In the past few years, the only insects I've had to kill are ants that come into my home once a year. I felt so guilty about killing them that I looked up information about them and read in a few places that ants don't feel pain. I hope that's true. If I do see a spider, I catch it in a tall paper cup and throw it outside in a bush so it has a soft landing, then throw the cup away.
When I kill ants, which come in and invade the kitchen for a week or two, I don't use spray or ant hotels....but I have sprinkled dried grits around or just stomped them so they'd die fast or pick them up with a wet paper towel and wash down the sink. This summer I'm going to try pouring something around the doors and windows that hopefully will turn them away...I think it was vinegar that I read would turn them away, but need to read up on it some more.