This issue is ongoing for around 1 and half years when me and my husband moved in to our beautiful house which now for me feels like a nightmare.

When we first bought the property we renovated and moved in a year later and I didn't notice that there were so many spiders that come into the property.

Once I moved in especially the summertime when we had the windows and doors open for the property I noticed spiders entering inside it used to be a lot in one day and this wasn't normal – in every room I would find a spider and I'm so terrified by spiders I felt so paranoid all the time.

My back garden is big and loads of trees and grass and bushes and we had some work done to the garden which made more spiders enter the property due to disturbing them, the work we did was cutting the grass and maintaining. Even a year later from doing the work we still get spiders and I know that our garden that's not been maintained takes a big part because there is loads of grass and trees and looks messy which spiders love

I have tried doing internal things like removing any webs filling in any gaps and cracks in walls and floors I now keep the windows and doors shut. I'm getting so paranoid and scared that I even sleep with my hand over my mouth even when I sit on the sofa I have to look around and pick the pillows up in case there is any spiders lurking around. I can't even lie down on my sofa and feel relaxed because I'm always looking on the floor and walls. Every time I enter my house I'm constantly looking around and I'm so sick and tired of this and I feel like moving out.

Can someone please help me get my life together please?

Have you put down an insecticide barrier at least 3-5 feet wide around the perimeter of the house? (that may need to be done more than once a season) I'm assuming you have screens on your windows and screen doors on the outside of the house and they fit properly.

What state and country are you located... some places are going to have more or less likelihood , as well as different types. Some would be of greater concern than others.

Also are most of these a specific type of spider, or a general mix.

Trust me I understand your anxiety.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smoothy

Have you put down an insecticide barrier at least 3-5 feet wide around the perimeter of the house? (that may need to be done more than once a season) I'm assuming you have screens on your windows and screen doors on the outside of the house and they fit properly.

What state and country are you located... some places are going to have more or less likelihood , as well as different types. Some would be of greater concern than others.

Also are most of these a specific type of spider, or a general mix.

Trust me I understand your anxiety.

---

I have used spray around my doors and windows of my property but nothing else and what would you recommend? Yep the screens work well I live in Warwickshire in a build up area.

The spiders are the same quite big black and thick they look like garden spiders but there everyway my husband doesn't understand how I feel

OK, you are in England... You might not have the same access to or same types of insecticides or the same brands I would have in the USA so I will avoid any name brands I might use then. I don't work in pest control, but I also had similar issues due to the amount of green space around my house. Which seems to be under control so far, but it did take a very proactive approach to work.

Sprays are great as they are effective immediately... but they lose effectiveness quicker. A granule type usually has a slower release and lasts longer but until the rain distributes it enough , its not incredibly effective right away. I like to use both. I don't slack off during the fall, as they like to move indoors when the nights start getting cooler, but I also start in the spring before it really gets warm because they will start getting active around then.

If you have large areas of grass around your house... I would also use a granual type signifficantly further out into the grass than the meter or two where I would put it heavier around the house, maybe as much as 3 or 4 meters. I don't use it on my entire yard as they do serve a function of controlling other pests, Like you I just don't want them in my house.

If you have any pets, you would need to be significantly more selective and careful in your use. As well as if you have small children that might play in the grass.

Pets walk in it, and as you would hav enoticed...pets lick their paws.....smiliar issues with chilren...they end up getting it on their hands, kids hands always end up in and around their mouths..and they never wash their hands frequently enough.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smoothy

OK, you are in England... You might not have the same access to or same types of insecticides or the same brands I would have in the USA so I will avoid any name brands I might use then. I don't work in pest control, but I also had similar issues due to the amount of green space around my house. Which seems to be under control so far, but it did take a very proactive approach to work.

Sprays are great as they are effective immediately... but they lose effectiveness quicker. A granule type usually has a slower release and lasts longer but until the rain distributes it enough , its not incredibly effective right away. I like to use both. I don't slack off during the fall, as they like to move indoors when the nights start getting cooler, but I also start in the spring before it really gets warm because they will start getting active around then.

If you have large areas of grass around your house... I would also use a granual type signifficantly further out into the grass than the meter or two where I would put it heavier around the house, maybe as much as 3 or 4 meters. I don't use it on my entire yard as they do serve a function of controlling other pests, Like you I just don't want them in my house.

If you have any pets, you would need to be significantly more selective and careful in your use. As well as if you have small children that might play in the grass.

Pets walk in it, and as you would hav enoticed...pets lick their paws.....smiliar issues with chilren...they end up getting it on their hands, kids hands always end up in and around their mouths..and they never wash their hands frequently enough.

---

Yes sorry I'm in England - I will have a look for graunal product on the net see what I can find - how much do I need to distubite? And would you say around the whole house? Do you think a Pest exterminator will help me?

A pest exterminator would probibly have access to far better pesticides than you would, and should know how to use it more effectively... but it will cost more, and you need to do this every year creating a significant expense over time if that's an issue like it might be for many of us.

However...for significant infestations....an exterminator might be the best option at first...and you taking care of maintaining it once its under control.

As far as how much to use... you would have to follow the directions on the package. They won't all be the same. While its discouraged to do... I use 2 or 3 times that much close to the house but follow the directions for the area further out.

Yes you would do it all around the house where you you have grass, or decorative landscaping. I'd spray any paved surfaces near any doorways or entries, like a garage door maybe once a month or so, because rain will wash it away far quicker from that type of surface.

I still have to keep a watch for things like ants that somehow still manage to cause problems despite the insecicide use which is a broad spectrum type. That still needs special treatment when and where I discover any ant trails on the foundation of my house.

While this might not need saying to you.....we have no idea who else might read this post at some point, you do have to be careful handling these products yourself. Not spraying on windy days, wear gloves and wash hands well afterwards.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by smoothy

A pest exterminator would probibly have access to far better pesticides than you would, and should know how to use it more effectively... but it will cost more, and you need to do this every year creating a significant expense over time if that's an issue like it might be for many of us.

However...for significant infestations....an exterminator might be the best option at first...and you taking care of maintaining it once its under control.

As far as how much to use... you would have to follow the directions on the package. They won't all be the same. While its discouraged to do... I use 2 or 3 times that much close to the house but follow the directions for the area further out.

Yes you would do it all around the house where you you have grass, or decorative landscaping. I'd spray any paved surfaces near any doorways or entries, like a garage door maybe once a month or so, because rain will wash it away far quicker from that type of surface.

I still have to keep a watch for things like ants that somehow still manage to cause problems despite the insecicide use which is a broad spectrum type. That still needs special treatment when and where I discover any ant trails on the foundation of my house.

While this might not need saying to you.....we have no idea who else might read this post at some point, you do have to be careful handling these products yourself. Not spraying on windy days, wear gloves and wash hands well afterwards.

---

Thank-you so much for the information you have been a really help

Thanks

I can't help you in getting rid of them, it's not what I do. I understand your fear, though I don't agree with it. Many people fear spiders and for the most part, there is no reason to. They are actually amazing creatures but anyway.... I wanted to tell you that the majority of spiders are not harmful to humans. If you are worried about this, then you are probably worrying for nothing. However, if you are simply creeped out because they are spiders, then there isn't much you're going to be able to do to get over that. Just realize, they are not out to get you. They are not stalking you. In fact, they probably can't even see you. Most spiders have terrible eye sight.

You are welcome.

HiThey must be nice creatures but they just freak me out everything about them just the thought of them crawling on your body makes me sick to my stomach - even thinking about me makes me shiverI would love not be freaked out and I have even thought about Hypnotising that's how I feel about spiders and how they have over took my life

Where I live we have a lot of what are called Wolf spiders... hairy brown spiders that are easily 2.5 cm across, sometimes larger outside in the yard where you won't see them easily usually.

When you are laying on the carpeted floor watching TV in your bare feet and one of those runs out from under the TV cabinet not far away from you... it freaks me out.. and I'm a 53 year old man that doesn't scare easily..

But we also do have one called a brown recluse, and a bite from one of those can cause significant problems... I honesty would not know that one type from a wolf spider, I 'v enever seen them side by side. (I've only seen pictures of a Brown recluse, don't know if I've ever actually seen one of them) The really tiny little types don't bother me, though I would still be swatting them off me nor do the daddy long legs types. We also have Black Widow spiders but those are generally not the type that would be running across the floor and they are much smaller. THose are also dangerous in some cases.

You would likely have different types than I have. I am not familiar with any common to the UK.

Brown Recluse are actually fairly small. They have also been made out to be much worse than they really are. I have seen studies that indicate that most will dry bite. The ones that do inject, only a small percentage of people react to that venom in the way that has become so famous.

Widows...not really dangerous unless you are in poor health. They have a nasty bite but it usually won't kill you. My mother has a nest of them in her chicken coops out in AZ. I was amazed when I went out there and I saw this. I have pictures of them...I was all giddy like a little kid. lol

But anyway, to the OP...Like I said, I understand the fear, but don't agree with it. I know in many people, it is just something that you can't get past. I have tarantulas and when my daughter was young, I tried to get her used to them by showing them to her and making her understand that spiders aren't really evil. She's 13 now and still scared of spiders. Some people seem to just be born with it and there isn't much you can do.

Hmmm, a good bit to go over here. First, you have a bit of arachnophobia. This is not uncommon. They even made a cheesy movie about it in the nineties.

Secondly, you do seem to have a very popular (to spiders) garden. You will need to apply pesticides to reduce the population to something you can live with. In the U.K., Home Defense products are supposedly available to the public. I, too, am in the U.S. so I will have to address your issues on only general terms. Smoothy was correct in recommending a wide band of insecticide around your home. The granular insecticides will dissolve into the soil, thereby giving longer term control. For spiders, additional applications of liquid sprays around all, make that ALL, entry points on a regular basis will be needed. Entry points are much more than just doors and windows. Vents, dormers, electric, gas, and water lines can all provide an entry for Ms. Spider.

One of the main advantages to hiring a professional exterminator is they can provide the regular intervals needed to prevent the chemicals from losing effectiveness. Additionally, they are trained to apply pesticides in a safe manner to minimize exposure to pets, children, and other non-target organisms. If your phobia is as debilitating as you have indicated here, a professional might be your best bet, if only so you have someone to phone when you see one.