No matter how well you clean your house, spiders manage to find their way inside. They spin their webs in corners, and during the night, people often get bit. More serious bites can happen if you're outside working or hiking.
Most spider bites heal without you having to do anything to them; but for the occasional bite that gets red, swollen and uncomfortable, several home treatments are available. Check out the 6 ways you can take the itch out of a spider bite from the comfort of your home.
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1. Ice. If you find you've been bitten by a spider, the Mayo Clinic recommends applying ice. You can grab a bag of frozen vegetables if they're handy or even a used tea bag that's been in the refrigerator a while.
2. Calamine lotion. Another recommendation, offered by WebMD, is to apply calamine lotion to the bite. The calamine will help reduce the itching and redness.
3. Witch hazel. If you want to move a little outside of the traditional answers, WebMD states that witch hazel, although not backed by science, may help with the bite and definitely won't hurt. You can apply the liquid witch hazel directly to the bite several times a day if you need.
4. Baking soda. Dr. Axe recommends making a baking soda paste. You can make it by combining 1 part baking soda with 3 parts water. Apply the paste to the bite several times a day to help alleviate the discomfort.
5. Meat tenderizer. A home remedy that's really unusual is offered by CNN. Meat tenderizer contains papain and is supposed to help break down the toxin nonpoisonous spiders leave in the bite. Make a paste from the tenderizer and water and apply it to the bite. Leave the paste on for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse it off.
6. Salt. A remedy not found on any other site is offered by Top 10 Home Remedies. Although salt is good for cleansing wounds, is it good for a spider bite? You can decide if you want to give it a whirl. If you decide to try it, wash the bite thoroughly with a mild soap and warm water first. Sprinkle some salt on a wet washcloth and wrap the cloth on the bite. Leave it for a couple of hours. You can re-wrap the wound as often as necessary.
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The next time a spider invades your space and decides to get too cozy, reach for some baking soda or meat tenderizer to help "soften" the blow.