How do I stop the spiders?

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hokkuhokku@reddit

Whilst a fear of spiders is undoubtedly stressful and upsetting, spiders are not evil.

Like you, they are creatures inhabiting the earth. Some of them like to live outside, and some of them prefer to live inside.

They mean you no harm, nor harbour any ill-will towards you.

They just want to eat flies, hang out, and hook up with other spiders.

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c00ble@reddit

It's like they say

"If you've got spiders? You've got flies"

Not worth a spiders time starving itself indoors. They're doing their job keeping flies away!

I know what insect I'd rather have.....

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Jaded_Library_8540@reddit

I've seen plenty of spiders starving themselves indoors, not moving for months at a time

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tobotic@reddit

Cellar spiders (the more daddy long legs looking ones) are pretty patient. They'll spin a web and wait. Energy is precious and moving is a waste of energy. They can genuinely stay still for weeks.

Giant house spiders (the chunkier ones that run really fast) are way more active, but they mostly hunt at night. And they'll return to their favourite spot before you return.

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Smooth-Eggs@reddit

they'll return to their favourite spot before you return.

Yes but the problem is that spot appears to be directly above my face when I lie in bed

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tcpukl@reddit

So they don't swallow flies in their sleep.

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Smooth-Eggs@reddit

Jokes on it, I don't sleep anymore thanks to it

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On the advice of the lovely people at r/spiders, I have been keeping a cellar spider in the cupboard under the stairs to help with my ongoing exposure therapy to get the best of my arachnophobia. The lack of movement help ha. I've called it David.

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ThriftyNails@reddit

watching cellar spiders worked for me! I didn't used to be able to knowingly be in the same room as a spider. I now genuinely like them and am happy to watch any of them, big or small, so long as they remain at least a foot or so away. I will scarper if one's getting too close, but not out of the room or in blind panic.

OP would do better working on tackling their spider phobia, way less effort and spiders are actually amazing.

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Living-Bat7647@reddit

Cellar spiders have been my gateway to recovering from phobia too. I started by naming all of them. I still don't like other spiders, but I've been able to trap a few myself and release them outside which is a huge improvement.

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tobotic@reddit

Cellar spiders are fine by me. Don't have any issue with them. Giant house spiders need to be burned with fire though.

Fun fact: cellar spiders will eat giant house spiders.

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MesoamericanMorrigan@reddit

I’ve been working in barns full of spiders for 20 years and still cannot help leaping 10ft across the room when I see one

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PipalaShone@reddit

We've got a little spider that isn't a spider (a crab something something arachnid) living on our bedroom ceiling/walls at the moment. Moves faster than light it seems! It keeps me awake when the sun rises - because I'm intrigued and love watching it. I sleep soundly when it's dark though -I use earplugs so I know it can't lay eggs in my ears haha

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tobotic@reddit

I use earplugs so I know it can't lay eggs in my ears

Not sure if you mean that you wear earplugs anyway, so you know it can't lay eggs in your ears, or if you started wearing the earplugs in order to avoid the egg laying.

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PipalaShone@reddit

Earplugs because of my boyfriend snoring - lack of eggs is a bonus!

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Neither_Process_7847@reddit

Cellar spiders are cool (and tend to politely get out of the way while dusting is going on), but can see why people get scared of house spiders.

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hayhayhay17@reddit

Yeah or in places where no flys would be! Like under a pile of clothes. Always have some massive ones in my laundry basket

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tcpukl@reddit

That phrase is very wrong. It implies getting rid of flies gets rid of spiders. Wrong.

We have spiders and zero flies.

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SpamJavelin00@reddit

You have zero flies BECAUSE of the spiders

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tcpukl@reddit

Yeah, but it's not fly infested. Ambient flies and spiders are everywhere in the UK. Both native. You can't get rid of either.

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SpamJavelin00@reddit

I know that . They’re everywhere. Best bet is get used to it and stop your pointless whining

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Competitive-Wolf7803@reddit

Spiders aren’t insects. They’re arachnids - like scorpions, centipedes, and ticks - and they have more legs, more eyes, and more venom sacs than insects.

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Vequihellin@reddit

Whilst spider venom may be a consideration elsewhere in the world, the UK is uniquely blessed by the fact that we are mostly horror-free. Our spiders are harmless to humans, and in the very rare case of the false widow, the bite is no worse than a bee sting.

Our spiders are also, typically, very small. The largest spider I've ever seen in the UK outside of a zoo was no larger than my hand span, which makes them incredibly easy to kill, and so in turn they are mostly going to avoid us because we are a much bigger threat to them than they are to us.

Whilst I'm not falling over myself to pick them up, I usually leave them alone to do their thing. They don't usually cause damage in our homes, and eat pests like flies and ants, dust mites, small bugs and beetles which actually can cause damage. Any spiders that get ideas above their station in our house are usually eaten by the cat lol.

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notactuallyabrownman@reddit

I play by the rule of they're allowed everywhere but my bedroom, those get sent outside. I know there are ones sneaking about in there but if I see them they have to go or I'm imagining them crawling on my legs until I fall asleep.

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Atlantean_Raccoon@reddit

centipedes are chilopoda, not arachnids

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Competitive-Wolf7803@reddit

Yep. Sorry about that.

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Omnissiah40K@reddit

8 legs, 6 legs, 8 legs, 6 legs

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reachingechoes@reddit

Your shit, your shit, your shit

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Yuriski@reddit

Who was the Cuban leader

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Thin-Dragonfruit2599@reddit

Fray Bentos

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mosleyowl@reddit

Throwing a shoe over the roof, that’s the real quiz

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behemuffin@reddit

Centipede aren't arachnids, they're myriapods, like millipedes, symphylans and Tony Blair...

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colin_staples@reddit

Your use of the phrase “venom sacks” isn’t really helping OP and their fear of spiders

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PipalaShone@reddit

I see what you are saying but the chances of a spider that can pierce human skin in the UK is small - that venom is for their normal prey. And even when there is a rare venomous spider- they aren't coming after us; it's very unfortunate to get bitten by a spider, even where they are more common.

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Clothes_Chair_Ghost@reddit

There are many spiders in the U.K. that can piece human flesh. But we have no medically significantly venomous spiders. Worst you will get is feeling a bit bleh for a couple days. But nothing that will kill or eat away at your flesh like in other parts of the world.

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AdFantastic8655@reddit

I would rather have neither.

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mr_wizard_123@reddit

I don't hate spiders it's just that they cause me mental anguish so I need to squish them.

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roze-eland@reddit

The solution for mental anguish is generally therapy, not unnecessarily killing harmless animals.

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mr_wizard_123@reddit

Not getting therapy when I can just kill the spiders that enter my home.

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fungomungothethird@reddit

Its a bug who cares

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Aivellac@reddit

I'm actually surprised you are getting downvoted, this is the sane response. I have got so many squish marks over my house from dead spiders I haven't cleaned away but most spiders I hoover up.

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nonoanddefinitelyno@reddit

The sane response is to kill something that means you no harm?

Says more about you than you realise.

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Aivellac@reddit

You can only go that route with your comment if you are a vegan, otherwise keep your sanctamonious crap to yourself. Spiders are horrible creatures that invade my space and I kill them off for my own wellbeing. I do not apologise for that, I have enough fear in my life and really don't need those things around me.

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bootlegstone89@reddit

Do what you like but at least acknowledge that its clearly not the ‘sane’ position. Its an irrational fear which is the opposite. Spiders benefit us, arachnophobia is mostly conditioned by culture.

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Aivellac@reddit

Does nobody understand hyperbole? Fuck me. I do kill spiders but to anyone thinking I think you're insane for not doing that is being bloody dense.

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bootlegstone89@reddit

Mate your comments just read as your sincere opinion. Many people think like that because arachnophobia is so normalised.

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nonoanddefinitelyno@reddit

You don't need to be vegan to prefer not killing things unnecessarily. And "the only sane response"? Billions of people live alongside spiders perfectly happily. You do you in your own home, but don't tell me my view is invalid or that yours is the only sane one.

Tldr; fuck off.

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Racing_Fox@reddit

I’ve been told this time and time again.

It doesn’t change the fact they’re terrifying

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Infinite_Spring_3564@reddit

When their species can build a house, then they can get to live inside.

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Cardabella@reddit

They build their house inside your house and catch mosquitoes

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

There's so flies in here. There's flies in another room but I can't do anything about that since I don't know where the fly spray is. This is the furthest corner from my door.

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secondgin@reddit

The reason there's no flies where you are is that your spider bro has gotten rid of them.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

He is not my bro please don't give him ideas

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secondgin@reddit

Sorry, you guys are bonded now. I don't make the rules 🤷‍♂️

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

I jumped so hard when I saw it I nearly pissed myself I don't like this creature

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secondgin@reddit

I get it. I used to be terrified of them. Then one day, I realised that they're just trying to live their little lives and they're actually pretty cool. I had one last year living under my bookcase. He'd come out anytime I played bass. R.I.P Norman.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

They can live they just need to do it somewhere that isn't my room. It's a big world

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RobertFellucci@reddit

There are definitely more spiders than you think in your room, tucked away in dark, tight places you never look at or even think about. That's why there are no flies.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Nice try but I've already had multiple paranoid freakouts in the past hour and a half about that. Also I just saw a fly, probably from Fly Central, aka the bathroom, in which there are multiple spiders in the main flyzone not doing their jobs

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secondgin@reddit

Ah, well if the bathroom is fly central and your spider is in your bedroom then the solution is clear. Pick the spider up and bring him to your bathroom.

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Pedantichrist@reddit

It is not a try, it is an absolute fact.

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RobertFellucci@reddit

Yeah, they can be slacking sometimes. I find a good stern word with them helps.

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ChristianeHello@reddit

I can totally understand where you're coming from. I was severely arachnophobic, too. Then we moved into a bungalow surrounded by greenery, and I knew I had to do something about this fear.

I read about a one-day course at the London Zoo for arachnophobes. I have no idea if they still offer it, but it really helped me. It was a really hard day, and I was one of the more severely affected. I basically cried and cried, but it was all better days later.

I still don't like spiders very much, but they don't bother me anymore. I still find them ugly. So, if you can, try to take a course like that. I was basically "cured" within a day with a long-term effect.

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BroodLord1962@reddit

Spiders in the UK aren't evil, but if you really don't like them, kill them when you find them in the house

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

I actually do use a mix of lavender and peppermint in a spray bottle to spritz around my windows. Works like a charm. I’m also terrified of them. There’s no talking me down.

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bandlj@reddit

I used to spray lavender on my pillow to sleep but stopped using it, am going to start again if it will keep my pillow area spider free though!

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

😂😂 worth it!!

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Difficult-Vacation-5@reddit

Do you just spray it along the window frame? Have you noticed it actually reduced spider presence in the house?

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

I do! And yes, it definitely has. The first couple of years in our home we had so many, regularly. I was a bit freaked out because we put a French door in so I thought that contributed to even more the following year. Started following a regime of spraying every few days and we barely had any last year, the same again so far this year. The worst is always September time though - but last year was far easier. None of the massive ones!

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Difficult-Vacation-5@reddit

Ah nice, really good to know it works. Thanks for the info. Silly question does the oils leave any sort of stains on the window paints or frame. I am assuming it's a UPVC or wooden frame windo which has been painted.

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

No! We have PVC. Tbf I usually spray around the outside/ in the recess bit if you know what I mean!

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DenM0ther@reddit

Essential oils are said to work well for deterring spiders, but be careful if you’ve got pets. Essential oils aren’t good for pets

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

I use pet safe essential oils only (no xylitol) - lavender is absolutely fine, I usually just have to use only a small amount of peppermint. My dog has been bitten by a spider before and that caused a massive reaction, so I absolutely must deter them!

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DenM0ther@reddit

Where do you find info on safe e/oils for dogs (&cats)? I’ve looked and everything seems to straddle the fence

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

I usually just use what I know is safe in terms of dog-safe herbs. I.e. rosemary is fine (!) and lavender.

I absolutely adore ylang ylang, but I never dare touch that anymore!

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

My general rule of thumb is to go by what they can have. So I use a lot of lavender and rosemary as I know they’re safe. I also use bergamot.

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meowcatpanda@reddit

Be careful with peppermint oil though as this is very toxic to dogs, both when ingested and topically! It's not just the xylitol in essential oils that's dangerous for animals (definitely a good shout though as that's one of the most toxic things for dogs and too many people don't know this)

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

Thanks, but I do know! He is fine and I am very responsible.

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wlsb@reddit

Does it also smell good? They're both nice smells separately but I don't know how well they combine.

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_BhubbleBayth@reddit

Only a very small amount of peppermint! It smells nice.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Update everyone, I got some bug net material to stick over my windows. Won't get rid of the one(s) that's already here but oh well

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SpamJavelin00@reddit

Unless they are funnel web spiders with a lethal bite , what do you give a damn for ? I couldn’t care less how many spiders live under my sofa

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Don't like turning over and there's one about a foot away from my face while I'm trying to sleep.

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SpamJavelin00@reddit

You need to clean your house more often if they’re that close to your face !! Don’t put your face in dark dusty corners then .

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

It's not a dark dusty corner, the spiders are just mad

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twofacetoo@reddit

Honestly, what worked best for me was buying a can of bug spray, then giving a light coating to the door frames and window frames.

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tradegreek@reddit

Spiders stop flys which fly round your head land on you bite etc whilst the spiders mostly just chill in corners so I think your targeting the wrong animal here spiders are our friends

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_Vince_Noir_@reddit

I know this is gonna sound like bullshit but I promise it's true.

A friend of mine used to be so scared of spiders that if there was one in their house, they'd phone me and I'd go round and put it outside.

They had therapy and they're no longer scared of spiders at all. It's insane to me but it worked for them.

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pixiecub@reddit

What kind of therapy? I’m so afraid of them that it affects my ability to function. I need something like that

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_Yalan@reddit

This.

The amount of people telling OP just to leave them, or they are beneficial etc. when they are very clearly at a level if terrified where therapy might be the only useful solution here.

I'm scared of spiders and people telling me they are useful or won't bother me does absolutely nothing. The fear is completely irrational, you can't just rationalise it away like that.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

Two things redditors can't or won't understand:

Allergies
Phobias

Understanding either of these things requires a degree of empathy.

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_Yalan@reddit

I'd add a third for most subs:

The nuances in people's relationships.

OK OK I love telling people to break up with their useless partner online too, you got me 😂

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mamamartima@reddit

Im petrified of spiders to. Ive moved to uk when I was a kid, but my home country had a poisonous or venomous (i get confused with these two words even after 20 years 😅) spiders and knowing no such thing is in uk does not help one bit. Like you, I hoover them up, but know strong smells are their enemy so got air freshners and all that at home too.

Saying to someone oh it won't hurt you, it just wants to live etc. Im like great, I didnt invite it into my home, its an intruder causing me mental distress, and get the hoover out.

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_Yalan@reddit

It's horrible isn't it, for me I think it's the way they move. I reallydont want to hate, or kill them, I know they are beneficial. But it's just irrational, I don't have any control over my fear and panic when I see one, it's awful!

I am grateful that I don't live in a country with venomous spiders, I don't know how I'd cope 😂

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mamamartima@reddit

Yeah being in uk took some edge off but I don't know find them creepy and just irrationally scared. Same goes woth video games I hate it. It Takes Two has a short bit where you ride a spider (objectively probably a cute one) I literally was looking anywhere but the centre of screen as was hating everything.

At this point I've got the vanilla air freshener from air wick and honestly hoping it will help get rid of spiders from my house

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jackog420@reddit

We always put conkers on window sills and by entrances and exits, don’t know if it actually works but it’s a bit of a tradition. If you get a spider and they hang about in the corner of a room or by a window it’s beneficial for getting rid of all the flys that are about at the minute

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stewpman@reddit

Try a good old fashioned shoe and slap the spider with it. I leave the daddy long legs ones in my house . I not had any spiders in my house the last 2 years except for them and if they get to close they get to see the bottom of my shoe or palm of my hand . My misses hates them any size she screams when its a monster one or a small dinky one lol .

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astralwisdom7@reddit

You need to get bug screen / nets for your windows

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grouchy_fox@reddit

Bug screens. I got them to stop the insane amount of moths and flies that came in at night and after the first year realised that I hadn't seen a spider in a long time.

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chez2202@reddit

What kind of spiders do you have in your house that sound like pipes making noises?

Are they about a foot long with 4 miniature violins that they play with their 8 legs to warn you of their imminent arrival?

Seriously, spiders DO NOT make noise. The noise you heard was actually your pipes. It’s just a coincidence that the spider was there at the same time.

I can’t stand the little fuckers. The worst ones are the ones you just described. I call them Tom Cruise. The ones that drop down right in front of your face like they are extras in Mission Impossible.

Second worst are the big fat ones that hide behind your air fryer and pop out when you move it to clean underneath. True story.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

This house makes a lot of noises and I don't no idea what it is half the time I just guess

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Tattycakes@reddit

You’re guessing wrong. Spiders in the uk are not that noisy. You should probably get some psychological support if they are troubling you this much because it’s just not a practical solution to try and get rid of them all.

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Extra_Actuary8244@reddit

Yes they are lol, you clearly just don’t have a lot of spiders in your house. They can be quite loud running on surfaces

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

I heard quiet rustling sounds when the spider was there, then when it disappeared, the noises stopped.

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chez2202@reddit

I get it. My house doesn’t make many noises as it’s 130 years old. My MIL just had her gutters replaced and when it’s warm they make a shit load of noise.

I mentioned my MIL for a reason. She has this plug in device which deters spiders and other creatures from coming into your home. There’s an online store named after a river and rainforest which sells them. You need to check it out.

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Extra_Actuary8244@reddit

If you think spiders don’t make noise you’ve clearly not seen or heard a lot of spiders

Giant house spiders are big enough that you can hear them running on carpet or hard wood flooring so you definitely can hear them running along pipes

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lucylucylane@reddit

The British house spider is surprisingly big and fast can be heard running along the floor

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Laylelo@reddit

My cat eats them. Try getting a cat.

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ByteSizedGenius@reddit

Ours seems to like to play with them until they kill them, stare at them a little bit, and then walk away to leave the servants to clean up.

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Snout_Fever@reddit

Mine used to be an absolute sadist with spiders. She would carefully bite the legs off one by one, releasing them between each amputation until they were just a raisin and then leave them because they no longer amused her.

99% of the time she had the physical coordination of a drunken teenager, but as soon as it came to spider genocide she gained the precision of a surgeon, it was horrible yet strangely fascinating to watch.

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1nspectorCPW@reddit

All domestic cats are sadistic killers. They're one of the very few species other than humans that torture and kill for amusement.

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decidedlyindecisive@reddit

Canines too. And stoats. And orcas. And dolphins.

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1nspectorCPW@reddit

Yes that's true, I agree. I did acknowledge that there were a few others.

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PipalaShone@reddit

Mine just watches them. Its ok though, we pause the tv to watch them too!

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Tanedra@reddit

Mine have the instinct to chase and eat them, but they don't like the spiders wriggling in their mouth, so it gets spit out. Repeat until you have a dead, soggy spider, which is no longer interesting so it gets left on the floor.

So helpful.

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Willsagain2@reddit

And often the spider revives when its all clear, and staggers off minus a leg or two.

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jim_cap@reddit

OP do not go down this route. It ends in disaster, typically with an old woman ingesting a horse.

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Rugbylady1982@reddit

I second this, it's the reason I have four cats

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zedexcelle@reddit

Hmmm mine eats them partially then vomits up still dying spider. Or rather, did that once now doesn’t trust them to play fair. We just do the standard thing now when we see a spider - sell the house and move.

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skelly890@reddit

That’s not very considerate. You could at least burn it to the ground then bulldoze whatever’s left.

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Aivellac@reddit

It's the only way.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

I kinda have a cat but he doesn't eat them

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JamJarre@reddit

How do you only kinda have a cat?

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

He's not my cat but he shows up at my house a lot and hangs out here

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Kiss_It_Goodbyeee@reddit

Congratulations! You have been chosen and the cat has you.

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Juucce1@reddit

I watched my cat eat a slug the other day whilst sitting on the toilet, and no he doesn't eat spiders

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Competitive-Wolf7803@reddit

Your cat sits on the toilet? I never could train mine to do that.

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skelly890@reddit

Mine sticks his head over the edge to watch my piss, the fucking weirdo. The temptation to piss on his head is strong, but I am also strong in spirit and have resisted.

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Dietcokeisgod@reddit

Ours decided to jump across the toilet seat when she was a kitten. Unfortunately my partner was mid-stream. We had to wash her.

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roze-eland@reddit

I would be careful about this. Slugs and snails can be dangerous for cats (and dogs). I know you can't help if he does it when you're not there, but when you are, I would personally recommend removing the slug before he can eat it, just to be safe.

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IlnBllRaptor@reddit

Don't let your cat eat slugs, they can give him organ parasites.

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HistoryDisastrous493@reddit

Did the cat catch the slug outside and then go onto the toilet to eat it? Or was the cat already on the toilet when it started eating the slug? Regardless, how did you teach your cat to sit on the toilet? Or was the slug on the toilet when the cat started eating it? I'm which case how on earth did you toilet train a slug? And why doesn't your toilet eat spiders? So many questions...

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Juucce1@reddit

I'm too high to understand any of this. I actually can't tell whether this is satirical or mocking me

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HistoryDisastrous493@reddit

Not mocking you dude

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ChallengingKumquat@reddit

But sometimes the cat behaves in a silly and annoying way, so also get a dog to control the cat.

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meowcatpanda@reddit

Idk man, my cat is more terrified of them than I am... He may be broken (he's definitely broken)

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ComfortableElk3014@reddit

And even if they don't eat them but batter them about a bit I swear spiders get the message and stop coming in. Or if they do, they don't venture about on the floor.

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TheCounsellingGamer@reddit

If the spider is big enough, then one of mine will pull off most of its legs, then bring me its still alive, writhing body for me to throw for her.

Having a cat that plays fetch is cute until their ball of choice is a half dead spider.

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Altruistic_Style8284@reddit

If you have cellar spiders in your house then keep them! They’re harmless, avoid people and kill the scary spiders. I haven’t seen a scary spider in years and I put it down to my resident cellar spiders (who only scare me by clumsily falling from the ceiling on occasion)

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spriz2@reddit

When you approach a spider with your hand, it gets absolutely terrified. If you think you're scared of spider, just know that the spider fears you 10x more. You need to understand that they are creatures, but the only thing that separated them from the creatures that you're NOT scared of it because of how they look. It's a purely psychological and evolutionary trait that you are experiencing. You are scared because that's what has made humans survive for so long, to be hesitant around other creatures and to be cautious. I think you should see a therapist about it, or a Hypno. I truly think it will help.

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FullofSurprises11@reddit

The amount of steps people here take instead of just burning the entire house is funny.

In all seriousness, if a spider is found inside my house they are dead.

I can't sleep otherwise.

There are spider sprays that will both act as a repellent or poison to them if they dare trespass where it was used.

I also have a slug issue when it's raining too much and a similar spray keeps them all at bay.

I rent the flat I live in at the moment, so no possibility of a cat go hunt all of these down.

Since there's no pet, these sprays are the only deterrent that work (aside from a foot to the face, that is).

I have two arachnophobes in the house that will climb on a chair and freeze at the sight of any arachnid, so there's no such thing as keeping them alive after they are spotted (think if the scene in Jurassic Park when the girl freezes while eating jelly).

Best of luck OP.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

I usually get the non-spider fearing human to deal with spiders, but as The Problem showed up and disappeared at about 00:45, there was no way the other human was going to be able to do anything about it

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brokenalarm@reddit

If, like me, you’re mainly scared of the big house spiders with thick bodies, then letting the kind of spider that looks like a daddy long legs be is actually a good idea - the daddy long legs looking ones actually eat the house spiders

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

The less it looks like a spider the more tolerable it is. The problem spider in question from last night was about as spider as I've ever seen

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Thats_my_nirnroot@reddit

Peppermint spray apparently..

What doesn't work is getting a German shepherd.. my boy is terrified of spiders and flies 😂

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briergate@reddit

My GSD spends hours running up and down chasing flies and snapping them. She finally caught one yesterday and I watched her CHEW it.

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Thats_my_nirnroot@reddit

Oh you have a brave one!

My boy is super protective/territorial over our home...

But is otherwise utterly afraid of everything. Scared of flies, spiders, balloons.

And weirdest of all, he's scared of our freezer 🤷‍♂️ He'll run away every time we open the freezer door, yet will stick his nose on the fridge, whenever that is opened..

It's literally the same fridge/freezer unit, left side freezer, right side fridge.. it makes no sense 😭

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briergate@reddit

It makes perfect sense- fridge = free snacks. Freezer = uncertain cold thing with no salami

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PanakinMcSkywalker@reddit

Brake clean and a Zippo. Though I wouldn't recommend it near wood. It's lucky my garage has an asbestos roof 😂

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Shiftycatz@reddit

I've heard a spray bottle with water and a couple drops of peppermint oil is sposed to work as a barrier along doors, windows etc

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No_Pay1642@reddit

Hagstones😂😂

But have you tried an insect screen on your windows? Or a net curtain?

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Tried bug nets a while ago, they were all sold out and I haven't seen any over winter

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MonkeysMonolith@reddit

Amazon…

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Dont trust Amazon

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Clothes_Chair_Ghost@reddit

Okay sure Amazon at its core is a scummy company but it is used by the entire planet and has great customer service. All the people boycotting the company has done nothing to stop it being one of the most profitable companies on the planet. You are just doing yourself a disservice at this point

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Flonkerton_Scranton@reddit

....crikey. you are your own problem then.

If you can't work out how to purchase something without using Amazon, you can't really boycott it.

Buying items is something we are all very good at, so if you can't even do that...eesh.

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flyblues@reddit

It is literally the only real solution. Must not be that big of a deal to you if you can't be bothered to buy some (it's 2026, the internet exists, you can google which stores have them).

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CarpeCyprinidae@reddit

Conkers dont work. Flea spray does - they cant stand it.

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ShrimpStuffAdmin@reddit

I wouldn't put lavender oil anywhere because it smells rancid after it sits for a while

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Fantastic_Back3191@reddit

Nuke them from orbit; it's the only way to be sure.

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Thin_Sheepherder_584@reddit

Techno music, apparently. Extract from Everyday Folklore by Liza Frank:

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Think_Substance_1790@reddit

Honestly, living alongside them is just part of existing on this planet...

And im terrified of them. All of them. Even the tiny ones. Im taking full blown panic attack, sweats, crying, freezing, my face swells when im in full blown stress mode and my mum has even asked me if there was a spider in my house sometimes when we meet up because my face will be so swollen.... im genuinely, utterly, and completely terrified of them.

BUT

In summer, any bugs that get in the house are more annoying. Less scary, but if I have one more tea or coffee ruined because a bug got thirsty and divebombed head first I might actually cry.... so I wont kill them or do anything to keep them out. Because when theyre here, theyre helping. And if I see one, then I just ask hubby very nicely to put it outside. (Note, when I say ask very nicely, I mean I stand there and scream and cry until he moves it... im talking snot bubbles, shaking, full tears.... God I hate them so much I can feel my spine itching rn....)

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klippertyk@reddit

Spiders are not evil. They’re our friends. Sadly spiders are institutionally marketed to kids as creepy and something to be afraid of. Actually promoted in schools!

While a fear is stressful. Try working on deprogramming yourself of being afraid. We’re lucky in the UK spiders are harmless.

You can easily capture them with a glass and a piece of paper. Remember, house spiders can’t hurt you - and put them outside.

Please don’t kill them.

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grepusman@reddit

They're even creepier when their eggs hatch and you have tiny spider babies everywhere.

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d00td00t23@reddit

we had a horrible issue with spiders getting in the house. tried peppermint oil etc and nothing worked. ordered Karlsten Spider Killer Spray from Amazon and sprayed it liberally at all the possible entry points and we barely get spiders now. we were getting multiple large ones a day before that.

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Pristine-Bar2786@reddit

Also as you're in the UK you can be assured that any spider you come across is not going to be deadly and not going to attack you. Once that reality is settled in your brain you can slowly over time become less scared of them. After moving here from a country that does have deadly and dangerous spiders, it took me several years to to reset my brain. But now I'm like oh you're a lovely little spider.

Don't get me wrong, but a cricket ball sized rain spider running (galloping?) across the room still makes me pause, but I no longer scream and jump out of my skin.

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MrsSol@reddit

Cellar spiders eat the scary ones, if you can leave the giant skinny legged ones with a miniscule body, they eat the combat spiders! I leave lanky Larry's and haven't seen any monsters since

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Johnnyfootwrinkle@reddit

If you actually talk to the spiders and ask them to stay out of your way because you don't want to accidently squash them, They will

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millenialperennial@reddit

Just let them be, they won't hurt you

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

I don't believe you

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Don_Alosi@reddit

That's what a spider would say, keep your guard up, they're everyw

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starsandshards@reddit

/⁠╲⁠/⁠\⁠╭⁠(⁠•⁠‿⁠•⁠)⁠╮⁠/⁠\⁠╱⁠\

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

┬┴┬┴┤(·_├┬┴┬┴

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sbaldrick33@reddit

I take it you're an arachnophobe.

My solution for dealing with Spiders is just leave them be. They mostly can't hurt you in this country.

In all truth, I don't know if there is actually a way of repelling them.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

I take it you're not an arachnophobe, because 'just ignore it' is spectacularly unhelpful advice for someone with a genuine phobia of anything

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Disastrous_Yak_1990@reddit

‘Get over it’ isn’t an answer.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

So the issue is I was trying to sleep, kept hearing noises that I thought was my imagination, look over as I turn the light on and there's a spider. Right in front of me. Next to my head.

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skelly890@reddit

I’ve had worse. Went to pull up my pants, got them halfway, looked down, and there was a big fucker sat right in the middle.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Ehg. Once took my trousers off and a spider skedaddled out of it, but never had that before. Hate that thought.

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fiendofecology@reddit

I was itchy in bed once and ignored it, then a few mins later it literally felt like something was running on my back, it ran along my boyfriend’s too, I panicked and smacked along my back and there ya go, dead spider. The tiny body long legs one!!

I have to say though I do have the belief all lives have value. I completely let them be if I see them in the house. I don’t think it’s right to end the life of something because I’m a bit afraid of it. Maybe you can kindly relocate them to the bathroom!

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MyNewAccountx3@reddit

Sod that! I’m that scenario I’m biting the sheets! I hope there’s some good advice for you and me and I’m sorry that happened to you. New fear unlocked!

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skelly890@reddit

And there we have it. They mostly come at night. Mostly.

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PipalaShone@reddit

I think that it's more a question of addressing your arachnophobia than trying to have a spider-free house; I think it is impossible.

That said, I'm not remotely arachnophobic so I don't know how you would do it! Perhaps try hypnotherapy?

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Beautiful_Hour_4744@reddit

Get a cat

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KFlaps@reddit

The trick to having fewer big, zoomy house spiders is to increase the number chill, gangly cellar spiders (the ones with long, spindly legs that don't move very fast).

Despite their fragile looking nature, they'll rough a house spider up, but won't freak you out by running at you at ludicrous speed.

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autofill-name@reddit

Trouble is you have to supply the cellar spiders with fresh spiders to eat otherwise they starve and you get just normal spiders again..

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Jaded_Leg_46@reddit

Peppermint oil works well. Spiders use special receptors on their feet instead of a sense of smell and certain substances repell them.

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SpamJavelin00@reddit

Spiders made a noise ? I doubt it !! Leave tnem , they control flies etc. maybe tidy up cobwebs would encourage them to go - or clean up a little so there’s no flies around (which is what the spiders are after )

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-GuardPasser-@reddit

UK here. I keep windows shut, and only open ones that have a tight fitting bug mesh.

Hover regularly and don't allow little flies or bugs in the house. If I see them I hoover them.

Reduce clutter and hiding spaces. Go minimalist.

Fill all cracks and holes on plaster, around pipes, inside cupboards with silicon etc.

I'm sure I'll get one soon, but it's been a while

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TheButtonz@reddit

Mesh screens. Either build them (wooden frame, mesh and Velcro sticky tape) or buy custom ones.

Source: I live rurally and it’s bad here - but much better because of screens.

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FunGuyHan@reddit

We had this problem. Fly or bug spray around the edges of all the rooms soon sorted it out.

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Deviant-Oreo@reddit

Spiders are evil?

How and why are they evil?

They eat bugs and make webs.

Spiders contribute keep flies, mosquitoes and such in check.

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sjw_7@reddit

The most effective thing you can do is get some therapy to help you with your fear. You will never get rid of it but hopefully you can get it to the point that you can coexist with them and be able to evict them when you find one.

Sadly you are never going to be able to fully stop them coming into your house. You are doing lots of things to discourage them but also make sure you declutter as they like to hide.

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Street-Function-1507@reddit

You need cellar spiders. They eat the "Hairy Mc Scary" spiders.

Cellar spiders are the "supermodel" of the spider world. They have long, long legs, a tiny body and hang upside down in corners. Almost invisible. Non threatening because they don't really move. They trap and eat house spiders. We never have a single house spider in rooms where these are.

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AggravatingTwo9765@reddit

Cellar spiders is my choice too. And i hate spiders with a passion.

Saw a documentary on BBC, spider house i think it was called. They explained about cellar spiders and going forwards we accepted that our rooms would be better with a spindly in the corner, have left them alone for years and even though we still got the odd visiting GHS the numbers were nowhere near what we used to see.

Apart from last year. Our decorator wiped out the spindly population with a few well delivered splats and the pint glass and card were in use so much more after that because the population control had disappeared.

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Street-Function-1507@reddit

My old house had ivy, and the behemoths that used to invade my front room were stuff of legend, however no one believed me.

In fact one morning, my then bf took himself to the bathroom. I heard the light go on, a soft curse "f... that" and the light go off.

Over supper, he said "Did you see it?" "See what?" "The thing on the wash basin?" "No.... "

He'd gone in, and apparently a Giant House spider was sitting on the basin. He told me it was 8/10" across leg to leg and the body the size of his thumb. Even he didn't hang around!

We removed the ivy that weekend. Readers, it was alive.......... 😂

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Plenty_Suspect_3446@reddit

Reduce their available food. No flys, less spiders. Close windows during the day. Don't leave lights on with windows open at night.

Then get a partner who isn't afraid of them and will remove or kill them for you. Or get your kids to do it.

Eradicating house spiders isn't possible just work to make them avoid your spaces.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

If I close the window during the day, the window is always closed. I refuse to open it during the night

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Apprehensive_End8318@reddit

Same as me, although I have taken to opening the doors for a few hours in the morning to try and cool the house a bit.

I recommend a handheld Dyson (or budget equivalent), I suck them up and then release outside.

But I also get Devil's Coach Horse Beetles wandering into my house once or twice a year. Then the extension pole is going on the Dyson too, not getting remotely close to those things.

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dimap443@reddit

Spiders are our allies in fighting against flies and mosquitoes

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Embarrassed_Park2212@reddit

I got a door net for my back door and I used to have the mosquito net on my windows. Hardly any spiders with those or it's the cat that's eating them. But I definitely have seen less.

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happyhippohats@reddit

Spiders are pure evil

There's your problem, spiders are just trying to get along and survive just like us. They're not 'evil'. Very few species in the UK are venemous and even the few that are won't kill you.

I get it if you have a phobia, but if you are able to change your feelings on them they won't bother you anymore.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Can they get along and survive somewhere that isn't my bedroom?

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AxeWieldingWoodElf@reddit

I talk to them and make bargains. I tell them to stay out of sight or they’ll end up dead or out of here. And sometimes I catch a sight and I’ll say, you know the deal! That’s your final warning! The cellar spiders I have allowed to stay because they stay in one place or move slowly and I discovered they eat the big, scarier house spiders.

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HarryPopperSC@reddit

The other benefit of spiders is that they eat a Lot of other bugs and nasty things.

So they protect you in that way, kind of.

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RobertFellucci@reddit

Spider get way too much bad press. I would suggest, instead of trying to find out how to stop them, watch some videos and learn about them. Maybe then you'll feel a little more comfortable with them.

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TanjoCards@reddit

Do they? Have you read the comments?

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Spider propaganda

I really don't want to watch videos about them. They scare me. They have never not scared me. It won't change that

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howmuchiswhere@reddit

+1 if anything it will act as exposure therapy.

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doegrey@reddit

Get a spider catcher off Amazon with along arm. Then you can safely pick it up, take it outside and release it without getting too close.

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Gwenfrewy@reddit

I was terrified of spiders too. Now after therapy I just hate them. I didn't find anything that worked other than a hoover or putting them out. Eventually I got fewer and fewer coming in. I just wanted to say I understand.

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IansGotNothingLeft@reddit

I think going to the root of the problem is the best solution. And the problem is you. I don't mean that as an insult. You can't control spiders but you can try to control yourself, and that would start with some therapy. If you have a crippling phobia of something, it's best to address that phobia rather than trying to eliminate the thing you're frightened of.

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Atlantean_Raccoon@reddit

Time for a brief Feline public safety announcement: If you (or anyone else reading this looking for a spider preventer) have cats then please do not try peppermint, especially in essential oil form. Whilst it is minorly effective in deterring spiders, even if a cat ingests or inhales a small amount it can cause significant health risks and can lead to digestive issues, liver damage and even death.

We are not in Australia or the Amazon, you have absolutely nothing to fear here because all of our native species of spider are harmless. Most go out of their way not to bite us and in the rare cases they do (nearly always defensively) even our most venomous species, the Noble False Widow's venom is nothing to be concerned about (they are shy and massively prefer to hide from us rather than bite anyway).

They really are not evil either, they are just peculiar little animals who have been scurrying around for well over 200 million years before the emergence of the first dinosaur that live rent free in the lizard part of our brains who catch, kill and eat potentially disease carrying vermin like flies. I'd much rather get a jump scare from a completely harmless giant house spider than the shits off a fly after it lands on my food, that makes them allies in my book.

It's pretty tricky to get rid of them completely, but many of the spiders you are seeing are making their way outdoors on their own, spring coupled with the recent heat wave is luring them outside for the summer so things should calm down soon on their own.

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Opposite_Funny9958@reddit

Spiders eat the insects that would otherwise eat the food we grow - the food we need to live, that stuff. Spiders are not evil. Find a good therapist who specialises in phobias and anxiety and go and see them.

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Mrslinkydragon@reddit

You cant, they are innevetible!

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sugarsnapsea@reddit

I'm a fellow spider hater, yes yes I know they can't hurt you ect. I'm also terrified so if they come out, they have to go.

I spray my house with a diluted peppermint spray.

Then to get rid of them, Nippon crawling insect spray. Acts super quickly, I always keep a backup. I live next to farmland so get all sorts sauntering through the house.

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Grabbysticks@reddit

You need to deep clean every room which will also remove webs & nests. Look again at night with a light to see if you have missed any webs. Then, you want to plug all of the gaps where the spiders are getting in.

Keeping up the vacuuming (daily) will really reduce the amount of bugs going forward.

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meowcatpanda@reddit

Spider repellant spray from amazon, that smells like peppermint, keeps them away from the areas I don't want them in for weeks, if not months! I am PETRIFIED of spiders, but they love living in our flat, so we have a deal: live in the corners I don't go lol. So I spray the wall by my desk and by my bed, the ceiling by my bed, and the areas in the bathroom I use most and I tend to not see a spider for ages after I do that. I do have to leave the room for a few hours afterwards though and be careful if you have cats cause peppermint is incredibly toxic to them, so keep them out of the room for a while after spraying as well!

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Polythene_pams_bag@reddit

A few drops of Peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle of water really does help!

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glytxh@reddit

They’re more pleasant to have around than whatever they’re eating.

Make your peace with them. They’re friends.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

Not if they're going to jump me while I'm trying to sleep

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glytxh@reddit

I once found a centipede in my bed after feeling something tickle my forehead.

I’m assuming you felt a similar sense of panic. I can sympathise.

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briergate@reddit

I was once drifting asleep and felt a bit pleasant tickle on my inner thigh. I let it carry on for a bit until common sense kicked in. Leaped out of bed and turned the light on. It was a massive brown cockroach. I felt defiled 🤣

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Sea_Director_4439@reddit

You must make an offering to the King of spiders

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weirdhoney216@reddit

I’m terrified of spiders. I get that it’s an irrational fear, but I’m sick to death of hearing “they’re more scared of you than you are of them!” “They can’t hurt you” “they eat bugs” mate I don’t care, I’d set the lot of them on fire. I hate them. If anyone wants to pay for my therapy I’ll send you my PayPal

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No-Sandwich1511@reddit

Peppermint

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Apart-Cream-4940@reddit

I'm scared of spiders too. Your best bet is to bite the bullet and have them come spray

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nithanielgarro@reddit

I don't hate spiders and they are always leaving their bum juice everywhere making it a pain to clean that sticky crap up that ruins my dusters.

Anyway I have had a problem with spiders making bum juice webs over my cctv cameras and on my car wing mirrors. I wanted a non lethal solution.

There's a company called Repell Shield that make a spider repellant spray that's mostly peppermint mixed with a few other things. It has worked so far.

I spray it on my wing mirrors after every wash and around my cctv cameras every spring and autumn and they've never come back.

I got it from amazon but since you don't trust that you can get it direct from their website.

But if your are scared of them for some reason this silly company puts a whopping great pic of a spider on the bottle which is really dumb because their target market is people who are scared of spiders.

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termeownator@reddit

"But spiders are good bugs, they eat other bugs you know" -some idiot

"Fuck that, I don't have an all-pervasive fear of 'other bugs', just spiders. Can't these 'other bugs' eat the spiders instead? I'd be okay with that."

"Did you know spiders are not actually insects, but arachnids? Insects have six legs, while arachnids' limbs are eight in number"

"Did you know fuck you?"

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lucylucylane@reddit

The uk is surprisingly spidery with some of the fastest spiders on earth

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

:(

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Knowbeard@reddit

Used to be deadly afraid of spiders. In the winter we’d stick them in the conservatory because the outside’d be bad for them. Once we encountered a monstrosity - too big to leave alone in the conservatory as we’d be terrified going in and out, but too impressive a creature to leave to the elements in the northern elements.

Decided we needed to keep it as a pet. Researched the habitat needed for ideal living space and put one together. Housemate had lizards so had plenty of crickets and mealworms to keep em fed. Organic unbleached cotton wool pads for the water.

Kept em nearish to the radiator so they didn’t get too cold, blanket for a day and night cycle.

Ended up laying eggs and dying, kids ate her. Most died (not sure what I did wrong). 4 survived so we named em after some of the rugrats and when they got big enough we rehomed em behind the fridge.

Not scared anymore can pick any up with my hands, fine with the idea they could run up my sleeves etc. been a game changer

TL;DR Nothing of note

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

With all due respect, I'm not doing that

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mtmp40k@reddit

Think about your weight in kilograms.

Visualise that number.

A spider weighs less than 20 grams.

You are thousands of times stronger & bigger.

Squish it - it get therapy if a ridiculous outmatch of species is making you the scared one in this matchup.

I mean- you versus spider - that’s like a nuclear weapon versus a trespasser.

You are the nuclear weapon.

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Far_Spirit5819@reddit

I believe you bring in a bird to catch a spider. How then to catch the bird…

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sparklychestnut@reddit

How absurd!

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

The bird doesn't need to be caught if it eats the spiders

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Mr_Reaper__@reddit

Indoor spiders have evolved to live in human structures for as long as we've been building structures. They know which corners an insect is most likely fly into and they set their webs up there and stay in cover waiting for a meal to fly in. If you disturb them or destroy their webs they will start to move around and end up closer to you. When left alone they tend to stay out of the way, plus they're territorial enough that no more than a few will be in a room at the same time before they start competing for food. All that is to say, if you leave them alone to get on they'll mostly do the same for you.

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Kitty-Gecko@reddit

I'm arachnophobic too so I understand. Imo you cannot truly keep them out. However, if you get a cellar spider in your house, leave him be, as he will eat the house spiders. They scare me a LOT less.

In terms of dealing with the fear, it used to be totally debilitating for me. A mix of anti anxiety meds and therapy have helped me a bit. But also I found myself less scared since watching fear destroy the life of someone I love, because I realised I didn't want that for me.

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gilwendeg@reddit

Get an appointment with a Human Givens therapist and deal with the phobia. I’ve seen it work. https://www.hgi.org.uk/discover/mental-health/trauma-ptsd-phobias/

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Cardabella@reddit

You can remove a spider safely without harming it and without touching it very easily with a cup and a piece of stuff card. Take it outside. It will find kore mosquitoes to eat and you can take a deep breath. Keep dedicated cup and card handy for future and put a screen over your window.

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BabyAlibi@reddit

I just go straight for the bug traps. I have a few around my bedroom as they used to like to join me at night while I was reading in the dark. It was terrifying! Not any more...

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GirlMcGirlface@reddit

I had a crazy fear of spiders that I didn't want to pass on to my kid. I joined spider pages on Facebook, desensitised myself to seeing them, learned all about them and how to identify them and it's almost cured me, I can even remove one with a glass now. I definitely recommend trying it, they are amazing creatures

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ancientspacewitch@reddit

Peppermint and citronella drops in a spray bottle with some water works well for me. Spray around windows and doors.

Not foolproof but it did reduce my unwanted visitors significantly.

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Pedantichrist@reddit

Spiders are wonderful friends.

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Chinateapott@reddit

Keep cellar spiders around, they eat everything, including bigger spiders, we have a few cellar spiders hanging around and very rarely get any big ones in nos.

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E_D_K_2@reddit

Giant house spiders being in my bedroom used to be a regular occurrence.

Now I can go a year without seeing them, after installing a bug screen on my window. So I can keep it open and let the air in and nothing else.

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glytxh@reddit

There’s a big old bastard living under my couch at the moment.

My cat is actually intimidated by it.

Cool guy. Think he’s a web developer. Keeps himself to himself.

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howmuchiswhere@reddit

i'm told spiders hate the smell of white vinegar, which is only really helpful if you don't also hate the smell of white vinegar.

which spiders are we talking about? wolf spiders (the big ones that are really fast, named after the thing they eat), cellar spiders (tiny dot bodies with huge skinny legs), orb weavers (small spiders with huge abdomens that mostly live outside and make huge webs) or false widows (tiny spiders that can really ruin your weekend but you don't even notice they're there half the time).

apart from regularly hoovering up cobwebs there's nothing much you can do. i'm not a fan of spiders either but hoovering the ceiling means i get fewer cellar spiders climbing down next to me. it's rare i see the big ones. they can be encouraged to go away quite easily. they really prefer not to be around people anyway.

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lemonhaj@reddit (OP)

I have no idea what kind of spider. A big brown one. I was too busy trying to get as far away from it as possible

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srm79@reddit

Raid for crawling insects - only thing guaranteed to work - use it on webs as well as where they get in. It kills them quickly so, it's more humane than hoovering them up or putting them outside

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Mavz-Billie-@reddit

Get a Dehumidifier

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Short-Shopping3197@reddit

Do you live in an older house? You want to jam up any gaps they can get through. In particular weather stripping in the gap between the skirting board and the floor, they crawl in through there a lot. Get a brush type draught excluder on the bottom of the door and leave it shut.

Also set some sticky roach traps around the edges of the floor to catch them, or moth pheromone traps if your spiders are large (the pheromone won’t do anything, you’re just using them as sticky traps).

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Comfortable-Pear-973@reddit

Peppermint oil works. I live in the countryside and tried many things to get rid of them. Now we just coexist and it’s cool. They eat the flies too so I can’t hate ‘em too much.

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decentlyfair@reddit

I live on a boat and I have hundreds of them but luckily they are teeny and they eat the teeny flies, so I let them get on with it. I hate big spiders though and so far there have been three that are big enough to wake my husband in the night with me screaming like a banshee. They got launched. I have never really had a spider issue before so I am in new territory so have no advice really.

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Eskyzoo@reddit

You have to marry someone who loves you enough to kill them all. And if they get the guilts, remind them that ticks are arachnids too, and that if spiders were our size and we were theirs, they would wrap us up in webby stuff, then liquify our insides before sucking our guts and brains out, slowly. Also, carry a can of gas and a lighter around with you. Practice with it. Your own personal flamethrower.

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daisyliight@reddit

Insect netting for sure on windows. Keeping cleaning habits up -> clutter = more hiding spots. Diatomaceous earth in theory would splice them up, so they probably will avoid crossing that powder I find essential oils don’t stick around long enough… you’d need to spray daily

I hate this method but desperate times from someone who’s terrified also and the big boys I cannot… I can’t get near and ffs they genuinely look at you and that makes me feel a mix of raw fear and guilt. Like one fully rotated its body to follow me around the room 😭 it’s a studio so I don’t have any other option here… Boil a kettle and aim good. It seems to kill them pretty instantly but yeah.. I hate to do this. It’s a last resort solution for me. I have purchased some raid (crawling insect spray) - the mosquito one is great - so time will tell with that.

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