Spider Control Guide

Why spiders come indoors

Most house spider sightings pick up sharply from late summer into autumn, when males leave their webs to actively search for a mate and end up wandering into houses by accident rather than intentionally moving in. Spiders are also drawn indoors by warmth as outdoor temperatures drop, and by the reliable presence of other insects to prey on — a house with a fly or moth problem tends to attract more spiders as a knock-on effect.

Common house spiders

The house spider is the large, fast-moving one most people are startled by in a bath or sink — it falls in while wandering and can’t get enough grip to climb the smooth sides back out. Cellar spiders, with long, thin legs and small bodies, tend to build loose webs in corners, garages, and cellars and are largely harmless and beneficial, since they prey on other insects including flies. Daddy long-legs spiders are similar in habit and often confused with cellar spiders.

Are house spiders dangerous?

The species commonly found in homes are not dangerous to people. Bites are rare, since house spiders generally avoid contact and only bite defensively if trapped against skin, and any reaction is typically similar to a mild insect bite — some localised redness and itching that settles on its own. Spiders are, if anything, beneficial to have around in small numbers, since they help control other household insects like flies and moths.

DIY control and removal

For an individual spider, the simplest approach is also the most humane: a glass and a piece of card to trap and release it outside. For a broader reduction in numbers, regular vacuuming of corners, skirting boards, and window frames removes both spiders and the egg sacs and webs that let a population build up unnoticed over a season.

Natural deterrents like peppermint oil or conker (horse chestnut) placement near entry points are popular home remedies, though the evidence for their effectiveness is mostly anecdotal rather than tested — they’re low-risk to try but shouldn’t be relied on as your only approach if numbers are genuinely high.

Keeping spiders out long-term

Sealing gaps around windows, doors, and where pipes and cables enter the building removes the easiest entry points. Fitting draught excluders on external doors and repairing damaged window screens covers the rest. Outdoors, keeping vegetation and log piles away from the house reduces the population living right up against the walls, which naturally reduces how many wander in by accident.

When to call a professional

Most house spider sightings don’t need professional treatment — trapping and releasing individuals, combined with regular cleaning and sealing gaps, is enough for the vast majority of homes. It’s worth getting a professional opinion if you’re seeing unusually high numbers that don’t respond to sealing and cleaning, if you find webs and egg sacs in large quantities suggesting an established breeding population indoors, or if anyone in the household has a genuine phobia that’s affecting their ability to use parts of the home comfortably.

FAQ