If you live in Singapore, you’ve likely experienced that dreaded feeling of crossing paths with an unwanted spider in your house.
So, here’s our guide on how to get rid of spiders safely from your home.
While most spiders aren’t poisonous, you probably don’t want to find them in your shoes or the kitchen pantry.
So, what can you do to get rid of spiders in your home?
We asked pest removal expert Chris Voyce from Easy Pest Supplies for his top tips on how to safely remove spiders from the home.
Spiders are an important part of the natural environment but can be dangerous. Picture: Aaron Burden/Unsplash
When you should remove spiders
Most people aren’t a fan of spiders, and some are even arachnophobic.
However, Chris advises that they play a very important role in our ecosystem, by acting as a natural deterrent and control for other pests.
It’s important that when removing spiders, you only kill poisonous spiders that may cause harm to you, your loved ones and pets – as other spiders are a vital part of the environment.
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How to get rid of spiders safely
Before removing spiders, determine whether the spider is poisonous or not. Chris says that as a general rule of thumb, most spiders with wheel-shaped webs are not poisonous.
Poisonous ones, on the other hand, weave “messy webs under eaves, in the corners of windows [and] behind pot plants”.
Once you’ve determined whether the spider is dangerous, you can proceed with removing it safely.
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How to remove non-poisonous spiders
Method 1
Step 1. Grab a thick piece of paper and a container/cup.
Step 2. Place cup over spider and slide paper underneath.
Use the paper and cup method with non-poisonous spiders only. Picture: Getty
Step 3. Carry the spider outside, and let it free.
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Method 2
Step 1. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any webs from eaves and windows.
Step 2. Release any harmless spiders into your garden using the method above.
How to get rid of dangerous spiders
Step 1. Spray an insecticide or crawling insect spray onto any webs, nests, or poisonous spiders.
Step 2. After spraying, leave the webs for a few days. Spiders may hide while you’re spraying their webs and not actually be affected by the insecticide until later when they will reform the web and ingest the insecticide.
Step 3. Remove the web with a broom.
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What to look out for
Once you’ve removed the spiders safely, there are some measures you can take to ensure you’re not putting yourself at risk of being bitten by spiders or bringing unwanted creepy crawlies inside.
Chris gives shares his tips:
Before getting dressed
Before getting dressed in the morning, make sure you shake footwear and clothing that have been left outdoors.
This will prevent any nasty surprises when you put your shoes or coat on. This is particularly important in summer and autumn.
Bringing items inside
If you’ve left toys, clothes, or shoes outside at night, make sure you inspect them before bringing them inside. Be careful when you do this.
What to do if you’ve been bitten
If, despite your best efforts, you’ve been bitten by a spider, seek urgent medical attention. Chris also adds that it’s very important to identify the spider correctly, too, as this will help with the treatment you receive.
Article repurposed from How to get rid of spiders safely from your home by Erin Morris. Author at realestate.com.au.
