I never kill spiders in the house. Either I leave them be, or I carry them outside. It's easy maintaining the superstition that killing spiders is bad luck, when you live in a place with no dangerous species.
I have a more graduated response, depending on the type:
Redback and White Spot spiders get immediate death by squashing with whatever is handy (these are both slightly dangerous to humans)
Daddy Longlegs get to stay inside so they can eat other bugs.
All the rest (and any lizards or other catchable insects) get evicted to make their own way in the outside world.
babola: "Enjoy your tools and don't be afraid to air your opinion and feelings here, but do it in courteous and respectable way toward others, of course."