Most spiders are beneficial. They eat insects and help to control many pests. Only two spiders in the US are poisonous to most people – black widow and brown recluse. Brown recluse spider venom has no antidote, but get to a doctor quickly if you’re bitten by either of them. Problem spiders can be controlled with garlic/pepper tea, or citrus sprays but it is better to knock the webs and nests down with a broom or vacuum them. Citronella sprays such as Skeeter D’Feeter also work well.

A product that will prevent spiders and wasps from locating their webs and nests in unwanted locations is Dr. T's Cobb Web Eliminator. 

The ingredients are:
Water
Soap
Vinegar
Capsaicin (hot pepper)
Corriander oil
Anise oil

We have had reports from Ground Crew members that this is a very effective product.

Q:  I have killed almost a hundred Wolf Spiders in our house and garage; I have killed a few African Jumping spiders in my house, and had a Brown Recluse alive in our bath room. But now I am concerned, because tonight I had a female Black Widow in the middle of her web under my back patio door.  When I spray the spider with Spider Shot spray it does nothing, but wasp spray does kill them after I drench them. I am getting really concerned, because I have a three week old baby and a house full of spiders. What can I do to rid our house of the pests? I know they are suppose to be good for insect control, but considering a Black Widow has venom 15 times as potent as a Rattle Snake, I prefer not to have these spiders in or around my house. Insecticide is just not doing the trick.  J.R., McKinney.

A:  The sprays you are using are far more dangerous to your child than the spiders. Although most of the spiders are non- poisonous, the orange oil sprays will kill them. Stomping on the individual ones works well. There's also good information in the Texas Bug Book. Wolf spiders and jumping spiders for example are non-aggressive, safe and very beneficial in helping to control pests.