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Does anyone have a natural solution to discourage spiders in the house? I know they are beneficial, and I want to let them live. I do. It’s just if they are larger than a lentil, I’m a screaming mess. I don’t want to use poison.

CarolinaGirl60 8 June 24
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10

discouraging spiders huh? well, let's see. I have a few ideas.

  • my mom useta tell me I was worthless and she wished she had never given birth to me. that was pretty discouraging. so some similar theme there might work.

  • if it's a girl you might mention that she's putting on weight or her 8 eyes are looking baggy.

  • criticize the shape of her web. if she's OCD or even a narcissist this will discourage her.

  • maybe spread some rumors. say she's never had a mate to eat or maybe that none of those last 1,600 babies were really his.

I hope these help. Why can't you just get along?

ROFL, love it!

I am totally speechless. This one is for the "Comment of the Year" Lets start a new Category

6

Close the portal to hell from which they emerge.

Katrik Level 7 June 24, 2018

???I’m trying!

4

what kind of spiders tho.

My Mom used to work for a subsidiary of johnson wax in pest control. They were always testing new methods for things e.g. ways to kill flies in a restaurant without a zapper spraying guts everywhere... etc
The prevailing wisdom with spiders being that since they don't have complete contact with surfaces, typically, that they require a direct hit. So..... think it really depends on what type of spider you're concerned about. If they are jumping spiders leave them alone. Those aren't aggressive. (they move like tanks)

Qualia Level 8 June 24, 2018

The grass ones that get indoors totally freak me out. Then I get some monsters like the pics I posted above. I can tolerate the tiny ‘corner’ ones, even granddaddy long legs. Wolf/jumping ones, I’ve left my house, if they were huge.
I had a recluse bite some years ago, and we called the bug people to fumigate.

4

Yes, I bought these Ultrasonic pest control and used them on my patio. Mosquitos are just starting here. Also started having a rat visitor. With a few days zereo bugs, and no rat. So they seem to be working. Also, I know someone that uses them in her house and she said zero bugs, including spiders. Highly recommend.
[amazon.com]

Cool, thank you!

Do they bother cats or dogs?

I have been researching them because I have pets. They seem safe around cats and dogs. I have read not to use them around pet hamsters and Guinea pigs, and of course not pet mice or rats. I'm using them in areas where my dogs and cats don't really hang out. It's probably best to do a lot of research on them because they do have mixed reviews. I don't really have any bugs in my house right now, but I'm getting some nasty Asian Tiger Mosquitos outside. The bites are unbearable so I'm trying everything.

3

Let a gecko loose in your house.

Was thinking, "Lizards. Lots of lizards." ?

@chalupacabre True! I visited Chichen Itza, and there were tiny lizards everywhere; iguanas out at the pyramid sites. I don’t think I saw a single ant, mosquito, or any flying bugs the whole week.

@CarolinaGirl60 Had a type of cockroach that could be a real nuisance when I lived in Spain. Moved onto base, where geckos were common & poor! No more roaches. So cool to drive home at night & see the lizards on the house!

3

Try neem oil. It's natural, offends almost all bugs, and it works great in the garden. Best of all, if honeybees and bumblebees get sprayed with it, they give you a dirty look, then continue with their buzzing.

3

Wow! I had a dream with a spider that was roughly 10 inches in diameter. Horrible dream. I hate spiders.

Eric84 Level 4 June 24, 2018

@Bendog right?!

@Bendog Indeed, a shottie - I have come here to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I am all out of bubblegum.

2

If they freak you out that much you need to desensitize yourself to them. THis might sound silly but there are a bunch of peacock spider videos on You Tube. THey are pretty and funny.Watch them and when you do see the humor move on to others tha might be a bit more anxiety provoking. Look at then until they don't make you anxious. When you move up to that 6 pound bird eating spider you are probably getting close to escorting them outside. I actually helped someone on FB overcome their scream level phobia to them by sending her pics of them

btroje Level 9 June 24, 2018

Even pics make me anxious, though I only scream when it’s in the room with me! I have tried this, even went to pet stores to view tarantulas. Stood there shuddering and shivering, but it was in a cage so I felt safe.

@CarolinaGirl60 you need to keep at it.in small increments your anxiety will diminish. it takes time

Thanks for this. I am also always advocating exposure therapy for phobias. There is no reason anyone should live with irrational fears

@CraeftSmith it really does work doesnt it?

@btroje it does. I can now be in the same room alone with a large dog, and not start losing my composure

2

Let's look at a few things to slow down these intruders;

  1. Get on your hands and knees (literally) and look under every exterior door. If you can see light, there's a entry point for them. Properly weatherstrip all your exterior doors. Check all windows and other areas that penetrate the interior of your home and seal cracks if possible (don't forget your dryer vent).

  2. Remove all food sources inside and outside the home (remember spiders eat other bugs and if you have a food source for other bugs...spiders will thank you for baiting them for the spiders).

  3. Poisons are virtually useless on spiders. Why? Because they do not groom themselves as other pests do and thus do not ingest the poison. The only poison I have seen work is a fog bomb. But you then must do a deep cleaning of everything as to limit exposure to yourself.

  4. Spiders love a house full of clutter. Remove what you can from floors (including floors in closets).

You will never get rid of one hundred percent of the spiders, but you can greatly reduce the percentages by following the above steps.

Best to you!

Count Level 5 June 24, 2018

Thank you!

2

Caulking? Seal as many cracks as you can.

bingst Level 8 June 24, 2018

Good idea. It’s a pretty good house, with nice storm windows. I’m out in the country though, more bugs in general.

@CarolinaGirl60 Corner trim and moldings are problematic. I've found very few people actually caulk the cracks that these conceal, for example where a floor and wall meet.

2

If Daddy Long Legs don't bother you let them set up house as they prey on other spiders.

Kimba Level 7 June 24, 2018
2

They come inside to eat insects, so keep your home well-screened.

Natural ways to repel spiders from homes:
[tipsbulletin.com]

2

there is a toy they make for kids. it's a little vacuum that sucks up a bug into a chamber... I think it's some kind of science toy for the younger buggers. you can release it outside later.

2

I have heard peppermint oil on cotton balls at points of entry but I haven't actually tried it...

@Bendog ???

2

Try some essential oils in water sprayed around the house. I think peppermint and perhaps lavender may work.

FYI... if you have pets be sure to check that the oils are not dangerous to them.

1

I buy mint plants and put them around the home. For some reason spiders/ants/ect Don't like the smell and it wards them off from the areas you don't want them in. Hope this helps.

1

Praying Mantis eats them and other bugs but you have to make sure they have enough to eat or they die

With all due respect, praying mantids prefer other fare and aren't viable loose in a house 🙂 I've never seen one eat a spider on their own. At best they'd likely just be competing with the spiders for things drawn to windows.

1

Fear. The essence of everything holy on the planet. Lose the fear because the spiders aren't going anywhere.

1

Those plug-in electronic devices seem to work. But, I have a very old house and always had spiders greeting me by surprise. I started using a "Catch-And-Release" device that sells on Amazon for only a few bucks. It's a hand-held, clear cylinder vacuum that uses one 9-volt battery. You carefully scoop up the spider (or even flies or other bugs) and then release it again outdoors. I've found that, by doing this consistently, I was able to drastically reduce the number of spiders in my house. Now I am rarely surprised by them.

ALSO: Spiders need water, and you will often find them in the shower with you, or by the sinks...wherever they see a water supply. They get very thirsty, especially in the spring after hibernating for a few months. When I do release them, I make sure they have a few drops of water available to them. There is never a need to kill them, and I hope more people start using alternatives.

I’m trying to let them live. I don’t like using poison for any reason. I’m working on the fear!

1

You live in the United States which is host to some poisonous spiders, so I might feel the same.

This article might help:

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ten-ways-to-ward-off-spiders-this-autumn-9743843.html

1

Conkers in every room keeps them away. Fresh ones each year.

1

They need a host for survival. If its the big ones that bother you all you need to do is get a small container and entrap them. Place a small cardboard underneath it and entrap it and take it outside and let it go. Start with little bugs to overcome the fear of entrapment. Once you feel certified its a piece of cake.

If I can get near them without freaking out, that’s a good idea. Though I don’t know why, my real fear is they will get on me.

@CarolinaGirl60 Ticks are what I worry about and there is no way to avoid them. These bring disease. Think about what I am saying because your focusing on the wrong insect. You have only to get down and watch them function and you will find out that they will never attack. You cannot see ticks but you have to go into nature for survival.

@Nevermind345 I agree that ticks are dangerous. Plus mosquitoes. My dad did land surveying while he was in engineering school, and I remember well my mom looking him over head to toe at night.

@Nevermind345 never confuse an issue like this with logic

1

Cedar oil, peppermint oil. Spiders haaaaate those two.

I think I have both of those. I know I have peppermint; I was using it in sugar scrub for Xmas gifts.

1

maybe you should do something about your phobia?

I have. I can do EFT; no longer leave my car on the side of the road. Baby steps!

@Bendog well that's the human way

1

Cats eat spiders

Nardi Level 7 June 24, 2018

I currently have a chihuahua; trying to train her. I do miss my black cat Ella: spider killer extraordinaire.

@Bendog lol thats funny!

@CarolinaGirl60 I love those teeny mutts 🙂

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