My kids are scared of spiders and I've been thinking about installing nets right outside their windows, so that spiders and other bugs cannot come into the rooms/house. Their windows are really doors which open outside to the garden, which is why there are so many spiders around.


Any idea which who/company I can contact for this?


Thanks a lot.

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

There are two main groups of spiders. Those that live inside houses, and those that live outside. They tend not to change habitats.

In other words, putting nets up won't keep spiders out.

However, if you've many spiders often in your house, then you might have a problem with insects. Where you find lots of insects living in a house, you'll find lots of spiders to eat them.

There's some useful tips here.

But you'll never reduce your domestic spider population to zero.

Maybe your kids could read this web page:
http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/ne...ers,20,NS.html

I'm not sure that putting nets up will prevent spiders from coming in - they're probably already there.
I don't think they go in and out at will - if they do, then they find other ways to enter.
Maybe try to address their fear somehow - I'm sure there's advice and material available. I believe in children, it tends to be more an irrational fear, than full blown arachnophobia.

However, I installed roller nets at my windows (against flies in summer). These can be purchased from Landi (and probably other DIY stores) - screen door (kits) are also available (which I don't have).
A small amount of DIY and a few tools are required, as standard sizes have to be cut to fit.

But I really don't think it will eliminate spiders in your home - it hasn't in mine - but I just pick then up, and put them out.
Don't kill them, though - they trap and eat other insects nastier than themselves. If you can't pick them up, cover them with an upturned (empty) jar and then slide a piece of card underneath. If required replace the lid for a short time - now is a good time for the children to have a closer look, which you should encourage gradually - then put them outside.

We have a house in France that is v old and had lots of spiders huge ones. To clear out the worst I bought some fumigene, which is a gas that goes through the house and kills the spiders. Our neighbours kids hate spiders but they are reassured once dad has done the gas that the spiders are mostly gone. If you don`t want to kill the spiders then a quick bit of parent magic instead makes them think the spiders have been gassed and they relax. If you do use the gas, then you need to be out of the house for a few hours but its not otherwise dangerous

You can find those kits in Migros. The package include the net that you cut the size you need and velcro you put on the frame of the window (already with an adhesive side). One package can be good for 2 standards windows...

I bought them last year and put it myself. Easy and very effective against flies and alike. My home is now bugs free and my daughter is no more a walking meat for those bad guys!

Nil

Thank you for all the comments.

The net should keep the spiders away as I have noticed that they do come in from the outside (garden). The kids see them much, much more often in the summer than in the winter and they had not complained about them since October/November until yesterday when the weather was relatively warm at 15°.

Also, in the summer I have noticed that there are more spiders in the house on days when we cut the grass, which is literary 1 meter away from the windows.

I have no knowledge about the different types of spiders but the ones we find at home are mostly small, thin, black ones.

I did think about the roller nets but maybe it will be worth making the investemnt in having a big net installed on the windows which can be easily rolled up and down with some sort of a remote, as the kids do use this windows (door really) to go outside in the garden area.

What are you going to do about all the spiders that your children will come across outside. Are they really scared of them? I find that most young children enjoy have a group scream at any minibeast, but are actually fascinated, rather than scared of them. How about investing in a couple of magnifying glasses and a little container, so that they can carefully observe the little critters before releasing them back outside? A win-win-win for the spiders, the kids and you.