Keep your car creepy-crawly free
Do you ever get in your car and notice webs on the side mirror, but the spider is nowhere in sight?
If you have arachnophobia or just want to remove your eight-legged friend from its rental property behind your mirror, continue reading.
1. Keep your car clean
Are there twigs and sticks sitting between the bonnet and windscreen or dust and dirt on your side mirrors? Spiders and other bugs love to make themselves at home where there’s dust and debris. Wash your car regularly, remove leaf litter from any gaps and give the inside a good vacuum. This will help prevent spiders and other bugs from using your car as their home.
2. Find the spiders’ hidey-holes
When you’re cleaning, make sure you wipe out those small and hard-to-get places. Spiders love to hide behind the side mirrors, a spot that usually gets missed when washing the car. Use the hose to get in behind the glass and flush out any dirt. Adjust the mirrors in and then out to move the glass so you can get right in behind the glass. It’s also a good idea to clean the wheel arches and around the bonnet regularly to make sure creepy-crawlies haven’t made themselves at home.
3. Don’t let them in
Make sure there aren’t any gaps for arachnids to find their way into your vehicle. Leave your windows up, and we mean all the way up – not half or even the tiniest crack. It’s also a good idea to check for any other cracks around door seals to make sure they are secured.
4. At last resort… spray
Done all the above and you still can’t get rid of your eight-legged friends? You may need to resort to surface spray. Don’t go and spray all through your car. Instead, target certain problem areas like under the wheel arches, the side mirrors and in between the bonnet and windscreen.
What if I see a spider in my car while driving?
If a spider does crawl out from its hidey-hole while you’re driving, try to stay calm – a crash will do you more harm.
If you can’t bear the thought of sharing the drive with a spider roaming around, pull over and park in a suitable location when it is safe to do so. If possible, try removing the spider using a rag or some tissues (an old pair of gloves kept in the car can be invaluable for this purpose).
Try and do this from the passenger side of the vehicle so that you’re not in danger from passing traffic.
Do you need car advice?
RAA members can contact our free Car Advice service for answers to their car questions.
Or call 8202 4689