Why Spiders Love Your Shower

Updated on: July 22nd, 2026

Quick Overview

• Spiders love bathrooms as they need moisture to survive, especially during dry seasons
• Tubs and sinks act as traps as their smooth sides are steep and slippery
• House spiders are beneficial roommates as they help control pests like flies and mosquitoes
• You can safely remove spiders using a towel, or glass and paper to relocate them outdoors
• An abundance of spiders often indicates an underlying infestation of other insect prey

Let’s get this myth out of the way first: the itsy-bitsy spider did not come up the water spout to get into your house. In fact—just like you—he already lived there.

Perhaps this unsettling truth is why so many fables about the origins of our eight-legged housemates persist through generations: no one wants to admit they share the same living space as arachnids.

Even though they share our space, the reason we don’t often see spiders is simple—they don’t travel much. Usually they hang out on their webs and wait for their prey to come calling; but when you do encounter spiders, there’s a reason you tend to find them in the bathroom.

It’s their favorite place to get trapped.

The Local Watering Hole

Read about how spiders get trapped, and why they’re helpful to us…

How Spiders Get Trapped in the Tub

Imagine a swimming pool the size of a football stadium and you’re on the fifty-yard line. The pool’s smooth edges are soaked, so when you try to walk up, you slide back down to the bottom.

That’s what it’s like to be a spider in your bathtub.

Like all animal species, spiders need water to survive. That’s why they love bathrooms, especially during the more arid seasons, of fall and winter. In a dry house, sometimes bathrooms are the only place to find moisture.

Some folks consider it bad luck to kill spiders. Whether or not you’re superstitious, spiders are an ally against even more annoying and dangerous pests, so they’re worth keeping alive.

Why Spiders are Actually Helpful Roommates

Spiders eat flies, moths, and earwigs. They also eat fleas, cockroaches and mosquitoes, which stops them from spreading disease. And they do this all while rarely posing a threat to humans.

Even so, you may still want to evict the beady-eyed squatters from your premises. In that case, there are several methods of getting spiders out of your home and into their own space that won’t harm or kill them.…

Tried and True Tips for Safe Spider Removal

Simple Methods to Guide Spiders Outside

• If it’s near a window, just open it: it’ll probably just leave.
• If it’s in the tub, give it a towel to help it climb out over the ledge.
• If it needs help: use a book, folder or notebook to usher the spider toward the great outdoors.
• You may need to flick it out: that won’t hurt it.

The Glass and Paper Rescue Method

If a spider is nowhere near an exit, a surefire method involves using a clear glass or cup and a firm sheet of paper to trap the spider in a temporary terrarium and then release it outdoors.

When Spider Sightings Point to a Bigger Problem

When you only need to escort the occasional spider out the door, there’s probably not much to worry about. However, spiders rarely end up indoors by accident. If you find your role as spider police starts occupying more and more of your time, there might be a bigger problem festering below the surface…

Following the Insect Food Source

Spiders just follow their food source bugs.

If you see spiders but no insects, that means the spiders are doing a good job of controlling the pest population. But don’t expect their defense to keep up for long; left untreated, an insect infestation could quickly overwhelm your home.

Spider and Pest Year-Round Protection

Putting out fly strips, spraying for ants, and loading up on mothballs may help diminish the underlying problem. But if you’re looking for the best, most-effective long-term solution, a pest control professional should take a look.

If you’re one of the many who would still prefer not to deal with the spiders or their webs, check out our Home Protection Plan for ultimate peace of mind.