Flushing a spider down the toilet usually results in the spider drowning and being washed away in the sewer system. However, depending on the spider's size and air retention, it could survive the trip through the plumbing, as some spiders can trap air bubbles or hold their breath for extended periods.
To kill a spider instantly, you can use a targeted aerosol spider spray, physically crush it with a solid object, or suck it up into a high-powered vacuum.
Spiders don't emerge from the dark, gurgling abyss of the drain hole. Sorry, myth busted. In actuality, it's more likely they come from under your bathroom door, or a crack in the window or elsewhere.
Yes, spraying bleach on a spider will kill it. The chlorine fumes can asphyxiate the insect, and the chemical's acidity will destroy its cells. However, bleach is not an EPA-registered insecticide, and direct contact is required for it to work.
Yes, Dawn dish soap diluted in water is an effective, non-toxic way to kill spiders on contact. The soap breaks down the spider's waxy exoskeleton, allowing the water to penetrate and causing them to drown or dehydrate within seconds.
Squishing a spider is never a good idea because it can unleash hidden egg sacs, release foul-smelling pheromones that attract other bugs, and destroy a natural, free pest-control system that targets disease-carrying insects in your home.
Whether spiders feel pain when killed is a subject of scientific debate, but experts agree they do not experience pain in the same emotional way humans do.
The Bible does not explicitly command how to treat spiders, but it references them to teach both positive and negative spiritual lessons:
Yes, spiders can hear you talk, even though they do not have ears. They pick up sound waves in the air using the tiny, ultra-sensitive hairs on their legs and bodies. These hairs vibrate in response to your voice and transmit those signals to their nervous system.
“Flushed spiders will drown if they end up submerged in the sewer,” Jerome Rovner, a member of the American Arachnological Society, told Real Clear Science.
No, spiders cannot cry. They completely lack tear ducts and the emotional capacity to experience sadness or grief, which are the main triggers for human tears.
Other bugs tend to gravitate toward bright colors, like yellow, white, or orange. So while green attracts spiders, it repels their food sources. The color that spiders tend to hate is light blue. People don't just paint their porches light blue for the aesthetic.
Salt is a natural type of spider poison, so it makes an effective pest control aid. Dissolve an ounce of salt (1/8 cup) in a gallon of warm water, and pour the saline mixture into a spray bottle. Spray the salty solution directly onto a spider to kill it. Saltwater is also effective at killing spider nests.
Is It Safe to Sleep With a Spider in the Room? It's not ideal, but yes—most spiders in our area are completely harmless. They'd much rather avoid you than bite you. In fact, even our venomous species usually only bite if they feel threatened.
Spiders are most active in late summer and early fall. While spiders live around your home year-round, this specific timeframe—often referred to as "spider season"—marks their peak mating period.
Generally, killing a spider is not considered a sin in most major religions, provided it is done out of necessity or fear of harm. However, the perspective changes if the killing is done for pure sport, cruelty, or malice.
Depending on whether you find literal monsters or terrifying spiritual entities scarier, the Bible has a few contenders. The Leviathan and the Abyss Locusts are often considered the most fearsome.
Jesus taught that marrying a divorced woman is considered adultery (found in Matthew 5:32 and Luke 16:18) because he viewed marriage as an unbreakable, lifelong covenant. In his view, a civil divorce does not dissolve the spiritual bond, meaning any subsequent marriage is treated as an adulterous union.
The jumping spider (specifically the Phidippus genus) is widely considered the kindest and most personable spider. Known for their big, curious eyes and distinct personalities, they are highly intelligent, inquisitive, and generally harmless to humans.
Public and pest-control surveys consistently crown cockroaches and mosquitoes as the most universally hated insects globally. Cockroaches top indoor disgust metrics, while mosquitoes are the ultimate outdoor nuisance and a major global health threat.
Spider blood—properly called hemolymph—is typically clear and colorless inside the spider's body. However, when exposed to oxygen, it turns a light blue color.
Yes, spiders do sleep. They enter a state of reduced activity and lower their metabolic rate to conserve energy. While they lack eyelids and cannot close their eyes, specific spiders—like the jumping spider—have been observed hanging motionless from silk threads, curling their legs, and even experiencing REM-like sleep cycles.
Humanity and terrestrial ecosystems would likely collapse without spiders. As the primary natural predator for billions of insects, spiders consume roughly 400 to 800 million tons of prey annually. Without them, unchecked insect populations would decimate global food crops and cause widespread famine and disease.
Yes, it is generally safe to let a harmless spider crawl on you, but it's usually best to avoid it. Spiders are not aggressive and rarely bite unless they feel trapped or squished. However, because spider identification can be tricky, it's safer to let them be.