I am FREAKING out here people.
We had a party on Saturday and one of our guest thinks she saw a brown recluse in our garage!!!! So, I called the bug guy and set up an appointment. In the meantime I did a little research. I don't know how I will sleep tonight after reading this. I am considering moving to a non-bronw recluse spider state.
The bottom line!!!! There is nothing we can do.

PREVENTION
The best way to avoid a Brown Recluse bite is to eliminate them from your home. However, there are steps you can take to avoid being bitten if these spiders are in your home. One study in Missouri indicated that Brown Recluse Spiders were in 70% of homes they sampled. Being proactive is the best response to avoid being harmed by these spiders. Following the below precautions and having a Brown Recluse First Aid Kit on hand is the best form of defense.
Awareness
If Brown Recluse spiders are in your home, being aware of their habits and how most people are bitten can help you avoid being a victim. Most Brown Recluse spider bites occur when trapped between your skin and another surface. Click here to learn about the habits of the Brown Recluse spider. Here are some instances when bites have occurred:
When rolling over in bed !!!!!!!
When taking a bath or shower (spiders trapped within smooth surfaces of tub or shower)
When putting on clothing or shoes
When cleaning out closets
When emptying out boxes or containers that have been stored for a long length of time.
When gathering wood from a wood pile
When cleaning out garages, barns, sheds and other outbuildings.

Precautions
Check your bed before getting into it, especially if the bed has been unused for a while. Keep beds and cribs away from the wall. Remove bed skirts to reduce the chances of Brown Recluse spiders crawling in or on your bed.
Shake out your clothes before putting them on.
Avoid putting clothing on the floor when you go to bed at night.
Shake out your shoes before putting them on.
Wear gloves and long sleeved shirts when cleaning out or emptying closets, boxes or containers that are usually left undisturbed.
Wear gloves and long sleeved shirts when gathering wood from woodpiles, cleaning out garages, barns, sheds or other outbuildings.

Pesticides
Research conducted at Oklahoma State and Texas A&M Universities has confirmed that Brown Recluse spiders are tenacious and very difficult to kill with most insecticides. Treatment of Brown Recluse spiders with pesticides is usually ineffective unless directly sprayed on the spider. However, even something as simple as water can have the same effect when sprayed directly.
At one time it was thought that pesticides had a secondary benefit in that if you destroy the Brown Recluse's food, the Brown Recluse will need to go elsewhere to live. But more recent research at Kansas University indicates that Brown Recluses actually prefer dead insects over living ones 81.4% of the time and that improper applications of pesticides can actually increase Brown Recluse spider populations. They can safely eat prey that was killed by insecticides even 24 hours before. They will also eat prey partially eaten by other Brown Recluse Spiders and prey that had been dead for 2 months. Also, pesticides can actually kill spiders that prey on Brown Recluses. For this reason, spraying could potentially be counterproductive unless your exterminator is a professional that is very knowledgeable about Brown Recluse Spiders and a full Integrated Pest Management analysis is done. However, this can get quite expensive and they will not guarantee that they can fully exterminate Brown Recluse Spiders.

Glue traps
Most pest control companies agree and researchers at Kansas University confirm, Glue Traps (also known as Sticky Traps) are very effective for reducing Brown Recluse populations when the traps are set in places where Brown Recluses are commonly found. Ideal trap placement would be under beds, dressers and appliances, in corners, flat on the floor up against a wall near a window and behind or underneath furniture. University of Kansas researchers recommended 30-35 glue traps be set in the average sized three bedroom home with a garage. If you see Brown Recluse spiders on the trap, be careful when you pick up the glue boards. The spiders are immobilized by the glue, but the chances are good that they are actually still alive since they can live for 6 to 12 months without food or water.


Click here to order Glue Traps
The Shoe
Shoes are quite effective treatment for Brown Recluse spiders. One stomp and they will have no chance of biting anyone. However, you will need to be fast on your feet because they scurry very quickly . And, of course, make sure there are no Brown Recluse spiders inside your shoes before you put them on your feet!

Additional tips
Routine, thorough house cleaning with a vacuum will help eliminate spider egg sacs, spiders and webs. Dispose of the bag outside. However, normal house spider like the small cobweb weaving spiders you see in your house are the main predators of Brown Recluse spiders. For this reason, it may be best to leave them and their egg sacs alone.
Caulk or seal any cracks and crevices in the structure where the spiders exist. Chimneys, window sills, pipes, utility access holes and door thresholds are potential openings. Sealing off these areas will not only help keep insects (food for Brown Recluse's) from entering, but also keep outside populations of Brown Recluse spiders from entering your home after your attempts to eliminate their indoor population.
Install screens or replace damaged screens on doors and windows.
Remove potential breeding places like woodpiles, leaf litter, debris and rocks around your home.
Seal boxes and storage bags. Keep them away from a wall where possible.
Inspect clothing that is infrequently worn. Store them in sealed plastic bags or boxes when not in use.
Reducing clutter in your home will reduce the number of places they can hide. Undisturbed clutter in basements, attics, and closets are favorite Brown Recluse hiding spots.
Because Brown Recluse spiders usually start to come out of their hiding places after dark, that is one of the best times to do a search for them. They will usually not be too far from where they chose to hide during the day. Use a flashlight to hunt for them in poorly lit areas. When you find one, kill it with a broom or shoe and see if you can discover its hiding place. If you find it, seal it up.
Brown Recluse spiders are experts at hiding, thus the name "Recluse". They can be found in both new and old homes since they will often move with you. It is possible that in spite of all precautions, you will still have Brown Recluse spiders in your home. If you are bit, however, time is of the essence. This is why we have developed the First Aid kit for Brown Recluse spider bites.