A licensed pest controller can clear most spider problems in a single visit. They spray around the outside of your home, remove webs, and treat the spots where spiders hide and nest. For most spiders, that's it. If you've found a funnel-web or redback indoors, though, that's a health call first, not a pest-control call. healthdirect.gov.auView source betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source
Professional treatment goes well beyond the surface spray you can buy at a hardware store. A pest controller targets wall cavities, roof voids, under the floor, and the edges of your garden where spiders breed and shelter. Registered chemical treatments knock down the current population, and a perimeter spray reduces the chances of reinfestation. Most general pest treatments come with a 12-month warranty on the work. betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source
Venomous species are the exception. If you find a funnel-web or redback inside, don't handle it. If anyone's been bitten, call 000 first. The pest controller comes after.
DIY vs professional spider control
Here's how the two options compare for a typical spider problem at home.
| DIY spider control | Licensed pest controller |
|---|---|
| What it covers | Surface sprays, web removal, repellents from hardware storesRegistered pesticide perimeter treatment, web removal, roof void and subfloor targeting, harbourage treatment |
| Effectiveness | Reduces visible spiders short-term; doesn't address where they nest or how they keep getting inTargets breeding areas; significantly reduces population inside and outside; re-treatment warranty typically included |
| Venomous species | Do not attempt to handle or catch. Call 000 if anyone is bitten.Can safely remove funnel-webs, redbacks, and other venomous species using correct equipment after any medical emergency is resolved |
| Licensing required | NoYes. Licensed and insured pest controllers can apply professional-grade registered pesticides not available to the public. |
| Typical outcome | Ongoing management; doesn't address the root sourceOne visit covers treatment; annual re-treatment recommended for prevention |
How to keep spiders out of your home
Close the gaps and spiders can't get in. The Victorian Department of Health recommends fitting flyscreens on all windows and wall vents, fitting draught strips to every door, and clearing shrubs from around doorways and windows because dense vegetation right next to an entry point gives spiders easy access from outside to inside your home. betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source
Inside, remove webs whenever you spot them. Check your shoes before putting them on. Wear gloves when gardening. Spiders shelter in clippings and debris. healthdirect.gov.auView source betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source
Still getting spiders? Exclusion alone isn't enough. A licensed pest controller can find the exact entry points and treat them at the source.
Funnel-web and redback spiders: what to do
Funnel-web bite: call 000. Do it now. While you wait for the ambulance, apply a pressure bandage. Wrap a firm roller bandage over the bite site first. Then wrap a second bandage up the whole arm or leg, starting from the fingers or toes and moving toward the body. Splint the limb. Keep the person lying down and still. healthdirect.gov.auView source betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source Catching the spider matters far less than getting first aid started.
Redback bite: don't use a pressure bandage. Wash the bite area with soap and water. Apply a cold pack for 15 minutes, or longer if the pain keeps going. Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. Go to hospital if you get sweating, vomiting, or severe pain. healthdirect.gov.auView source healthywa.wa.gov.auView source
This first-aid information comes from Australian government health authorities: Healthdirect Australia, the VIC Better Health Channel, and WA Health. It's here for emergency reference only. It's not a substitute for medical advice. In an emergency, call 000.
What does spider pest control cost?
Common questions
Yes. A licensed pest controller uses registered pesticides to treat the places where spiders nest and breed, including roof voids, subfloor spaces, and the outer edges of your property. One general pest treatment usually takes care of spiders along with other household insects in a single visit. betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source healthdirect.gov.auView source
Start with the entry points. Put flyscreens on windows and wall vents. Fit draught strips under every door. Clear bushes from around doorways. Inside, pull down webs when you spot them, check your shoes before you put them on, and wear gloves in the garden because spiders shelter in clippings and debris and are easy to disturb when you're weeding. For a persistent problem, a pest controller can identify exactly where they're getting in and treat those spots. betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source healthdirect.gov.auView source
Don't touch it. If no one's been bitten, keep clear and call a licensed pest controller to remove it. If someone has been bitten, call 000 right away. That matters far more than catching the spider. It's a medical emergency. Apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage to the bitten arm or leg while you wait for the ambulance. Keep the person lying still. healthdirect.gov.auView source betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source
Yes. Redback bites cause real pain. They can also cause sweating, nausea, vomiting, and muscle pain. If someone's been bitten, wash the area with soap and water. Apply a cold pack for 15 minutes. Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. Go to hospital if symptoms are severe. One important difference from funnel-web: you don't use a pressure bandage for a redback bite. healthdirect.gov.auView source healthywa.wa.gov.auView source
Get quotes from licensed pest controllers
Compare quotes from licensed, insured pest controllers in your area. Spider treatment is typically covered under a single general pest visit.
This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed pest controller. First-aid information for venomous spider bites is sourced from Australian government health authorities and is reproduced for emergency reference only. In a medical emergency, call triple zero (000).
- healthdirect.gov.auView source
- betterhealth.vic.gov.auView source
- healthywa.wa.gov.auView source