As the outdoor temperatures begin to drop in the fall, spiders look for a warmer shelter inside your home. Spiders like daddy-long-legs appear scary to homeowners upon first glance, but they are not dangerous in any way. Daddy-long-legs have eight legs and a small, round body. They are sometimes called harvestmen. If you can't stand the thought of having daddy-long-legs running around your home, you can kill them.

  • As the outdoor temperatures begin to drop in the fall, spiders look for a warmer shelter inside your home.
  • Spiders like daddy-long-legs appear scary to homeowners upon first glance, but they are not dangerous in any way.

Put on a pair of plastic gloves. Grab a paper towel or tissue. Pick up the daddy-long-legs with the centre of the tissue and squeeze until the spider dies.

Turn on your vacuum and use the hose attachment to suck up the daddy-long-legs into your vacuum bag. This method works well and is a good option for individuals who can't stand the thought of squishing a spider.

Kill the daddy-long-legs with a chemical insecticide if you have trouble catching the spider to kill it. Texas A&M University recommends using cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin or bifenthrin to kill any spiders that make their way inside your home. Chemical insecticides are dangerous to use around humans and pets, so follow all safety precautions listed on the product label.

  • Turn on your vacuum and use the hose attachment to suck up the daddy-long-legs into your vacuum bag.
  • Kill the daddy-long-legs with a chemical insecticide if you have trouble catching the spider to kill it.

Caulk all cracks and crevices around the outside of your home so that daddy-long-legs cannot get in. Replace any ripped screens and keep all closets and corners of the home clean.

TIP

If you see a daddy-long-legs crawling up your house or over your deck, squirt it with your garden hose. Sticky traps made for rodents can also be effective in catching spiders like the daddy-long-legs.