answers fast or I feel like I’m going to have a break down. Half of the time I dont even want to be in my home. I’ve read a few comments andwould like to try some remedies out just not sure how to go about it all. Any safe,cheap and effective ways please help. Thank You!

  • http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2010/03/16/i-love-nature-but-do-i-have-to-love-spiders/ I Love Nature But Do I Have to Love Spiders? » Green and Natural Parenting

    [...] I converted to a system that kept clothes OFF the floor, LOL. For more tips check out my article on how to get rid of spiders naturally. It mostly talks about spiders but also some [...]

  • Adriann

    What kind of citrus spray? I wonder if you can make your own by putting lemon or orange peel in water?

  • elsa

    Hi Charlotte thanks for the info what was the name of the citrus spay that you used to kill the spiders we have been seeing big brown spiders crawing up the stairs of the basement my daughter is scared of them and so am i and my husband please help me thanks elsa

  • Toria

    KILL IT!

  • Renae

    Thanks I am going to try all of these. I have a LOT of spiders in my house. You can clean all the cob webs and kill all the spiders and the next morning the spider webs are back and so are the spiders. We have been seeing your norm spiders but also the really big long legged black spiders the size of a wolf spider but black. what is it…..I let you know how it works out….I have a 2 year old grandson and he loves to get into things and I don’t want to take the chance with pesticides

  • Stan

    Just tried mixture of lemon and water and sprayed around
    heat drafts. Will see what happens. Have large spiders.

  • Heather

    Seriously – all cleaners are harmful if swallowed or used wrong. His point is use it properly and kill the bugs – the bugs are more harmful to your kids. We use it on all laundry and many other things. It is good for septic tanks, your pipes in your house and toilets. But like other cleaners – don’t ingest it and keep from kids. Do you homework first berfore making dumb commments.

  • Teddy

    I live in the English Countryside, and unfortunately there are a lot of spiders about. I mixed lavender soap and water and sprayed it around the window-frames, and have sprinkled baking soda around and under the bed. The worst thing is that I know there is a big one somewhere, but I can’t find it. It’s been hiding for a day now. I hope this all works and I don’t have to feel disgusted and uneasy in my own room!

  • Teresa

    I don’t have a problem in the house, but we do have a serious problem around & under our deck. During the day, they are the tiny red spiders. At night we see much larger gray ones. I can’t tell you how many times I have been bitten all over my feet & ankles. Can someone help with that?

  • Dan

    Mix some coconut oil with white vinegar (two tablespoons to 8 ounces of vinegar) and when you see a spiderweb, take it down and spray this in that area. The oil will coat the spider and the vinegar is like acid to them. They will leave and never come back. This also works for ants and crawling bugs.

  • Caroline

    Thank you so much. I have been finding black widows outside and inside for weeks now. We live in Central California, and we are plagued by these. I bought an all natural citrus spray called Orange Guard online and just sprayed it outside around the perimeter of the house. I hope it works. I found a black widow in the bathroom in the middle of the night when I went in, next to the toilet, and way too close to my leg! The blog is wonderful…..

  • Megs

    “um seriously” should not let fifteen year-olds post. I believe the article was referring to cardboard and clutter, either of these things can be found in the house of someone who has recently moved or has small children.

  • Monika

    Hi Caroline, I just moved to San Joaquin Valley in California. I’ve never seen so many big creepy spiders. How did the Orange Guard work for you? Someone told me to mix bleach with water and spray around all perimeters of my house and outside as well. Please let me know

  • Nemo

    Thanks for the tips for gettnig rid os spiders! i can hardly wait to try some since I have some huge spiders at my home that are HALF the size of a large adult palm!!! Creepy!! I have not been able to sleep in my bedroom downstairs since I was not fast enough to squash that monster–I appreciate the info and would hope other readers will keep in mind that NONE of the items listed should be consumered by people or animals so use common sense/precautions when using.
    It all sounds safer and less placing the suggested and I started wondering about all the ones I had not yet seen. gererally poisionous than calling out the pest control company or fogging up you home with the do-it-yourself spider bombs.
    Keep up the good work – BTW I found your site when searching for ways to get rid of spiders. Glad I found your other interesting posts as well.
    Cheers!

  • teacher

    Thank you for these ideas. I am a teacher who is in a new classroom this year in a rural community. I have been cleaning and setting up my classroom the last few days and there are spiders everywhere! I need to get rid of them before school starts but didn’t want to use anything toxic around my first graders. I am going to try the baking soda and eucalyptus!

  • swhitfield

    Wow thank you all so much for these tips. Just tonight I killed 4 large wolf spiders in a 5 minute period. My husband and I live with my mother-in-law and she LOVES spiders. I am deathly afraid to the point that I have nightmares about them. Will a mixture of lemon water work at all as a type of citrus spray? I really need to find a way to get rid of these things because they are HUGE in Texas. At the same time though I don’t wanna end up killing my mother-in-laws hermit crabs.

  • Joe

    how can i get rid of spiders in my room
    what kind of spray can i use on the floor
    or what is the best way to kill and prevent them coming back in my room
    PS. IM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE SPIDER PROBLEM BAD !!

    i thought i had it bad when they were on my floor but i just recently had a spider come down on his string just 4 inches from my head I STAYED UP TILL 2AM THAT NIGHT I WAS AFRAID AND WOULD NOT GO TO BED UNTIL I COULD FIND A WAY TO KILL THEM FAST

    PLEASE HELP ME

  • Glen

    One thing I haven’t seen mentioned as a low toxicity pesticide that’s been effective for me in the past is dish soap and water. Works with all kinds of insects (and spiders), so long as you use a surfactant (like palmolive) — couple squirts in a spray bottle filled the rest of the way with water. The surfactant gets on exoskeletons and kills the animal. Not sure how it works in keeping them from reinfesting, but can spray cobwebs and baseboards.
    I’m looking forward to trying eucalyptus oil for prevention of reinfestation.

  • Eboni 19

    Hi I’m 19 I live with my mother and we have a 5 pound yorkie we live in a condo that’s basically on the ground so quite easy for bugs to crawl in when the weathers nice we get bugs such as spiders all different kinds my mom once had a huge brown one in the corner of her bedroom, we also get crickets, earwigs, the cousin of centipedes once, small little black bugs that are smaller than ants, and rolie polies. Now I know all those bugs sound super crazy but the place we lived in used to be the model so no one lived here but the bugs, but now we do and I was just really hoping someone could help me out pleaseeeeeeee I was wondering what’s a good cheap and safe way to kill these bugs that won’t harm me and my mother or dog

    Thanks !!!!

  • Melbourne77

    Does anyone ever post anwers???? There seems to be so many stories that are, IF not the same…answer some of the questions dammit, I frekkkkken hate spiders. In the last two days, it was a redback, today 2 whitetails!!! coming out of the shower tonight, another frekkin redback!! ive bombed up 2 main living areas in my home, and doing this, I think ive encouraged the spiders to come out….so now im going to try eucaluptus oil, citrus spray, and of course loads of general insect spray….does anyone have a successful story yet? i will try my next home project this weekend while my little one is away, than try again. Note to all: I will post my results ….. feeling your luck lol

  • Anonymous

    Ack, I hate spiders! Thanks for the tips!

  • jan

    I tried lemon scented pledge and sprayed this around the windows in my basement and it seems to work as long as you spray it every week or so. I sprayed it inside as well as on the outside. I am not sure where the spiders get in but figured the windows are a good bet

  • Jan

    Hedge apples are great at detering spiders, problem is you can only get them in the summer and only some states they grow in. I get them off ebay every summer and they do work for about 2 to 3months then they turn black and you have to get rid of them.

  • http://www.samaboutlife.com Samantha

     How do you know if it is a black widow or brown recluse spider?  While I see your point about spiders being useful to clear out any other unwanted bugs, I found one near my and my partner’s bed this morning, naturally on my side!  Our flat is not particularly cluttered and is definitely not dirty or dusty.  So I am at a bit of a loss.

    Like so many others, while I am much more inclined to just go ahead and kill another type of bug, I am hesitant to do so to a spider, partially because of the aforementioned, and partially because I have heard that this brings about some bad luck!  (Yes, I am a bit of a believer in this…but perhaps I am over-thinking it all.

    Basically, will the spiders pretty much leave us alone if we leave them alone?  Will they breed and bring in more spiders or what?  If so, I will have to of course get rid of my creepy crawly house guest.

  • Larmour0

    ours are about 9 inches big when I see them zapping across the ceiling.  I like spiders generally, but these – sheesh – I am not sure that they are not able to sting, but am afraid of finding them on my face when I wake up, so going to sleep is scary.  Any ideas of what to do.  Cleaning, I can cope with, orange stuff I will find; but how to deter them altogether or to deal with phobia.  Any comments?

  • Larmour0

    ours are about 9 inches big when I see them zapping across the ceiling.  I like spiders generally, but these – sheesh – I am not sure that they are not able to sting, but am afraid of finding them on my face when I wake up, so going to sleep is scary.  Any ideas of what to do.  Cleaning, I can cope with, orange stuff I will find; but how to deter them altogether or to deal with phobia.  Any comments?

  • Madison

    Thank you so much. I am a little kid and I am completely terrified of spiders :S I found 2 GIANT spiders in my room in 2 DAYS, I am looking forword to trying all these ideas. :) 

  • Licoricedevon

    Thanks so much for posting this.  I didnt’ know about spiders and mess.  They have been getting worse and worse, and while they are just little jumping spiders, I can’t be seeing them 20 times a day.  And one actually crawled up my arm. EEEK!  Tonight i was worried i was going to end up not sleeping. but i pushed back the clutter and sprayed with lemon pledge like crazy… i even surrounded my bed with a “forcefeild” of baking soda.  Maybe i’ll get some sleep now.  I’m going to try to de clutter everything tomorrow and then, there’s going to be a definite lemon sent to my house. lol. I may even talk to management about my door, because i know at least half get in that way (it has a crack in it about a mile wide) thanks again!!! :D

  • Bjh875

    Hi charlotte, I have a car that has been sitting due to costly repairs until we can repair it my problem is I washed it the other day and there where spiders on it unfortunately I spotted 2 black widows fall from the bottom I sprayed bug spray in all the areas I could outside if it my concern is now if they are on the inside how can I kill them? Please assist if you can.

  • Kajgeary

    For ants, baby powder works too.

  • Kajgeary

    For ants, baby powder works too.

  • faith

    thank you i’m goin to be a new mommy soon and hunter spiders isn’t what i want my baby around

  • Ffwrh

    Everyone is saying thank you they’ll try it… why don’t someone try it then post if it works or not?? “Ill try it” isn’t very informal.

  • Ilovefoxes13

    Thanks for all the nice tips, I’ll be trying them out… I’ve witnessed around 6 spiders in my bedroom, and atleast 10 outside of my bedroom, but I am in the basement… I guess that can’t be helped, but thanks for the nice easy tips. 

  • Ilovefoxes13

    Thanks for all the nice tips, I’ll be trying them out… I’ve witnessed around 6 spiders in my bedroom, and atleast 10 outside of my bedroom, but I am in the basement… I guess that can’t be helped, but thanks for the nice easy tips. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000660510093 Amber Wa

    pennyroyal grows around springs where i live.. It smells amazing and is poisonous to ingest. But you could make an herb pouch with mint, pennyroyal, eucalyptus leaves, lavender, dry orange peel and maybe some sage and put it in beds, under beds behind bookshelves, in closets and other places in the home to keep spiders away.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000660510093 Amber Wa

    pennyroyal grows around springs where i live.. It smells amazing and is poisonous to ingest. But you could make an herb pouch with mint, pennyroyal, eucalyptus leaves, lavender, dry orange peel and maybe some sage and put it in beds, under beds behind bookshelves, in closets and other places in the home to keep spiders away.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000660510093 Amber Wa

    Eucalyptus is a tree.

  • Tpkskenny

    Hedge apples do NOT work. I had a house spider build his web right on one.

  • Jennifer Wylie

    Okay so I have found and killed at least EIGHT very large brown hobo looking spiders in my home in the past couple weeks. I have children and I feel like the spiders are invading!! Our local hospital does NOT carry anti venom, the nearest hospital that does is over an hour away as we live in a rural part of the inland pacific northwest.  I am concerned for the safety of my family, one even dropped on to me the other night while I was laying in bed. There are no pest control companies where we live and paying one far away to come would cost more than we can afford. What do I do?!?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002384985509 Aireon Nicole Browne

    omg i dont want to even attempt cleaning out the underside of my bed

  • TLR

    I guess I should clean my room, I am absolutely terrified of spiders and found one about a week ago crawling ON MY BED RIGHT BY MY ARM, he was kinda big, and it freaked me out so bad I had a panic attack, that same spider was found again just a couple days before, as we tried killing him he got away and couldnt be found, when he resurfaced the other day he got away again, this is the first night Ill be sleeping in my bed again and Im terrified. Spiders never bothered me until my mom was bitten by a brown recluse!

  • babs

    Is it really spider stuff I find around windows in garage??? not really webs but little black stuff, and sorta webby, but not the king that go out in star pattern.  hard to explain, does anyone know what i mean.  really want to know should I try that citrus idea?

  • Tina Johnson1999

    I have been told conkers in all corners near doors and windows does the trick and I am about to try it out. As we are getting some really big ones in at the minute and a lot of  friends are saying the same ! My friend was told about conkers and they worked for her last year ! Will let you know

  • Crystal

    Hi,do you know how to get rid of the female black widow.It’s because I’m terrified of spiders and I found it in my trash bin.I am scared that if it escapes it might just bight my family,please email me on how to get rid of the spider without any spray products.My email is pont.win@gmail.com   ,   Thank You

  • Mekasplace

    I need something to kill these horrible spiders some are big and black and some are brown and BIG

  • Kritzbergkaren

    we are VERY clean – but due to foundation shifting, are getting increased # black widow and other types non poisonous spiders in bedrooms..  any pet safe chemical we can get to get rid of spiders?

    kritzbergkaren@yahoo.com

  • jessieee

    omg they are awfull we get atleasy 2 wolf spiders a day in my house and we conkerz which is sposs to help and it has a bit but im going to try these other idears cos im a teen aged girl so my room is a tip so im going to be clean from now on and hopfull spider free !!

  • jessieee

    omg they are awfull we get atleasy 2 wolf spiders a day in my house and we conkerz which is sposs to help and it has a bit but im going to try these other idears cos im a teen aged girl so my room is a tip so im going to be clean from now on and hopfull spider free !!

  • guest

    I live in a condo at ground level  as well and have the same problem with bugs.  I’m sure there are plenty of cracks in the concrete floor, which doesn’t help the issue. I know the seals in the doors and windows are terrible because in the winter I can feel the cold air pouring in.  We get a ton of spiders and earwigs and we are super-clean. I think the earwigs breed under our deck which is next to our slider that connects to our kitchen.  Not sure if spiders are attracted to this?
    Every weekend me and my husband spend the whole weekend scrubbing floors, cleaning windows, etc.  I’m going to try the lemon/orange oil idea around the seals of the doors and windows and hopefully this will help deter them.  In New England we luckily don’t have too many poisonous spiders, but I don’t care how big or small they are.  I don’t like anything that’s got that many legs or eyes…

  • Allipop

    Dear Ffwrh, I don’t think you mean ‘informal’. Don’t you mean ‘informative’?