Keeping out spiders

[blamb]

Gaaaaaaaaah. In the last 2 days...

Spider #1: Joined me in watching my movie by deciding to hang directly in front of my face from the middle of the recliner slide. Died.

Spider #2: Thought it'd check the dining table for goodies by hanging from the dining/couch slide. Died.

Spider #3: Thought it'd help me get dressed. Died quickly.

Spider #4: Tried to pretend to be decoration on the ceiling. Died grotesquely.

Help!

Are there any pet safe pesticides, specifically for spiders, that anyone has found to use? I have dogs in here all the time, plus my own system is sensitive.

I don't have any of my slides plugged up with towels or anything. I was thinking maybe I could spray a bunch of small towels with pesticide if I can find a safe one, let them dry, then stuff every nook and cranny of every slide with them possible.

What do you guys do to keep the spiders out?

[Longwell]

Having worked for Terminix in pest control in the past, I would have to say there is no "foolproof" way to keep them all out.
However, if one is bothered by an unusual number of them or allergic to them, something you can do by yourself is to get the sticky glue traps (which you can get at most hardware stores, Agway, etc.) and place them along the walls in places where you, your stuff and your animals won't accidentally get stuck to them. They will catch many bugs, including spiders.
To further keep insects from entering the domicile, the best solution is to have a professional pest service () spray the outside and inside with an insecticide which will leave a residue. All professional pest services have solutions which will not have an effect on humans or animals but will kill bugs.
You can buy insecticide sprays commercially, but they have to be manufactured to be less effective because you don't need a state-issued license to apply them. Most of them do not leave a residue and are merely contact killers, meaning you have to "hit" the insect with them.
Try the glue traps first and, if they don't get enough of the critters, have your place sprayed professionally.
This is my opinion only, but is based on years of experience.
Good luck with your problem.
Larry

[blamb]

Thanks for the advice! One thing I was wondering about, if I have a guy come spray all around the slides, will the residue eventually gunk up or damage the rubber seals??

[racerjoe]

We have had real good louk with a product called "Home Defense" sold at Home Depot ,True Value , Etc: We spray it around the outside of the house,in the corners where you usally find spider webs, and it has worked well. A friend of ours uses it because she hates to see spiders or any webs and it keeps everything clean.

[MacDR50]

A friend in Ontario uses a product called "Orange Guard" mostly for ants but it does kill spiders. It is FDA approved as not being known to affect animals or humans. I bought a bottle and will see if it controls earwigs. It has a citrus scent.

[Longwell]

blamb wrote: (One thing I was wondering about, if I have a guy come spray all around the slides, will the residue eventually gunk up or damage the rubber seals??)

There is such a little residue it is hardly noticeable. I can't imagine it gumming up anything at all. It's mostly a very light powdery substance left. It won't damage anything, since it's water-based.
Larry

[Art-n-Marge]

How about a handvac to suck up the little buggers? Works for flys, mosquitos, gnats, and no-see-ums (yup, you can see um). Unless you have a 4000 cfm windtunnel motor blowing downwards at the door like they do for some stores, the little suckers will come in.

The bad things about spiders and many other bugs is they can drop down from trees, jump from branches and pretty much follow any air current that sets then down somewhere on your rig, etc. You won't know where they come from and they can take a while to show up.

But as ugly as you might think, they are still one of God's creatures. Just make sure they stay in your rig not mine.