When you live in a country that is home to about 4,000 species of spider, most of them admittedly harmless, unpacking boxes that have been in storage may prove to be a hair-raising experience. For most people, the appearance of a spider or two isn't an issue. However, if you are one of the 5 percent of Australians that have arachnophobia, even small spiders can be terrifying.

Unfortunately, when you're moving home whilst juggling a family and a career, it is often necessary to keep some of your things in storage. Likewise, you may not be able to move into your new home right away. This means your boxes of possessions may attract the unwanted attention of an eight-legged critter or two.

If you cringe at the thought of unpacking boxes that have been in storage for a while, consider doing the following.

Hire An Unpacking Service

Many removalists offer a range of services that go beyond simply moving your possessions from one place to another. One such service is packing and unpacking. If you can't stomach the thought of unpacking boxes that have been sitting untouched for days or weeks, arrange for your removalists or your storage service to do the unpacking for you.

Their team of experienced packers will have no problem encountering a spider or two in the process.

Unpack with Caution

The last place a spider wants to be is anywhere near a human; however, that fact doesn't matter to an arachnophobe. If your removalists have recently dropped off some of your things in boxes, they may need to be dusted off anyway. You can use this opportunity to ensure that any lurking spiders are also eradicated along with the dust.

To unpack your boxes and avoid meeting spiders in the process do the following things:

• Work in a well-lit area.
• Wear some rubber gloves.
• Vacuum boxes as you go and items of furniture that were in storage.
• Shake out laundry, bed sheets, clothes, etc to remove any creepy crawlies.

Have Your Removalists Pack and Unpack

The best way to avoid any unwanted meetings with spiders is to arrange for your removalists to both pack and unpack your things on the same day. That way, you don't need to leave anything in boxes or storage for any length of time, and you can also seamlessly transition from your old home into your new one with little fuss.

If spiders bother you, entrust the packing and unpacking part of your move to a team of professional removalists. Be sure too to get your new home cleaned before you arrive.