In our house, in the last couple of years, the 'normal' species of spider (large scary type, fat body, stout legs) has been totally usurped by the 'daddy longlegs' variety (tiny body, long spindly legs). They seem lurk in ever corner, nook and cranny. Their webs are hardly webs at all, but instead consist of tangled strings or bundles of fine fluff. No matter how often I remove them, they're back the next day. I try not to harm the spiders themselves, and when I can catch them, I throw them outside. Traditional recommendations include chestnuts, lemon and lavender - and there are lots of electronic devices that emit ultrasonic and electromagnetic waves (but I suspect that these are in the snake oil category). Reports of how effective these remedies are vary, so can anyone suggest something that really does work?

I suspect we just have to live with them while loathing or loving according to personal disposition. Coincidentally, last night I found the biggest spider in the house that I have ever seen during my not inconsiderable years. Fortunately, even with it's extraordinary size, it was no match for the fly swatter (although it did struggle a bit!).

How do I deter spiders?

Aug 14, 2015 29 Replies

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Etaoin Shrdlu 10 years ago

The most effective thing I can think of, is if you ever see a clutch (or whatever the collective noun is) of spider eggs in the house, don't ignore it, get rid of it. We used to be fairly relaxed about seeing spiders in the house, but found that you just end up with cobwebs and spider eggs all over the place. Make a point of throwing each spider you see outside (I expect they'd die of starvation/dehydration in the house anyway, so you're probably doing them a favour), and get rid of any eggs you see.

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Richard 10 years ago

Sort of. He found "Fudge" a bit too familiar and now prefers the more formal "Mr"

HTH

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Mr Pounder Esquire 10 years ago

No, it is my name and I've heard them all.

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Mr Pounder Esquire 10 years ago

I've been Mr Pounder here for many more years than you have been Richard here, Dick.

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ARW 10 years ago

+1.

Although I would just pick it up with my hands and take it outside there are other alternatives to remove it alive that do not involve touching it.

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damduck-egg 10 years ago

Does if you bash them with the conker.

G.Harman

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David 10 years ago

However, some of these cellar spiders prey on other spiders. So they may be helping the insects by removing natural predators. I once saw one which had captured a spider so the UK variants can do this.

Oh, and some of them are incredibly tiny (young?) - having inadvertently painted a couple into a wall last week. Too small to show in the paint.

Cheers

Dave R

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Bod 10 years ago

That's added extra insulation ;-)

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RayL12 10 years ago

Those house spiders eat the other stuff that eats your house. I leave them to it.

House spiders are quite aware. And, clever too. A test report on a tv program, years back, said; given a maze of three pipes, one of which ends across the room in the glass dome, of some poor creature, showed that, the spider picked the right pipe every time.

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whisky-dave 10 years ago

Well accoring to this website lemon stops plastic spiders entering the house, there's a video to prove it too ;-0

formatting link

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