Black widows appear velvety and an hour glass marking on the underside of the abdomen is characteristic of this species. Even though most spiders are harmless to people, few people are willing to permit them inside the home. Webs and fecal spots are unsightly and tend to negate the beneficial aspects of spiders to most homeowners. Routine, thorough house cleaning is the most effective way to eliminate spiders and discourage their return. A vacuum cleaner and broom are useful tools for removing spiders, webs, and egg sacs.
Spiders prefer quiet, undisturbed areas such as closets, garages, basements, and attics.
Reducing clutter in these areas makes them less attractive to spiders. To locate areas of infestation, install glue boards or sticky traps. Designed to capture mice and cockroaches, these devices can be purchased at grocery or farm supply stores. Placed flush along walls and in corners, they are useful monitoring tools and will also capture large numbers of spiders. Large numbers of spiders often congregate outdoors around the perimeter of structures.