Nothing makes me freak out like walking into a spider web heading into the kitchen for a midnight snack. It’s not even about the spider itself. Spiders can be helpful, sure, part of the whole ecosystem and bug control thing, and I certainly don’t hate spiders! I just don’t want them living rent-free in my house. So I began paying attention, actually trying to identify them and figure out what the heck to do about them without using a nuclear option or smashing every corner of my house.
Here are the ten usual suspects you are most likely to come upon inside, plus how I kept them out or evicted them.
American House Spider
Very tiny, brown, and produces messy webs in corners. You’ve seen them. Everybody has seen them before in their home. Typically hanging out near a window or hiding behind furniture where you don’t notice until the sun shines and dust reveals the web.
Threat level: harmless, unless you are a fly.
Removal: vacuum, a lot! Like every few days, not every six months. Also seal cracks around doors and windows (basic stuff). Create a consistent uninhabitable environment, and they will move on.
Cellar Spider (Daddy Long-Legs)
Legs ridiculously long and skinny, always seem to be lurking in the darkest corners. Basements, under sinks, way back in closets.
Threat level: zero.
Removal: broom or vacuum, easy peasy. But honestly, it’s really hard to move them if you have a disorganized basement. Cleaning is more helpful than you think.
Funnel Weaver | Hobo Spider
They fashion those huge, flat webs with a little tunnel off to the side. If you see that in your window corner or next to an outside vent, that’s what you have.
Threat level: looks worse than it is.
Solution: get rid of their food (bugs). Next, broom away the webs, seal gaps or cracks in walls, and if they stick around, use sticky traps.
Wolf Spider
They don’t do webs. Wolf spiders hunt. You’ll see them run across the floor or hiding in your garage. They are big, hairy, and can give you a fright, but they are not coming after you.
Threat level: looks worse than it is.
Solution: I use an old jar and a piece of paper, then release them outside. Sticky traps work well too, and sealing baseboards reduces the chances of them coming in.
Brown Recluse
Brown, secretive, and not something you want to mess with. They enjoy cardboard boxes, attics, and old closets.
Threat level: medium to high because their bites are serious.
Solution: sticky traps. Always wear gloves when lifting boxes. Keep storage areas clean. If you think you have a lot of them, call a professional—it isn’t worth the risk.
Black Widow / False Widow
Shiny black with an hourglass marking, usually hiding in undisturbed places like sheds or under patio furniture.
Threat level: real, if it’s a black widow.
Solution: gloves, sticky traps, possibly insecticidal dust, but really? Black widows are a call-pest-control situation. Don’t play hero.
Southern House Spider
Dark gray, black, and the males look like little tarantulas. Often found in sheds or garages.
Threat level: they look scary, but harmless.
Solution: vacuum the webs, close entry points, and reduce the insect population in your home. They won’t have a reason to return.
Giant House Spider / Domestic House Spider
Big legs, fast, and for some reason love bathtubs. Or running across the floor when you’re least prepared.
Threat level: harmless, but they win the jump scare category.
Solution: vacuum, sticky traps, and sealing baseboards. Reduce nighttime lights to attract fewer bugs and you’ll attract fewer spiders.
Yellow Sac Spider
Pale yellowish-tan, crawling on walls or ceilings at night. During the day they hide in tiny silk sacs in corners.
Threat level: mild to moderate. Bites create little red spots or lesions.
Solution: remove the silk sacs, clean the corners. Peppermint spray works. Remove clutter for fewer hiding places.
Orb Weaver / Spotted Orbweaver
The cool ones with the big circular webs. Typically outside, but can be seen near windows and doors.
Threat level: none. Harmless, and even fun to watch.
Solution: take down the webs at night when they’re busy. Trim plants and reduce lights that attract their food.
My Go-to Spider Prevention
After several run-ins, I’ve got a system. Perfect? No. Manageable? Yes.
- Seal every opening: doors, windows, baseboards—wherever light comes through. I once found one fitting in next to a pipe. Never again.
- Vacuum weekly: not just floors, but ceilings, corners, and behind couches. They want solitude, so clean it out.
- Switch outside lights to yellow, or keep them dim to avoid drawing bugs.
- Essential oils: peppermint mixed with water spray. Eucalyptus works too.
- Declutter: old cardboard boxes, piles of clothes? Spider hotels. Toss or store properly.
- Sticky traps: useful just to see what’s wandering the neighborhood.
- Trim bushes and plants away from the house—they’re basically spider launch pads.
I never wanted to be this person who knows so much about spiders. But here we are. If you don’t want to deal with them, prevention is your best bet: cleaning, sealing, and checking corners often. And if you don’t know for sure what you’re looking at, don’t put a hand on it. Take a photo, look it up online, or call someone you trust who knows.
What I learned is that ignoring them does not make them go away. It just means one day you’ll realize they threw a party in your house you didn’t want.
