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Preventing spider bites

To avoid bites from spiders:

  • Wear gloves if working in an area where spiders are likely to live.
  • Avoid wood or rock piles and dark areas where spiders live.
  • Look for spiders in low-lying webs in garages, barbecue grills, around swimming pools, and in wood piles.
  • Clear away old furniture, tires, junk, newspaper, and old clothes. This will eliminate places spider like to live.
  • Plug openings and crevices into the house.
  • Move your bed away from walls so spiders will be less likely to creep into bed with you.
  • Shake out and check bedding for spiders before getting in the bed.
  • Shake out and check clothing and shoes for spiders before putting them on.
  • Do not leave your child's toys outside.
  • Consider spraying insecticides on any high-risk areas, such as known black widow spiderwebs, indoor cracks and crevices, closets, attics, wood piles, and under eaves and around baseboards and window areas. Repeat treatment is usually necessary.
  • If a spider gets on you, brush it off. Do not crush it.
Author Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer William M. Green, MD
- Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP
- Emergency Medicine and Envenomation Specialist
Last Updated February 1, 2008

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: February 01, 2008
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.