Unfortunately, if you share your home with spiders you might have noticed some tiny red bumps on your body meaning you've gotten some spider bites. This might have excited you at first, but when your super-spider powers never came, and you were just stuck with the itchy red bumps, you knew it was time to do something about them.
Spider bites aren't normally anything more serious than an irritating rash, but sometimes they can be painful and start to swell. If this is the case, what do you do to get rid of the symptoms? Check out these six easy remedies on how to get rid of annoying spider bites:
1. Wash and ice
Just like any infection, the best way to keep spider bites from irritating you is to wash it immediately, reported Top 10 Home Remedies. Use a scentless soap and warm water to cleanse the bite zone. Then, to keep it from swelling, place an ice pack on the affected area. Ice also tends to dull nerve endings to void that itching sensation that you'd otherwise get from a spider bite.
2. Baking soda
If itching persists after washing it, it's time to step your game up. The Earth Clinic explained that baking soda, when mixed with water and turned into a paste, makes a concoction that reduces pain from bites. According to the source, baking soda has the power to soak up the venom left behind from spiders' pincers, making any pain or swelling go away.
3. Activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is another absorption option, though a little more heavy duty as you likely won't just find this in your medicine cabinet. The charcoal will turn into a paste with just a little water, and can be held in place with a bandage which should be changed every three hours on the first day of the bite.
4. Potatoes
Who knew that the starch from a potato could help get rid of spider bite symptoms? Top 10 Home Remedies explained that all you have to do is peel and thoroughly wash one large potato and then grate it up. Next, package up the wet shreds in a cloth and place on the infected area. Leave it there until the potato begins to dry and then clean with warm water. If the irritation doesn't go away, repeat this process until it does.
5. Go to the hospital
Some spider bites can be dangerous. If you notice your bite zone starting to become really infected, don't mess with it and seek professional help. This is especially important if you know your area has poisonous spiders - take the proper precaution and head straight to the doctor for a quick examination.
6. Get rid of spiders
Of course, the best way to heal a spider bite is to not get one in the first place. Get rid of all the spiders in your home by calling your local pest service and have them assess your property. Not only will they be able to get rid of all the pests, but they'll be able to help you come up with a solution to keep them from coming back as well.