Spider Killing

[ncfireman1918]

Backstory - I've been working on my 1965 Chevy II recently. Last week I went into the garage to do some work, and noticed a couple spider webs under the car. Not that big a deal, until I saw the occupants of those webs. Two decent size black widows. Now, spiders are not my favorite creature, but I can usually deal with them, except when they are either black widows, or brown recluses. They creep me out (for no really good reason). I broke out some bug spray, and quickly dispatched both of them.

Fast forward a week - Didn't really think too much about it until this morning, when I walked over to the car, and noticed a bunch of little reddish brown spots. When I looked closer, I realized there were a BUNCH of baby spiders (spiderlings is the proper term, I believe). I looked up pictures of black widow spiderlings online, and that is exactly what I had. I'll admit that it was probably on more than a hundred of them, but in my head it was thousands (back to the whole "don't like spiders" thing). I needed a good way to get rid of them, as I didn't want to deal with a bunch of mature ones in a few months. I couldn't just spray a bunch of aerosol spider killer on them, because they were all over the paint on the trunk, on the back glass, and were on the cowl and windshield area. I didn't want to just vacuum them up with my shop vac, because I didn't want a bunch of spiders hanging out in the vacuum. Then the solution hit me.

The solution - I grabbed an old pair of my dress socks (looked for some tights or pantyhose, but my wife has not torn any recently). I removed the hose from the hard plastic tube on the shop vac, and put the sock over the hose. Then I stuck the hard plastic tube back on, basically creating a filter in the tube. I started sucking those little bastards up, until my suction dropped (there was web and some other **** going in as well). At that point, I left the vacuum on, to keep suction, and sprayed my aerosol spider killer into the end of the tube. Basically created a spider gas chamber. I shut the vac down, took the hard tube off, and moved the sock to a clean section, and started over. It worked well, and really quickly, so I figured I would share. On pretty much any other surface, I would have just let them have the spray, but this worked very well on a surface where I didn't want the chemicals to come into contact.

 

[Steevo]

Genius!
I am logging that one for future use.

 

[Zeke]

Pretty good. I'm glad you didn't simply vacuum them up and follow up with a flammable bug spray. Can you say BOOOOM!?

 

[John in OH]

I'm right with you on not liking spiders! Even the typical house spiders and garden spiders aren't welcome in my house or lawn.

I've has some success using the bug bombs that you can buy at Lowes, Walmart or just about any hardware store. The directions usually say to use only one per room, but in my garage I usually set off two or three at a time to make sure I really gas the suckers! Typically gets most of the spiders and just about every other creepy crawly in the shop.

Make sure you follow the directions about staying out of the gassed space for several hours and then airing out well before reentry.

 

[Altec]

If I found hundreds of black widows in my truck, it'd be pushed to a open area and burned to the ground with used motor oil!

Can't stand spiders... Always keep a can of brake clean around...

 

[smallbloc]

Cars left in garages or outside here come with black widows . Before I work under them, suspension, brakes, trans, etc., I just roll around the car on a creeper with a torch and burn them out. They hide in wheelwells, frames, control arms, etc.
THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT

 

[Bull]

Two decent size black widows. Now, spiders are not my favorite creature, but I can usually deal with them, except when they are either black widows, or brown recluses. They creep me out (for no really good reason). I broke out some bug spray, and quickly dispatched both of them.

No good reason? The necrotic effects of a Recluse's bite, or the poison of the Widow and whatever it does to your body, seem like really good reasons to me!

I am actually surprised that you didn't have trouble with your method, because of what Milt mentioned. You were spraying flammable aerosol into the running vacuum? Must be the sock was trapping it all...?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Both my daughter and her 6'4" LEO really don't like spiders and their garage has a lot of them. Daddy to the rescue !

Go to HD or Lowes and buy a 6 pack of bug "bombs". They are aerosol cans that you open up and they empty their contents. I used 2 in a 1.5 car garage. Make certain all of the doors and windows are closed and stay out probably until the next day.

The results were effective for about 3-4 months.

Got lots of bugs outside ? Those propane foggers are effective, even on mosquitoes.

 

[Torque1st]

At that point, I left the vacuum on, to keep suction, and sprayed my aerosol spider killer into the end of the tube. Basically created a spider gas chamber. I shut the vac down, took the hard tube off, and moved the sock to a clean section, and started over.

Milt mentioned it before but this could have been a BIG BOMB! Complete with pissed off dying spiders as shrapnel.

 

[mmhouse]

FWIW we don't have Black Widows or Brown Recluses here but we have LOTS of spiders. A couple of years ago I purchased some good concrete caulk and filled the crack between the slab and stem wall for the full perimeter of the garage. I then sprayed both that joint and the joint between the wall and ceiling for the full perimeter with Ortho Home Defense. I now clean the garage and re-spray it once or twice a year and the number of spiders and bugs has been reduced to almost none.

 

[dlenkewich]

I've not had to deal with Widows, and don't run into brown recluse, much if ever.

I don't like spider's either, but when it comes right down to it they are one of the good insect's to have around. They get a bad rap because they're ugly and freakishly fast.

I've witnessed 3 batches of 'spiderlings'? hatch this year. Gross, but actually quite interesting at the same time. The only time I didn't care for them was last week when some must have hatched on the roof of the camper, they were spider-manning through the roof vent's, coming right through the screen. I'd kill the ones I saw and more would just keep zip-lining down like it was an SWAT raid.

I always killed spiders until I bought the farm and have had to deal with ticks. I'll take spider's thank you very much. Atleast they just get in the way but aren't out to get you, unlike a tick which will actively seek out it's host.

 

[BackTracker]

<------- Moved to Hawaii. Very. Few. Bugs.


But when the roaches become an issue I bomb the hell of the place with those foggers mentioned above.

 

[D.J.]

Guys you can also use a product called Tempo and it can be purchased in a small size that you mix with 2 gal of water perfect for mixing up in a 2 gal pump sprayer and is non flammable unsure if it can be sprayed directly onto painted surfaces though. As always read and follow all label directions as it is the law.

 

[DoyleDee]

I can't stand spiders either......but they are everywhere. If you take a 3watt led mag light (the AA version) and place it near your chin, at night you will see what you "think" are water droplets.....even the smallest ones "light" up.....kinda freaky when I first saw it. And with that....I know some of y'all will love me........(sorry in advance)

 

[dB*R]

Cars left in garages or outside here come with black widows . Before I work under them, suspension, brakes, trans, etc., I just roll around the car on a creeper with a torch and burn them out. They hide in wheelwells, frames, control arms, etc.
THEY ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT

I'm glad I'm not the only one doing this...My friends always give me a funny stare when I go to grab the "bug" spray and come back with the propane torch. Quick and effective.

 

[mackrmnn]

I've noticed a huge increase in the number of spiders in my garage in the past two weeks. Is it some kind of spider mating season right now?

 

[4BT]

I've always had good luck killing off black widows (or any spiders) with the aerosol paint/oil can and a lighter in a pole barn I used to store projects. Removes the spider's legs and web instantly. My dad has been bitten in the face twice by a brown recluse. The first time required an IV of antivenin 2x a day for a few weeks. bad stuff if untreated immediately.

 

[ScaldedDog]

I've noticed a huge increase in the number of spiders in my garage in the past two weeks. Is it some kind of spider mating season right now?

August ***** for these things around here. I'm not sure why.

Mark

 

[ncfireman1918]

Some funny responses here. I am certainly aware that there may be some fire hazard, but the spray I was using lists no flammibility precautions. It does not use butane or other flammible gas as a propellant, so I was not too concerned. If I had some Demon WP, or some Viper, I would have used that instead. I have been bitten by a recluse on my stomach of all places, and that hurt like a ***** for about a year. I keep getting involuntary shivers, thinking about the two adults, and all the babies. I have a wife, a curious 3 year old, and a dog, and I like them all, so the spiders got to go!

 

[diggerrick]

I use the disposable drywall dust bags in my shop-vac, then put it in a plastic trash bag and spray it.

 

[Will67]

Ortho home defense sprayed all along exterior of home and around every soffit and crawl space vent opening. No spiders no more damn cobwebs to clean off the stucco

 

[rippered]

The shop vac trick works well with bee's also. Normally I would not care but they tried to move into the wall of my shop. So I sucked them out, it was kind of fun. Sounded like an airsoft gun.

 

[Ram]

Also have had issues with Black Widows this year. From hub cap found along side the road that I'd thought that I lost. Found two webs on my front door step, and several around the hot tub out back. Don't even want to go near my truck that has sat 4years and need to get back running again.

Called exterminators they handle the bugs.

 

[Full Size 66]

We do have recluses here in the PNW. No B widows though. There are a number of spiders here that are not fun to get bit by. I was under the impression we did not have many bad spiders but My Doc says there are a half dozen or more with varying side affects from bites, just not death. Yeah!

 

[Greatbear]

A heat gun can take care of errant insects quite nicely.

 

[ImportTuner]

I've noticed a huge increase in the number of spiders in my garage in the past two weeks. Is it some kind of spider mating season right now?

I've seen the same thing .. I've used brake cleaner on them, my mapp gas torch with instant ignite, bounce (does not seem to work), and spider spray I bought at OSH. They've made cob webs all over the spider spray bottle ...

 

[Junkman]

Sprinkle boric acid powder around the garage. When the spiders walk through the powder, they get it on their feet. When the spider cleans itself, like other insects, it runs its feet through its mouth, and it will ingest the powder, and it will kill the insect. It is also safe around children, pets, and wives, unless they ingest large amounts.

 

[sellersrodshop]

the raid "concentrated" deep reach foggers work great! we stay overrun with brown recluses here & it was REALLY bad last year after the big flood in may. we didn't get flooded, but the houses behind us, across the street from us & a half block down beside us were about 4 feet under water. seems as if all the spiders headed to dry ground & ended up here at my place. they were coming in thru the a/c vents, up the bathtub & shower drains & even found them in the bed a couple times. the shop was even worse, you didn't open a box or pick anything up without jarring or kicking it first. the raid foggers cured that for about 3 months.


i found this one hiding in a crate i ship motorcycle parts in. he was waiting for me to put my hand in the carrying slot.

after a shot of brake cleaner

 

[bad_idea]

one more vote for fogger. i recently fogged my garage to fog a futon i brought home, dont wanna bring fleas home to the cats after all (damn cats). afterwards, i found alot of dead spiders and bugs in the garage. didnt realize i had so many out there.

 

[99SVT]

My major problem is wolf spiders... I have about 1 billion of them. I hate spiders, so I kill all I see.

Brake clean is the best stuff, cheaper than spider spray, and works instantly.

I've found nothing that keeps them at bay, so there are webs all over the shop, that get constantly cleaned up.

Bad thing is, I never have any brake clean around when I need it for projects.

 

[99SVT]

Oh, and what is the fogger stuff gonna due to paint on vehicles, tv, radio, etc. in the garage when you set it off?

 

[redman43]

If I found hundreds of black widows in my truck, it'd be pushed to a open area and burned to the ground with used motor oil!

Can't stand spiders... Always keep a can of brake clean around...

I'm with this guy. Although I may not have waited until I rolled the truck out into an open area.

 

[SuperSocket]

Put some sticky pads around your shop... it takes care of the spider problem really quick.

 

[ishiboo]

Put some sticky pads around your shop... it takes care of the spider problem really quick.

Sticky pads work great for all kinds of crawlers, as long as you don't have toads. In the barn, I now have toads... and the toads of all sizes get stuck to the pads and just make a mess of things.

I use Ortho Home Defense, and Sevin dust. The Ortho granules do not seem to be as effective as the Sevin.

Bug bombs are great if they're used properly, but remember they are highly toxic only for the period they're in there, and then stuff is free to come back in. Also highly flammable.

 

[rlitman]

The vacuum idea was a good one, but the sock/filter was completely unnecessary.
Just get a flea collar, cut it into a few pieces, and vacuum up about a quarter of it (put the rest in a zip lock back for the next time). That will kill any spiders or insects in your vacuum bag.

 

[ludakris04]

The foggers work great as does the home defense stuff. I had a flea problem in the house (brought them home from a weekend trip to the beach!). I just couldnt seem to get rid of them and my wife was fed up. In came 6 foggers! 2 per floor. The basement was crazy after it was all said and done. I was vacumming dead bugs forever. Another tip is to keep things as dry as possible as spiders like damn spaces. I have a dehumidifier in the basement, but dont seem to have any issues with spiders in the garage, but I did have a bird get stuck in there the other day!

 

[A1an]

I don't like spiders but they are great at eating other critters trying to get in the house. If I find a spider in my house I will usually try to catch it to throw outside. Obviously a black widow or brown recluse would be the exception to the rule.

 

[xrdad]

Yuck...

I really shouldn't have read this thread. I'm not going to want to work in the shop anymore... I HATE SPIDERS!

Took down the satellite dish yesterday and pulled a cable through the core of it. Out comes this nasty, hairy, quarter sized 8 legged freak of a spider. Nearly threw up right there. Not a fan, not a fan at all. I didn't kill it though. The spiders at my house have an agreement with me. They don't die, I don't wake up with them on me. That's fair

I don't know how you can live in an area with black widows.. I would die

I may have to try that fogging thing sometime though?
All I can think of is that movie Arachnophobia and waking up with the buggers looking at me the same way the freakin cats do... "Hey, it's 5am and we're hungry"... Maybe the cats and the spiders can work something out...

 

[haugy]

Yeah, brown recluses are the problem here.

That and spider poop is acidic. Let it sit on gelcoat or paint for a while, and it will stain. Lil'bastids.

 

[Plombob]

Thanks for the warning about Nashville's spiders. I spend some time in Nashville and did not know that.

FWIW If you get bit by a Black Widow, and you're not too young/old, or bit someplace delicate, just take Calcium. The calcium will flush the venom out of the muscles.

I got bit on the ankle and thought nothing of it. The pain kept moving up the leg, so after a few days I went to the doc. His remedy worked pretty quick.