Should You Kill Spiders in Your House? Which Ones Help and Which to Watch For

By Austin Little

Most house spiders are harmless pest control that happens to have eight legs. A few deserve real respect. Here's how to tell the difference, how to move spiders out without a shoe, how to keep them from moving in, and when a bite needs a doctor.

AI disclosure. This page was drafted with AI assistance and edited for Apiary. We don't invent quotes, stats, people, or events. If something looks off, tell Austin — that's the point of a living hive.

Health note. This page gives general information, not medical advice. If someone has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, severe pain, muscle cramping, or feels very ill after a suspected bite, call emergency services.

Short answer (read this first)

For most spiders in most homes, you don't need to kill them. The common spiders you see in corners, basements, and windows are generally harmless to people and helpful: they eat flies, mosquitoes, moths, and other insects. If you don't want them inside, you can move them outdoors with a cup and a piece of paper.

A few spiders deserve caution. In the United States, the main medically significant ones are:

• Widow spiders (black widows, brown widows, and relatives), whose venom can cause painful muscle symptoms.
• Recluse spiders (the brown recluse and relatives), whose bites can sometimes cause skin wounds, mostly in specific regions of the country.

The practical rule: leave harmless spiders alone or relocate them, handle widows and recluses carefully or call a pest professional, and reduce clutter and gaps so fewer spiders (and their prey) come inside.

Why spiders are mostly on your side

Spiders are predators. Almost all of them eat insects and other small arthropods. A spider in your basement corner is eating the things you like even less: flies, gnats, mosquitoes, moths, silverfish, and sometimes other spiders.

A few more reasons to cut them some slack:

• They don't want you. Spiders don't seek out people to bite. Most bites happen when a spider is trapped against skin — in clothing, shoes, bedding, or gloves.
• Most can't hurt you.
• They're a sign of an insect supply. Lots of spiders often means lots of insects to eat. Fixing the insect problem fixes the spider problem.
• They're part of the ecosystem. Spiders are food for birds, lizards, and other animals, and they help control insect populations outdoors.

That said, it's completely fine not to want spiders in your bedroom. You can respect them and still show them the door.

Common harmless house spiders

Here are some spiders many people in North America find indoors. Exact species vary by region, so use these as general guides.

Cellar spiders ("daddy longlegs")

• Look: Tiny body, extremely long, thin legs. Often in basements, corners, and ceilings with messy webs.
• Behavior: When disturbed, many vibrate rapidly in their web.
• Risk: Harmless to people.
• Myth alert: You may have heard that "daddy longlegs are the most venomous spider, but their fangs are too short to bite." That's a popular myth. Also, "daddy longlegs" can refer to harvestmen, which aren't spiders at all.

American house spider and other cobweb spiders

• Look: Small, round abdomen, brownish with mottled patterns. Tangled cobwebs in corners, windows, and under furniture.
• Risk: Generally harmless.

Jumping spiders

• Look: Compact, often fuzzy, with large front eyes. Some are black with white spots; some are colorful.
• Behavior: Hunt by sight and jump on prey. Often curious — they may turn to look at you.
• Risk: Harmless; bites are rare and minor.
• Fun fact: Many people find them cute. They're often seen on windowsills.

Wolf spiders

• Look: Larger, hairy, brown or gray, with stripes or patterns. Run fast on the ground rather than sitting in webs.
• Behavior: Hunt at night. Females carry egg sacs and sometimes babies on their backs.
• Often confused with: Brown recluses (see below). Wolf spiders are usually hairier, bulkier, and have different eye arrangements.

Orb weavers

• Look: Often colorful, round abdomens. Build classic wheel-shaped webs, often outdoors near porch lights.
• Risk: Harmless; bites are rare and mild.

Sac spiders

• Look: Pale yellow to light brown, small, often found on walls and ceilings at night.
• Risk: Bites can cause minor, local irritation.

Hobo spiders

• Look: Brown, with patterns, found mostly in the Pacific Northwest.

Spiders to watch for (United States)

Widow spiders

How to recognize a black widow:

• Shiny black, round abdomen.
• Often a red or orange hourglass shape on the underside of the abdomen. Some have red spots on top.
• Messy, strong, irregular webs, often low to the ground in sheltered spots: woodpiles, sheds, garages, under outdoor furniture, in meter boxes, and in cluttered corners.

How to recognize a brown widow:

• Tan to brown, with patterns, and an orange hourglass underneath.
• Distinctive spiky, round egg sacs.
• Often in outdoor furniture, playground equipment, and around homes in warm areas.

What a widow bite can do: Widow venom affects nerves. Serious cases are uncommon, and deaths are very rare with modern medical care, but young children, older adults, and people with health conditions may be at higher risk.

Recluse spiders

Who: The brown recluse and related recluse species. Other recluse species live in the Southwest.

How to recognize a brown recluse:

• A darker violin-shaped mark on the top of the front body section, with the neck of the violin pointing toward the abdomen.
• Six eyes arranged in three pairs (most spiders have eight). You'll need a magnifying glass.
• Uniform color on legs, no stripes or bands.
• Doesn't build a big web in the open; hides in quiet, dark places like closets, boxes, attics, under furniture, and inside shoes and clothing left on the floor.

What a recluse bite can do: Many recluse bites cause only minor reactions. Some cause a painful wound where skin tissue breaks down, which can take weeks to heal.

Important caution: Brown recluse bites are often over-diagnosed. If you have a worsening wound, see a doctor rather than assuming it's a spider.

Other places

If you live outside the US, check your local health or agriculture department for spiders of concern. Examples include:

So, should you kill spiders?

Here's a practical decision guide:

• Harmless spider in a spot you don't mind? Leave it. It's free pest control.
• Harmless spider where you don't want it? Relocate it outside.
• Widow or recluse in your living space? Remove it carefully (see below) and look for more. If you see several, or you're nervous, call a licensed pest professional.
• Lots of spiders everywhere? Focus on the bigger picture: reduce insects, clutter, and entry points.
• Not sure what it is? Don't handle it with your hands. Take a photo from a safe distance and compare with a local extension service or university entomology guide.

It's okay to kill a spider if you're frightened, if it's a medically significant species in a place people are at risk, or if you can't safely move it. But for most house spiders, there's no need.

How to move a spider outside (the cup method)

1. Get a clear cup or jar and a stiff piece of paper or card.
2. Gently place the cup over the spider.
3. Slide the paper under the cup slowly, so the spider steps onto it.
4. Hold the paper firmly against the cup and carry it outside.
5. Release it a few feet from your house, near bushes or a woodpile, away from doors.

Tips:

• Don't use your bare hands, especially if you're not sure what species it is.
• For fast runners like wolf spiders, a larger container helps.
• There are also "spider catcher" tools on long handles if you'd rather keep your distance.
• In very cold weather, some indoor species may not survive outside. You might move them to a garage or basement instead.

Safely dealing with a widow or recluse

If you find a widow or recluse indoors:

• Don't use your hands. Use the cup method, a long-handled tool, or a vacuum with a hose attachment.
• Wear gloves and long sleeves when cleaning areas where they might hide, like garages, sheds, and storage boxes.
• Call a licensed pest management professional if you find several, or if you have small children, older adults, or vulnerable people in the home.

Prevent bites (especially in widow or recluse areas)

• Shake out shoes, gloves, clothing, and towels that have been sitting on the floor or in storage before putting them on.
• Move beds slightly away from walls and keep bedding off the floor in recluse areas.
• Wear gloves when moving firewood, boxes, rocks, or yard debris.
• Store items in sealed plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes in garages and basements.
• Check outdoor furniture, toys, and play equipment for webs.
• Teach kids not to put hands in dark places they can't see into, like under decks or in woodpiles.

Keep spiders out of the house

The best long-term approach is to make your home less inviting:

1. Seal entry points

• Caulk cracks and gaps around windows, doors, pipes, and wiring.
• Repair torn window and door screens.
• Install door sweeps on exterior doors.
• Cover vents with fine mesh.

2. Reduce clutter

• Clear piles of boxes, clothes, and papers, especially in basements, closets, and garages.
• Use sealed plastic storage containers.
• Vacuum regularly, including corners, under furniture, and along baseboards. Removing webs and egg sacs helps.

3. Reduce their food supply

• Fix moisture problems; damp basements attract insects.
• Keep doors and windows screened.
• Store food properly.

4. Manage the outside of your home

• Keep woodpiles, leaf litter, and debris away from the foundation.
• Trim plants and shrubs so they don't touch the house.
• Sweep webs off eaves, porches, and window frames.

5. What about sprays and home remedies?

• Pesticide sprays can kill spiders, but they often don't solve the underlying problem, and they can harm pets, people, and beneficial insects if misused. If you use them, follow the label exactly.

Spiders, kids, and pets

Families with young children and pets often worry most, so a few specific tips:

Kids

• Teach "look, don't touch." Kids can enjoy watching jumping spiders and orb weavers from a distance. Turning spiders into something interesting, not scary, helps.
• Show them the hourglass. In widow areas, older kids can learn to recognize a shiny black spider with a red mark and to tell an adult instead of touching it.
• Check play areas. Look under slides, inside playhouses, and around sandbox covers, especially in warm months.
• Store outdoor toys off the ground or in sealed bins so widows don't set up inside them.
• If a child is bitten and you suspect a widow or recluse, or the child seems unwell, call Poison Control or seek medical care promptly.

Dogs and cats

• Most pets that eat a house spider are fine. Cats in particular often hunt them.
• Be careful with pesticides around pets. Many products are toxic to animals if misused. Read labels and keep pets away from treated areas as directed.

If you're bitten: what to do

Most spider bites, if they're spider bites at all, cause mild redness, swelling, and itching, similar to an insect sting or mosquito bite.

General first aid

1. Wash the area with soap and water.
2. Apply a cool compress or ice wrapped in cloth, for short periods.
3. Elevate the area if it's on an arm or leg.
4. Use over-the-counter pain relief or anti-itch treatments if appropriate for you, following the label.
5. Watch the bite over the next day or two.
6. If you can safely capture the spider, or take a photo, it can help a doctor identify it. Don't risk another bite to do so.

See a doctor or call Poison Control if

• You think a widow or recluse bit you.
• You have severe pain, muscle cramping, stomach pain, sweating, or nausea after a bite.
• The bite area becomes increasingly red, painful, warm, or swollen, or a wound or blister develops and grows.
• You see red streaks spreading from the bite, have a fever, or it looks infected.
• The person bitten is a young child, older adult, or someone with serious health conditions.
• You're not sure and you're worried.

Call emergency services if

• Trouble breathing or swallowing.
• Swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
• Severe whole-body symptoms, like chest pain, confusion, or fainting.

Living with spider fear

Fear of spiders is very common. If it's affecting your life — you can't go into your basement, you avoid outdoor activities, or seeing one causes panic — there's real help. Talking to a doctor or therapist is a reasonable step.

In the meantime:

• Learn to recognize the harmless species in your area. Familiarity often reduces fear.
• Use a long-handled spider catcher so you can relocate them without getting close.
• Ask a friend or family member for help.

Frequently asked questions

Is it bad luck to kill a spider?

That's folklore from various cultures. Practically speaking, killing a harmless spider removes a natural insect predator, but it won't harm you.

Are daddy longlegs poisonous?

They're harmless to people. The idea that they're the "most venomous spider" is a myth.

What does a brown recluse bite look like?

Many look like a small red bump. Some develop into a blister and then a sore that slowly worsens. But many wounds blamed on recluses are actually infections or other conditions, so see a doctor for a worsening wound.

How do I tell a wolf spider from a brown recluse?

Wolf spiders are generally hairier and bulkier, often with stripes or patterns, and have eight eyes in a distinctive arrangement. Brown recluses are smooth, uniformly colored, have a violin-shaped mark, and have six eyes.

Should I call an exterminator for spiders?

For a few harmless spiders, no. Consider a licensed pest professional if you have many widows or recluses, a large infestation, or vulnerable people in the home.

The takeaway

Most house spiders are harmless helpers that eat insects. You don't need to kill them; you can leave them alone or move them outside with a cup and a card. A small number of species, like widows and recluses in the US, can cause real medical problems, so learn what they look like in your area, handle them carefully, and call a pest professional if you find several.

Prevent bites by shaking out shoes and clothes and wearing gloves in storage areas. Keep spiders out by sealing gaps, reducing clutter, and cutting down the insects they eat. And if a bite gets worse, causes severe symptoms, or you're just not sure, see a doctor or call Poison Control. Respect the few that matter, and let the rest get on with their pest control.