While the idea of gently releasing spiders into the wild is not a really appealing one, it is a good idea if you can talk one of the kids or the man of the house into doing it. Spiders are one of our beneficial insects, eating pests that bite us and destroy plants. In fact, that very food source is what brings them into the house.

Some years, prevailing weather conditions may cause an increase in such things as flies, mosquitoes, and other bitty bugs that tend to come in through open doors, and broken screens or windows. So your first line of defense, is to get rid of the food that spiders are after. Remember that light attracts insects, and when they rush in your door to swarm around light bulbs and lamps, it also attracts spiders, which will crawl in through cracks and crevices.

This means opting for the yellow bug repellant light bulbs for outdoor fixtures, and repairing screens on windows and doors. There are commercial "bug zappers" for use on the patio or by the doors, but many people report limited success with them. They are simply a light that is supposed to attract bugs and then fry them with an electrical charge.

Clean your house frequently, even if that is easier said than done. At least run a dust mop or cloth on a stick, around your ceiling moldings, behind appliances, and in dark corners, which is where spiders like to build their webs and leave clutches of eggs. You can also hose down the outside of your house near the ground, where spiders breed and reproduce before food hunting inside.

As far as pesticides go, the only really effective ones are contact sprays, which means you must be there to squirt it right on them, and considering the toxicity, you're just as well off using a fly swatter. But do try and get someone to take them outside instead, and let them go in the field or garden. Mother Nature will thank you for it.