As the weather cools in autumn, spiders often begin making their way into our homes in search of warmth and shelter. While some people may welcome these eight-legged visitors for the natural pest control they provide, many others panic at the sight of them. In fact, according to Christine Rollard, a spider expert at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, about 40% of French people react with fear when they encounter a spider. This fear has led to a popular solution over the years: vacuuming them up.

However, this is where many of us are making a big mistake. While vacuuming a spider might seem like a quick and easy way to deal with it, it’s not as effective as you might think. In fact, you could end up making the situation worse. Here’s why you should reconsider this method, and what you can do instead to manage spiders in your home.

Why Vacuuming Spiders Isn’t the Solution

At first glance, the vacuum seems like the perfect tool to remove a spider. You turn it on, suck up the creature, and the problem is gone, right? Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Vacuuming spiders may not kill them, and even if they do die, it doesn’t guarantee that they won’t come back or that you’ve solved the issue entirely.

Some spiders do perish in the vacuum due to the powerful suction or suffocation from dust, but others manage to survive. Inside your vacuum cleaner, whether it’s a bag or a canister, a spider can find an ideal environment to thrive. They can feed on food crumbs or particles that are often left behind after vacuuming. These tiny bits of food provide sustenance, allowing the spider to survive even after being trapped inside the vacuum.

The Survival Instinct of Spiders

Even without food, spiders are incredibly resilient creatures. Swedish arachnologist Kajsa Mellbrand explains that a healthy spider can live for up to 200 days without eating, relying on its stored energy. This means that vacuuming them doesn’t guarantee their death—it may only put them in a survival state. Moreover, once inside your vacuum, the spider can escape by following the light at the end of the hose. In a matter of days or even hours, it could find its way back into your home.

Why Spiders Are Actually Beneficial

While many of us may want to remove spiders from our homes, it’s important to recognize that they play a crucial role in the ecosystem. Spiders are natural predators of common household pests such as flies, mosquitoes, and gnats. By keeping these insects in check, spiders contribute to a healthier living environment. In other words, having a few spiders around can actually reduce the presence of other unwanted bugs in your home.

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Killing spiders not only removes these natural pest controllers but also disrupts the delicate balance of your indoor ecosystem. For those who still feel uneasy about sharing their space with spiders, there’s good news: you can relocate them safely and humanely without harming them or your home’s environment.

A Humane and Eco-Friendly Method for Dealing with Spiders

If you find a spider in your home and want to remove it, there’s a simple, eco-friendly way to do so that won’t harm the creature. All you need is a glass and a piece of paper:

1. Get a Glass and Paper: Gather a regular drinking glass and a piece of sturdy paper.
2. Capture the Spider: Slowly approach the spider and carefully place the glass over it, trapping it inside.
3. Slide the Paper Underneath: Once the spider is safely contained in the glass, gently slide the paper underneath it. Make sure to move slowly to avoid harming the spider.
4. Release It Outdoors: Carry the glass and paper to the nearest exit and release the spider outside, away from your home. This gives the spider a chance to continue its life in its natural habitat while keeping your home spider-free.

Long-Term Strategies to Manage Spiders

In addition to removing individual spiders humanely, there are a few preventative measures you can take to reduce the chances of them entering your home:

• Seal Entry Points: Check windows, doors, and any cracks or gaps in your home’s foundation. Sealing these entry points can help keep spiders—and other insects—out.
• Reduce Clutter: Spiders love dark, undisturbed areas, so reducing clutter in your home, especially in basements, attics, and storage areas, can make it less appealing to them.
• Clean Regularly: Vacuuming and dusting regularly helps remove not only food crumbs but also the webs that spiders build to catch prey. By keeping your home clean, you reduce the food sources that attract both spiders and the insects they feed on.
• Use Natural Repellents: Certain essential oils, such as peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender, can act as natural spider repellents. Spraying these oils around windows, doors, and other potential entry points can help deter spiders from entering your home.

Conclusion

Vacuuming spiders may seem like a quick fix, but it’s often ineffective and may even backfire. These resilient creatures can survive in the vacuum cleaner, feeding on leftover crumbs and eventually finding their way back into your living space. Instead of using the vacuum, consider using a humane and environmentally friendly approach to remove them from your home. Spiders play a vital role in controlling pest populations, so it’s worth giving them a second chance outdoors.

By using a glass and paper to capture and release spiders, you not only avoid the pitfalls of vacuuming but also maintain the natural balance in your home. With some preventative measures and a bit of patience, you can manage spiders in a way that is safe for both you and the ecosystem.