The terrifying reason why you should never flush spiders down your toilet

Spiders of all shapes and sizes are usually amongst the most feared creatures. Just like anything that is feared, seeing one triggers reactions that aren’t always the most logical. From screaming to throwing things, spiders and fear overall make us do stupid things.

However, if there is one thing people want, if they’re scared of them, is to get rid of the creature. Sometimes a hero will come to the rescue or fear will have to be conquered but one thing is for sure, the spider needs to be removed from sight. Let’s say the spider in your room is removed but not killed. Then let’s imagine that it is carried to the bathroom to be flushed down the toilet or flooded down a drain.

Well, we’re sorry to announce that this will not be the end of this spider!

How to prevent spiders from getting into your house

Even though spiders are great at their job of keeping insects out of our homes, most people are afraid of them. Dr Geoff, Oxford honorary secretary of The British Arachnological Society says to The Independent:

Spiders do a great job as a natural insecticide, and provide food for numerous other organisms – mammals, reptiles, amphibians, predatory insects and birds

Moreover, researchers are looking at a way to use spiders’ venom as a natural insecticide.

If you’re still not convinced that you shouldn’t keep them out of your house or crush them as soon as you see them, here are some gentle ways to prevent them from entering your home.

According to an expert talking to The Telegraph, one natural anti-spider is citrus. Not only is it cheap but it is easily accessible. You can even create your own anti-spider spray mixing citrus juice and some drops of tea tree, lavender, peppermint or cinnamon essential oils. As spiders are most attracted to moist areas or your house, the expert says that you should spray the corners or your bathroom or kitchen.

If you want to really keep them out of your house, the best solution remains to keep doors and windows closed as well as making sure that gaps around them are sealed.

Read more:Warning issued over plague of insects that are a 'hazard to human health'

The one thing you should never do to get rid of a spider

According to an article by Enjoy Your Life Here, the one method you should stay away from when trying to remove a spider from your home is flushing it down the toilet or trying to drown it in a sink.

Indeed the publication reveals that some spiders can ‘survive more than an hour in the water.’ Unfortunately, that also means that the spider you were desperately trying to get rid of can climb back up your drain.

According to Dr Geoff, the correct thing to do if you want to get rid of a spider is to try and gently trap it in a container. Once you have blocked it, simply take the container outside, as far away from your home as you wish and release the spider.

Read more: A study shows the precise time that spiders are more likely to enter your home

Sources:

The Telegraph: 7 ways to get spiders out of your house – and expert advice on whether they actually work

Enjoy Your Life Here: This is What Really Happens When You Flush a Spider Down the Toilet