Giant spider in my new car?

Question

My sister recently found a HUGE spider in a certified used car I bought only a few days ago. This is a big deal to me because I'm terrified of spiders, especially the large hairy kind.

She and her friends got it out of the car, but I noticed some risidual webs and I'm worried. Could it have left anything else behind, like eggs *shiver*? Is there some kind of bug spray I can use in my car to kill existing bugs inside and keep new ones out?

What about the dealership? I thought certified used cars were supposed to be clean! I could have gotten in an accident if it crawled on me or something. Can I complain to them or ask them to clean it again?

Answer 1

I wouldn't spray it with anything heavy-duty, because you'll be sitting in the middle of a cloud of that crud whenever you drive the car.  I would instead take it to a car detailer, and have them clean it well.  Get an estimate for the work first, of course.  Tell them why you're having this done, and they may be able to look for spots where spiders might hide, like the cracks around the windshield, for example.  A strong vacuum cleaner should take care of that spot, especially if you have a crack & crevice tip for it.

Unless the detailer wants to charge a huge amount for the job, I wouldn't worry about trying to get the car dealer to pay for it.  If it costs $50-75 to have it done, you'll spend more time arguing with the dealer than it would be worth, I bet.  And you'll have no proof that any of this actually happened, either.  They will probably think you're just trying to scam them for a free detailing job.  Besides, spiders aren't normally what dealerships are looking for when they clean cars before selling them, so it's probably not part of their normal routine.  And most people are not that phobic about spiders, so there's usually no need to worry about it either.

Get it detailed, and move on with your life.  Maybe go get therapy to desensitize you to these cute little bugs...