Too many spiders

Doodles

I've been experimenting over the last year or so with different methods.

Last Autumn I put conkers around my skirting boards - made a HUGE difference - usually have 20+, that Autumn I had 4. So I'm going to stick to the conkers!

Also Betterware do a Spider Spray which is horsechestnut and clove, that's been sprayed round the skirtings as well, but I've not had it long so don't know yet if it will make a difference.

I've had 2 biggies so far in the last week, thankfully only one of them was in the house. The other one was in my shed and the only thing I had to hand was Raid fly and wasp killer - I sprayed it and it died very quickly actually.

But if I could only figure out where they come from and how to stop them in the first place!

Stompa

Stompa wrote: »

We usually have loads of big ones - which is a real pain as I have a spider phobia. For some reason though I've not seen any this year (famous last words!).

Oh dear they've arrived - and bigger than ever this year - eek!

anniewoo

I saw my first big one the other evening.I glimpsed it running across the carpet out of the corner of my eye as I was watching TV.

I leapt up shrieking and it froze in the middle of the floor.I ran to the kitchen to get the spider catcher (the one with the prongs) expecting the critter to have vanished by the time I came back,but it was still sitting there eek,so I gingerly picked it up and deposited it outside.

I have found those spider catchers work very well,actually.Although I am scared of spiders,I really don't like to kill them if I can avoid it.

I am going to try putting conkers around the room this year,hopefully that will deter a few.

Stompa

anniewoo wrote: »

Although I am scared of spiders,I really don't like to kill them if I can avoid it.

I'm afraid any I spot take a swift journey up the vacuum cleaner hose!

Nix143

Living alone really does make you face your fear - well not exactly alone but when I howled the other night my 13 year old DS looked up at me laconically and said 'I'm arachnaphobic. I can't help you' :rolleyes:

I've had 3 massive ones so far and I have managed the glass/card trick - well first time I didn't use card, I used paper and as I was walking him to the front door the paper bent and he fell to the floor and went scuttling off again!!! So I had to catch the little sod AGAIN! Can someone answer definitively - if I put them outside do they just come back in again? Also the bushes directly outside my front doors are covered in garden spiders which I have just left alone as these are different to the ones that come inside - should I be spiddy mace-ing them as well?

I can't squish them, I just can't. In the past I have sucked them up the hoover - but one was so big he dinked as he went up the tube and I swear that was worse :eek:. Now I try to get them out of the house - but if they come back then I don't know why I am bothering......help????

Seaxwyn

Hi just a quick comment - the spiders you are seeing are probably Tegenaria Gigantea males out looking for a mate.

These are very shy spiders and stay well hidden in lofts, cellars, somewhere where they are very very unlikely ever to encounter a human. But in late summer/early autumn, the males have to find a mate so have to overcome their usual habits and go wandering about in search of love.

You will NOT see them all year round - it really is just something to endure in autumn.

We have lots too and like you I am quite phobic, as are my kids. However I found reading up about them has helped me to deal with them and actually feel quite sympathetic as I scoop them up in a jamjar (shuddering as I HATE doing it) and pop them outside.

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

"just watched kim and aggie tonight, they mentioned spiders hate citronella oil (available ebay, pound shops etc). they made a mix of it with water and wiped it all over the place with a cloth."

It does work, I put a few drops of citronella and tea tree on some tissue and bung it in the vacuum cleaner, it smells nice when you vacuum and seems to deter them. We've got an outside loo which the spiders love and I mixed some citronella with water in a spray bottle and sprayed the walls. Apparently spiders smell through their feet so if it's on walls etc it will deter them.

I have noticed loads in the garden recently building their big webs everywhere, I don't know whether it's a weather thing as we've had loads more snails then usual too. I'm constantly reading up on debugging plants at the mo. It's a war zone out there!

Kochanski

I found a hugeeeee one walking into my handbag tonight so the bag is now living in the bath. I've decided I don't eed my purse or keys again.

Anyone else with the plug ins - do they work? For the past months we've had about 30 massive ones its a nightmare. I came on here tonight looking for cures because of the bag one and I'm too scared and hyper-aware to sleep

GreenNinja

JailhouseBabe wrote: »

Don't know if this really works or not - but I guess you're willing to try anything?

My daughter is really phobic about spiders (I catch them in a glass and throw them at end of garden - she just wants them all dead!)

So... I read somewhere that spiders don't like lavender. DD now has a bedroom full of lavender smellies - sachets/candles/incence sticks. Although we regularly get spiders in all other rooms of the house, I can't remember the last time she screamed for me to remove one from her room.

DD's convinced it's the lavender doing the job and wants to have lavender smellies all over the house, unfortunatley I can't stand the smell & would rather have the spiders!

Top tip! many thanks. I have a camomile and lavender plug in air freshner but not used it for ages, will wop it on tonight and hope that it deters our hairy friends!!

krispyg76

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/spider-catcher/index.html

This is your answer. My girlfriend is terrified of them but now she can catch them at arms length and rehome them outside.