Tackling Spiders and other Creepy Crawlies

antispam246

I briefly mentioned this in a previous post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=405956

Although I'm appreciative of the feedback I was given I didn't really get enough advice concerning the insect dillema. As summer is pretty much here, as is obvious, the spiders etc.. are back out to play. I have no phobias in this area but I'd really like to do something along prevention because it genuinely is annoying.

In a nutshell; I'd like to prevent insects of all nature, specifically WASPS and SPIDERS from constantly entering my room.

My room is an extension that overhangs the front of the house, if you look at the previous post you'll see various structural gaps, I'm certain these are entry points for spiders that seem to pop up from no where. When they're small enough I'm guessing they're able to pop up through the floorboards and up through the edges of carpet. I have looked around the carpet edges and there are no obvious gaps. But I've seen spiders small enough to fit through gaps that aren't obvious to the eye and of course the spiders grow rather large rather quickly.

I'm tired of running about hunting down 5+ spiders everyday. I'm tired of wasps seemingly probing miniscule holes in the brick work outside my window and then popping in through the window on occassions.

So what am I looking for?

1) A semi-powerful insecticide to blast/pour/leave in the structural gaps outside my room. One issue that wasn't addressed previously was, what exactly I could use outside and exactly what precautions I may have to take, i.e. if the substance was dangerous to myself, damage it could potentially do to under my room, physically to both the structural work and myself (fumes?)

2) Some sort of net curtain to fix over my window, so I can let the air in and nothing else. Something easily adjustable so I can manouever or remove when needed.

3) Something for within the room and the windowsill (outside the window), along the lines of insecticide that will ward of anything that may feel like creeping in.

I've searched about on the forums and I saw "Flee Spray" mentoned a few times, as well as various other remedies, chest nut?

I'd be forever indebted to anyone who could help out with specifics in regards to the questions above. I should have sorted this before the temperature started rising

Neil_S_3

I hear Citronella is good at detering insects from coming in your house, perhaps some spray on the windows renewed regularly will help?

tagz

I can vouch for the flea spray. I hate spiders and a I spray around the doorways and along the edges of the floors twice a year (I use the longlasting household type not the one you use on cats) and the number of them has dramatically dropped. In the last year we have had a cat and I have seen none at all! I think any that do get in are pounced upon. I did get a horsechestnut spray (kleeneze) but found that didn't work too well.

We are also plagued by wasps in the garden and I've found glass wasp traps that you fill with sugar water and when the wasps fly in they can't get out again and die. They also work well for flies.

I hope this helps.

Tagz

victoriav

Oh no 5 spiders a day..???:eek: :eek: :eek:

Apparently cedarwood keeps spiders at bay. I think you can get it in them little wooden balls which you put in your drawers to keep moths away. maybe a department store/ ebay. I have in the past soaked cotton wool with clove oil, very potent, and it has worked where i have placed it, like you, in various gaps. I too live in a very spidery house. I have some very big ones, 'hold on while I fetch a saddle'....:D and I would not want to hurt them but I have a big phobia with them.

antispam246

Thank you all so much for the tips!

As for the household flee spray, is it harmful at all, I mean to myself? Does it depend on dosage?

As for the wasp trap, I'm not too keen on it to be honest. I don't think there's an ideal place I could locate it considering my room is one floor up and overhangs the front of the house. That and the idea of attracting wasps at all just puts me off. Something I could spray the window/wall/cill with to ward them off. I imagine once I find something along the lines of the net curtain I hinted at originally it won't be too much of an issue, but backup is always nice.

I was going to look about on ebay for for most of these things, but if anyone knows of specific sellers, perhaps they've bought from before and can guarantee that particular product, appreciated (:

sparkleworld

[A semi-powerful insecticide to blast/pour/leave in the structural gaps outside my room. One issue that wasn't addressed previously was, what exactly I could use outside and exactly what precautions I may have to take, i.e. if the substance was dangerous to myself, damage it could potentially do to under my room, physically to both the structural work and myself (fumes?)]

I read your post this morning and immediately thought of you whilst on the hunt for my wasp problem and thought Ah HA!
Not sure if I have done this properly so please excuse an inadequate forum poster!:o

http://www.buggone.co.uk/spider-deterrent.html

HTH
kind regards
Sparkleworld

mioliere

I was told once that if you put conkers in various corners and hidey-holes they deter spiders - obviously, for this year, you'll have to wait for conker season which is about October, but is well worth a try. I am dreading May because I hate maybugs but at least they only come out at dusk and for one month only. I am not as scared of spiders as I use to be; I don't like them but would hate to kill one. OH hates wasps because they head straight for him so he collects any spiders and I get rid of the wasps! Good luck. If I hear of anything else I'll let you know. You do seem to get a lot - five a day sounds unusual; maybe we have a spider expert on MSE who can tell you why and offer some help.

antispam246

sparkleworld wrote: »

[A semi-powerful insecticide to blast/pour/leave in the structural gaps outside my room. One issue that wasn't addressed previously was, what exactly I could use outside and exactly what precautions I may have to take, i.e. if the substance was dangerous to myself, damage it could potentially do to under my room, physically to both the structural work and myself (fumes?)]

I read your post this morning and immediately thought of you whilst on the hunt for my wasp problem and thought Ah HA!
Not sure if I have done this properly so please excuse an inadequate forum poster!:o

http://www.buggone.co.uk/spider-deterrent.html

HTH
kind regards
Sparkleworld

I'm very tempted by these products. Have you used any of them yourself, particularly the wasp and spider spray? How effective are they? They seem abit pricey but if it gets the job done I have no quarrels there. I was trying to find any testimonials on this product but couldn't dig anything up, except someone selling it on ebay, however the buyers seem to be praising the efficiency of delivery more so than the actual product.

antispam246

Seemed to get alot today. Family came running in to ask me to get rid of a "big" one from the bedroom. To them it was huge, to me it was medium size, I've seen these !!!!!!s alot bigger but they are at that scary size now. I've only ever seen one that was big enough to prevent me from picking it up, had to use a glass.



Not a clear image, I was probably shaking Picked it up and threw it out. I'm about ready to purchase that linked product I'd just ideally like to get some feedback from anyone who's used it.

alzeebub

As someone has already mentioned, a cat is great for general fly/spider/bug removal.... i'm pretty sure word has gotten around the bugworld not to come to our place anymore

For wasps though the cat obviously isnt an option.... they get a table tennis bat propelling them at speeds theyve never before achieved!

I hate wasps

antispam246

Cat isn't an option for me, perhpas when I have my own place (:

Anyway I managed to dig up some reviews on ebay and the product(s) seem to get all round appraisal, so I've bitten the bullet and gone for the wasp and spider deterrent. I'll let you know how it works out, many thanks to all (: