Arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders, is one of the most common phobias on the planet.

Some people scream and cower anytime they see one of their eight-legged enemies, while others can become anxious and sweaty just by seeing a spider web.

Some arachnophobes have even gone so far as to burn down their own house to take care of a spider problem.

Hopefully, you won’t let it come to that.

There are some pretty simple ways for you to identify whether or not you have a spider nest somewhere in your house.

Once you know you have a spider problem, getting the help you need to send them packing is easy to do.

So read on to hear our list of the ways you can tell whether or not you’ve got a spider nest hiding in your home.

What Does a Spider Nest Look Like?

Having any type of bug infestation in your home can be a real bummer, but spiders are actually a lot less harmful and problematic than other bugs.

In some parts of the world, people even let spiders run loose in their house because they are good at getting rid of other insects.

Still, most of us are not fans of having spiders crawl all over our home. (Especially when they might crawl on us!) So naturally, you’ll want to get to the source of the problem when you start seeing two, three, or more spiders.

Chances are they’re coming from a nest.

A nest will contain one or more egg sacs, which are small whitish balls made of spider silk. They can vary in size, color, and texture depending on the type of spider, but they’re usually smaller than the size of a quarter.

Generally, the egg sacs will be suspended from a web, so searching for webs is a good place to start.

Where Are You Most Likely to Find a Nest?

Spiders are most likely to lay their egg sacs in dark, hidden, or less trafficked areas. Some places to start looking include:

• The basement
• Under furniture
• Inside the fireplace
• Underneath window ledges
• Inside closets or cabinets
• Under bathroom fixtures
• Under kitchen counters

Spiders also really gravitate towards cluttered areas, like a dusty attic filled with boxes, so keeping storage areas neat and tidy is a good way to avoid hidden nests.

Other things you can do to try and keep spiders out include making sure all of your doors and windows are tightly sealed, with no cracks for spiders to sneak in. Caulk any gaps you find.

Keep any wood piles you might have away from the house, instead of stacked up against the side of the home. And keep trees and bushes trimmed down so they’re not pressing up against the sides of your house, making an easy bridge for spiders to cross.

What Should You Do if You Find a Nest?

First of all, stay calm. You want to deal with the problem in a smart, level-headed way.

You have a number of options for how to deal with a spider nest. Let’s start by looking at your non-chemical options.

One of the most tried-and-true methods for getting rid of spiders is by sucking them up with a vacuum. The nest may be in a hidden, hard to reach area, so your vacuum’s attachments might be a good way to get to them.

Just make sure to remove the bag or thoroughly clean the vacuum canister, because the egg sacs can definitely still hatch from inside your vacuum.

A broom can also work for getting rid of egg sacs, though this might be a little trickier for people who are truly afraid of spiders.

Using Chemicals to Get Rid of Spiders

There are a lot of products on the market that claim to get rid of spiders, and their eggs and nests. But some definitely work better than others.

Deltamethrin or Pyrethrum dust is very effective in killing spiders and their young. These products are especially helpful for spiders that are hiding in the cracks or other tucked away areas.

Liquid insecticides like Lambda-Cyhalothrin are also great at creating a barrier around your home that will keep spiders from entering. These type of chemicals will paralyze spiders by attacking their nervous system. They’re very effective, but can also be dangerous to humans, so make sure to follow any safety directions.

For those that are nervous about using heavy-duty chemicals, peppermint oil is also proven to be a good deterrent for spiders. It won’t get rid of nests that already exist, but it can prevent new ones from forming.

Or, You Can Leave it to the Professionals

DIY-ing it is great for some home projects, but when it comes to getting rid of spider nests or other bug infestations, you might feel more comfortable just hiring a pest control service to handle it.

While most house spiders are not dangerous to humans, in some areas you can find poisonous spiders in the home. Trained exterminators will be familiar with what kind of spiders live in your area, and they will be able to diagnose what type of species they are from the nest.

If you’ve tried removing the egg sacs on your own and weren’t successful, or you don’t feel comfortable handling powerful chemicals on your own, hiring people you can trust might be the safest and most effective route.

Especially for those with arachnophobia, turning the job over to professionals might save you a great deal of stress and anxiety.

Say Goodbye to That Creepy Spider Nest

Now that you know what to look for, how to handle a spider nest, and how to spider-proof your house in the future, hopefully, you’re feeling a little less freaked out.

If you’ve already identified that you have a nest, and you want to make an appointment to get rid of it ASAP, you can schedule one today.

Instead of the itsy bitsy spider climbing up the water spout, you’ll have a pro who can flush him out, so you can be spider-free in no time.