Spiders

Not sure about this variety, but keeping conkers in a bowl is supposed to discourage spiders from coming into the house. Unfortunately you will have to wait for autumn!
On Ebay they sell plug-in insect/spider repellants starting at around £6. If you are really scared it might be worth investing in one.

Yes, we have a lot of the thin legged variety, they get into every room.....not scary though are they? I go round once a week removing them all.Buy a long fluffy duster thing and shake it outside when you catch them.

They are not craneflies ( daddy long legs)

I used to be scared of craneflies, I thought they were flying daddy longlegs. Until I realised they only have 6 legs so to pick one up would be like handling a moth or other flying insect. Made me feel much better! I've also been training myself to pick the thin legged spiders up, starting with a wee baby. I can now manage to pick one up with a 1" legspan so I guess that's something you could try, Ellie

Well done nanasam ......next on the list for you to pick up, tarantulas!

shysal I out conkers around in cupboards, it does seem to deter the bigger house spiders.

Put, not out.

Spiders must have sensitive little noses because when we paint or redcorate a room it takes ages for a spider to appear there, so chestnut oil or fresh conkers do work.

Must admit I have never carried out an audit on spiders but each to their own. Get a cat, they love spiders.

Living in a rural area spiders are inevitable. I bought one of those plug in deterrents, only to find I had more spiders than before. When I complained to the company I was told this was normal as the deterrent drove then out of the walls! I wouldn't mind if they stayed inside the wall cavities - I wanted them out of my house!!

I'd like to see a spider's nose, Roses!

I detest spiders. I've heard good reports about Amazon spider catchers, which we'll buy ASAP.

I lived in Melbourne as a child. It's usually smaller spiders which tend to be deadly.

Years later, the UK larger ones, scuttling across the floor, give me the heebie jeebies

I can't stand the larger ones that move fast but I live and let live with the long legged tiny body variety - we have so many but they seem to be doing a great job catching flies and other insects. I do have a spider catcher which has proved useful on occasion. I've used conkers too but it's only recently a friend told me you need to crack the shell so that the oil or whatever is they smell, is released!!!