Why this basket
- The Natural History Museum says house spiders are mostly seen in autumn, when the males leave their webs to look for females, and that they come in through open windows, chimneys and gaps under doors. Its remedy is to close windows and block those gaps, so six of the seven roles close one.
- The same page says nobody has yet invented an effective device to deter spiders, so repellers and sprays are under Skip, with the reason for each.
- The gov.uk draught proofing factsheet names the same fixes for draughts: brush excluders on outside doors, foam strips around windows and a long excluder across the gap under an inside door.
- For a spider already inside, the British Arachnological Society's method is a cup or glass and a postcard, then release in a shed or garage. The catcher does the same job at arm's length, for anyone who would rather not get close.
Doors
The museum says house spiders move around most at night from August to October, so fit these first.
A brush strip for the bottom of an outside door
4.5 on Amazon · 2,818 ratings · 500+ bought last month · #10 in Draught Excluders & Seals · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The Natural History Museum names gaps beneath doors as a way in, and the gov.uk factsheet suggests brush excluders fitted along the bottom of outside doors. Stormguard's strip seals gaps up to 25 mm, can be cut to size and comes with fixings, the listing says. It screws to the door, so in a rented home ask the landlord first.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Easy to cut down to the door width and screw on(8 of 13 reviews)
- Noticeably cuts the draught under the door(6 of 13 reviews)
- Feels strong, and the bristles stay in after trimming(6 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The supplied screws are tiny and awkward, so use your own(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Aluminium
- In the box
- 1 x Brush Seal And Fixings
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 3 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Also recommended on: a cold house.
A draught excluder for the door from a garage or utility room
Hongbaite draught excluder, 91 cm
4.5 on Amazon · 113 ratings · 400+ bought last month · #3 in Draught Stoppers · recorded 27 Sept 2026
House spiders are most numerous in garages and sheds, the museum says, and reach living rooms through gaps around doors. A weighted excluder lies across the gap under an inside door, as gov.uk suggests between a heated and an unheated room. This one is 91 cm long, covers gaps up to 8 cm and has hanging loops, per the listing. Measure the door first.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Heavy enough to stay put against the door(4 of 8 reviews)
- Stops the draught coming under the door(2 of 8 reviews)
- Well made from good quality fabric(2 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Polyester
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 3 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Also recommended on: a cold house.
Windows
Foam draught strip for window frames
Bynsaer foam draught strip, 6 m
4.4 on Amazon · 2,383 ratings · 1K+ bought last month · #1 in Foam Tape · recorded 27 Sept 2026
Closing windows and blocking gaps is the museum's remedy, and gov.uk suggests foam strips around windows. This is a 6 m roll of self-adhesive D-profile foam for gaps of 3 to 5 mm, the listing says. Clean the frame and let it dry before you stick it on.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Noticeably cuts the draught round windows and doors(4 of 13 reviews)
- Easy to cut to length and stick on by yourself(6 of 13 reviews)
- The foam is thick and soft enough to fill uneven gaps(4 of 13 reviews)
Watch out for
- The adhesive can lose its grip sooner than hoped(2 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Material
- Rubber Foam
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 3 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Also recommended on: a cold house.
An insect screen for a window you keep open
Yuing made-to-measure window screen
4.5 on Amazon · 609 ratings · 100+ bought last month · #1 in Cat Balcony Nets · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The museum suggests insect screens for doors and windows, and its spider expert says warm autumns keep windows open longer, letting more of the wandering males in. This fibreglass mesh screen is made to the height and width you enter, has a zip and fixes with hook and loop strip, the listing says. Measure the frame carefully before ordering.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Made to the sizes you send, so it fits awkward windows(6 of 13 reviews)
- Keeps flies and other bugs out with the window open(3 of 13 reviews)
- Quick and simple to put up(5 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
Price: we have checked it on 4 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Walls and skirting boards
Once the doors and windows are done.
Decorators' caulk for gaps along skirting boards and frames
Sika Caulk Once decorators' caulk, 295 ml
4.5 on Amazon · 11,913 ratings · 5K+ bought last month · #1 in Silicone Caulk · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The museum's remedy includes plaster for blocking gaps, and the gov.uk factsheet suggests decorators' caulk or flexible filler along floorboards and skirting boards. Sika's acrylic caulk is sold for skirting boards and window and door frames, and can be painted over in about an hour, the listing says. Surfaces must be clean, dry and free of dust first.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Comes out smoothly and is easy to apply with a gun(4 of 8 reviews)
- Gives a neat finish that sticks well(3 of 8 reviews)
- Good for filling gaps along skirting boards(3 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 535 g
- Material
- high-quality polymer
- In the box
- 1 x Caulk Cartridge
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
A sealant gun for the caulk cartridge
4.7 on Amazon · 5,555 ratings · 5K+ bought last month · #1 in Caulking Guns · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The caulk's listing says to apply it with a standard sealant gun and to cut the nozzle at 45°, a little wider than the joint. This Amazon Basics gun is a heavy duty model for 310 ml cartridges, per its listing.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Solid, well built gun that feels better than the price suggests(10 of 13 reviews)
- Smooth trigger and quick release make the bead easy to control(4 of 13 reviews)
Our summary of the 13 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Weight
- 644 g
- Material
- Metal
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Price: we have checked it on 26 days; Amazon showed no discount of 10% or more on any of them.
Also recommended on: bathroom mould.
Spiders already inside
A catcher to carry a spider outside
4.2 on Amazon · 1,189 ratings · 1K+ bought last month · #6 in Pest Control Traps · recorded 27 Sept 2026
The British Arachnological Society suggests trapping a spider under a cup or glass and releasing it in a shed or garage, and the museum's spider expert says the kindest thing is to let them outside. With this catcher you squeeze the trigger to open the bristles, place it over the spider and let go to hold it, the listing says.
What buyers say
Buyers like
- Holds the spider firmly without hurting it until you let it go(5 of 8 reviews)
- Easy to use, even for people who are scared of spiders(4 of 8 reviews)
- Copes with large and quick spiders(2 of 8 reviews)
Watch out for
- The handle is shorter than older versions and the name suggest(3 of 8 reviews)
Our summary of the 8 reviews Amazon showed on 27 Sept 2026, counted by us.
More about this pick
- Size
- about 83 x 16 x 4 cm
- Weight
- 270 g
- Material
- Plastic
- In the box
- Fake spider
From the Amazon listing, recorded 27 Sept 2026. Sizes are the listing's own.
Can wait
- A chimney balloon for an unused fireplace. The museum lists chimneys among the ways in, and gov.uk suggests a balloon to block an unused chimney, taken out in summer so air can circulate. Only worth it if you have an open, unused flue.
Skip it
- SkipPlug-in ultrasonic repellersThe Natural History Museum says nobody has yet invented an effective device to deter spiders.
- SkipPeppermint oil spray as the main fixIn a 2017 lab study, peppermint oil repelled two of the three spider species tested but not the third, a false widow, and the large house spiders were not tested at all. The museum still says no effective deterrent exists.
- SkipSpider killer spraysThe British Arachnological Society says it is impossible to rid a house of spiders for long, because new ones soon move in when the residents are killed.
- SkipConkers on the windowsillBBC Science Focus says there is no evidence conkers deter spiders, and points to a school study that won a Royal Society of Chemistry prize in 2010 for showing spiders were not put off by them.
- SkipPlughole covers to stop spiders coming up the drainThe British Arachnological Society says spiders do not come up through the drain hole, which has a water-filled U-bend. They fall into the bath while hunting, and a towel over the edge lets them climb out.
Quick questions
Why are there so many big spiders in my house in September?
Because male house spiders are out looking for mates. The Natural History Museum says sightings peak in autumn, when the males of many species reach adulthood and wander in search of females. Its spider expert says there are not really more of them: warm weather keeps doors and windows open for longer, so more of the wandering males get in.
How big do house spiders get in the UK?
Up to about 12 cm across, legs included. The Natural History Museum gives that leg span for the largest, the cardinal spider; the common house spider is much smaller. The museum says these spiders can bite if picked up, but the effect of their venom is small. The males usually die in autumn, soon after mating.
How do I get a spider out of the house without killing it?
Put a cup or glass over it, slide a postcard underneath and carry it out; a catcher does the same from further away. That is the British Arachnological Society's method. It suggests releasing a house spider in a shed or garage rather than the open garden, because outside is not its habitat. If one is stuck in the bath, hang a towel over the edge so it can climb out.
Do conkers or peppermint oil keep spiders away?
Conkers do not, and peppermint oil is unproven for house spiders. BBC Science Focus says there is no evidence for conkers. A 2017 study found peppermint oil repelled two of three species in lab choice tests, but house spiders were not among those tested. The Natural History Museum says nobody has invented an effective deterrent yet, and its remedy is blocking the gaps they use.
Do spiders come up the plughole?
No. The British Arachnological Society says spiders do not come up through the drain, which has a water-filled U-bend beneath it. They slip into the bath or sink while hunting at night and cannot climb the smooth sides. It suggests leaving a towel over the edge of the bath overnight so any that fall in can climb out.
Sources: Natural History Museum: House spider identification (checked 27 September 2026); Natural History Museum: Invasion of the giant spiders? Not quite (checked 27 September 2026); British Arachnological Society: Spiders in the house (checked 27 September 2026); GOV.UK: Draught proofing, it's a breeze (factsheet) (checked 27 September 2026); Entomology Today: Do chestnut, lemon, or peppermint scents repel spiders? (checked 27 September 2026); BBC Science Focus: Are spiders scared of conkers? (checked 27 September 2026).
