If you want to get over your fear of spiders, spend a few weeks in a place crawling with cockroaches. Spiders won't seem all too bad.
Yeah, I currently live in this situation. :|
Does not work.
...well, the roach problem is significantly better since I moved back in. Probably no small effort on my part.
I curse my mother's lack of cleaning skills and laziness. When I can move out again, I'm probably leaving everything behind so as to not let the problem migrate.