Vacuuming works.

Jean001........

If Vaccuming worked then i don't believe there would be any reason for my posting about this issue, because if vaccuming worked i wouldn't be having an issue with these white spiders huh.
Enjoy your day.
Tonia

I was trying to be helpful. I suggested the vacuum because you didn't mention anything other than spraying.

Tonia! Tsk tsk! Vacuuming household pests is the number ONE method of control. Obviously you didn't understand that.

I would also add that you should do some serious caulking around windows and under doors (add new weather stripping, perhaps), and seal tightly around pipes that go into the wall.

When you can't spray inside (I can't spray inside OR outside), you have to use plain ol' elbow grease and common sense to prevent them from getting inside. And! Use the attachment on your vacuum to go along baseboards, around windows and curtains where they may hide.

Good morning........

You got that right, i definately thought jean001 was impling that my cleanliness was something other than to be desired. Wow i must have been having an offensive day, (we'll blame it on hormones). My sincere appologies to you Jean001. I certainly didn't think that vaccuming would help to get rid of them, just thought it would keep bugs at bay by being clean, so in my mind there shouldn't be any bug within 300 feet of me!

I have caulked the windows & vaccuming is my favorite chore, & is used in every way imaginable. I will see about sealing up every nook and cranny i can find!

I am deathly afraid of spiders as my sister was bit by one as a child & the poison settled in her wrist. She underwent 2 surgeries & it disfigured the structure in her wrist & hand & she has limited use of it. All from a little bug.
I would live in a bubble if i could.

I got rid of the black spiders, but these white ones are hanging on for the duration.
Will these white spiders infest my house plants?

My appologies again, & thanks for understanding.
Thank you Jean001 & rhizo_1 for your help!
Enjoy your day!
Tonia

I've been wondering about these white spiders. What size are they? Do you mean WHITE white, or just light colored?

You know that there are very few poisonous spiders in your part of the world, right? Let's try to ID what you have and maybe we can help you rest easier.

rhizo_1......
Yes they are white with just a hint of yellowish tan. They have white body & legs and are just about the size of a penny (body & legs diameter).
They are sometimes very hard to spot because they blend into my house colors so very well, i have alot of white in my home, carpets & such.
I have tried to id it, but obviously in the wrong sites, can't seem to find it.
I hope they don't infest my house plants either!
Hopefully you can help!
Thanks! Enjoy your day!
Tonia

Can't really help with the ID, sorry. Wish I had a picture so I could at least isolate the genus for you. Anyway, spiders don't infest plants. That's a term that indicates that they are doing damage. Spiders are critter eaters. Some are roamers (hunters) and prowl around trying to find prey, others set traps for insects and the like, while others make webs and wait for the prey to come to them. They aren't likely to take up housekeeping in your plants unless they find a food source there.

Just keep after them with the vacuum and broom and I suspect that they will soon disappear.

You might also try sticky boards. You can buy these inexpensive traps at home & gardens stores. To use them, open them up to expose the sticky side, then place them on the floor, sticky side up, near a wall or runway. Spiders get stuck on them and can't get off.

I also would like to see you get this spider identified. It does not sound like any biting spider that I am familiar with. The vast majority are not harmful to people. If you are unable to post a picture here, you could take a sample (not squashed) to your local university extension office for ID.

Not nearly as large as you describe, but perhaps they're sac spiders? (Family Clubionidae.)

Rhizo_1......thanks for the science refresher. I dislike them so, that i loose my mind when seeing them & never think about their habits & such. And i'm glad i've wrongly used the term "infest". Thats a relief.

BotanyBob....sticky traps is great idea, also the extention office, never thought that far either.

But Jean001 has been a blessing, after i so rudely replyed to Jeans response earlier.....Thank you Jean001....I do believe you have possibly hit the head on the nail for me! This sack spider looks alot like the ones i have been squashing.
I am going to try & post a pic of one i googled with the name Jean001 gave me.

As for the biting part, well i am not sure of the spider species that bit my sister, but i am relieved to hear that theres not many species here in iowa that bite, and that they won't go after my plants unless theres something yummy for them lurking in their pots.
My son had a spider bite on his back when he was 3, had a real strange pattern to it, the doc gave him some ointment & it cleared up shortly with no problem. Still does nothing to sooth my phobia tho.
Okay hope i can get the pic to show up.....
Thanks everyone for your help & advise!
Enjoy your day!
Tonia

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1155774}}

Hmmmm. Have you been working on keeping them excluded from the house? I thought of something I used when I first moved into this house, which seemed to have an established populations of house centipedes and what I called 'black racing spiders'. Boric acid as a powder and in an aerosol form. Horticultural grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is also very helpful. Both can be used around you and your bird, as long as no one inhales it while applying it. No more critters in my home.

Attached is a little fact sheet with some further pointers about getting rid of your spiders.

Here is a link that might be useful: Let's get RID of those darned things!!!!