The Cleaning Staple You Can Reach For To Get Rid Of Spiders In A Pinch

While many people find spiders to be creepy and unpleasant, others, like those with arachnophobia, are terrified of them. Finding a spider crawling on your bathroom floor or on the wall of your bedroom is never fun, but if you're afraid to get close to them, it's difficult to kill them or get them to leave your home. While most spiders are harmless to humans, killing them may be the only to convince some people their home is safe again. If you're dealing with a few spiders in your home, don't have any insect spray, and need something fast, then this common cleaner may be able to help.

Lysol wasn't designed to kill spiders, but it'll do the job in a pinch. You'll still need to get within 2 feet of the spider to be able to spray it, but for some that's easier than squashing the arachnid. Though Lysol can eliminate a live spider, it's not a very effective method, and if you're dealing with a lot of spiders, you may need to hire a pest control agency.

Spiders breathe through openings in their skin called spiracles, and certain chemicals in Lysol will coat these airways when sprayed, slowly suffocating the arachnid. This method sometimes takes several hours for the spider to die. If there are no other options, using Lysol to get rid of a spider will do the job, even if it takes a bit of time. The biggest drawback to this extermination method is that you'll need a large amount of Lysol, as much as half of a can, to kill one spider.

To use Lysol against spiders, spray the cleaner directly onto the bug. Be careful, though, as some spiders will jump. Once the spider is coated in Lysol, you can leave it to die. It may also run away, but will eventually succumb to the harsh chemicals. It's important to be in a well-ventilated area when spraying aerosol disinfectants and to keep pets out of the room during and afterward.