Spider... Relocation?

We've got too many roommates of the eight-legged variety. What to do?

We've scoped out the spider catcher over at AT:Chicago, but that seems a bit ridiculous; none of the many spiders we've seen so far have been of the hazardous sort, so we can just catch them and put them outside. We're working on reducing their food source, other insects, by patching screens and vacuuming out every little nook and cranny. But we'd like to encourage the spiders to take up residence elsewhere without resorting to Raid. Here are the folk repellent recipes we've found online:

horse apples or osage orange (do these even exist in California?)

boiling chewing tobacco in water, then spraying that water (yuck) plus lemon dish detergent around the house

chestnuts

mint

For our readers who might like a more permanent solution to their spider problems, we found a poison-free trap made by Victor for around $5 online; we've also seen these in hardware stores.

But if we just prefer to repel the spiders, rather than kill them, what works best in your experience?

Comments (5)

Usually every spring one or two move in and nest in the kitchen counter triangle area, and I do nothing. Spiders have such a short lifespan anyway. I just let the spider(s) live out their life by the kitchen window, and sometimes they catch gnats and little bugs for me, which get in after I've left the screendoor open too long. The spiders are gone by fall/winter, so I clear the web. I find them harmless. They are not big at all; they're small spiders not more than 1/2 inch long. I would move a larger spider out because it would have inadequate food.

posted by stickyricemama on June 25th 2008 at 10:28am
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What works best in my experience is to just brush and vacuum down the webs. Outside as well as in, if you've a lot of spiders -- those 'Webster' bristly dome-shaped brushes work well, and they last for years too.

If you've a problem with spiders in the bathtubs and sinks, drape a long rag over the edge, one that touches the bottom. Thing is, spiders can climb into tubs but not out, as the sides are too slick -- and they *will* climb in, as in most houses there's just about no water anywhere else. So the rag acts as a ladder, and if you shake it outside in the morning you can shake out any that've clung to it rather than leg it somewhere else.

posted by Eucritta on June 25th 2008 at 10:40am
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Sticky mouse traps; put them down where you see a lot of spiders, the spiders get stuck.

posted by Elle B on June 25th 2008 at 12:21pm
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I can get rid of your spiders with one word: MEOW!

posted by KrapArtist on June 27th 2008 at 10:11am
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Why dont you concentrate on the causes rather than how to get rid of them. First, they are likely coming in from outside somewhere. Do a thorough check of all walls and windows to find out where they come in. You can line any crevices with Boric Acid ("roach powder"). Another thing that spiders are attracted to is wood. Wood includes paper and cardboard. Do you use cardboard boxes to store stuff? Get rid of it, switch it out for rubbermaid boxes or something like that. Otherwise, keep a can of raid on hand and take out the little bastards one by one. Keep a close eye out for eggs because one egg can hatch dozens (actually hundreds but only a small % live).

posted by joey c on September 13th 2008 at 3:57pm
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