Deter spiders this mating season with an ‘effective’ method - 'It discourages them’
Mating season usually lasts from around early September until mid October so it is no wonder many homeowners are keen to say goodbye to the creepy crawlies.
The colder months are fast approaching, meaning darker mornings and shorter days, as well as the widely dreaded ‘spider season’.
Thankfully, UK households have been offered advice on deterring spiders from their indoor spaces this autumn.
A spider's mating season usually begins in early September and runs through until mid-October, and they will often seek shelter in our homes where it's warmer.
The average household is likely to have around 40 spiders hidden within it, a figure which can be more than doubled in older houses.
With almost a quarter of Brits claiming they suffer from arachnophobia, several experts have found a solution to solve all your problems.
The team have shared top tips for keeping spiders out of your home this season.
Keep your space clean
According to Tasha Lewis, founder of Living Things, spiders begin coming into homes for food and shelter, and “following a cleaning routine helps to keep bugs and insects out.”
Whether it's inside or outside of your home, keeping clean and tidy can be one of the most effective methods of discouraging spiders from invading your space.
For inside of your home, cleaning expert Nicola aka Essex House Dolly, said: “Keeping on top of your dusting, especially cleaning behind sofas, TV units and corners of your room will help deter spiders from spinning their webs.”
The same advice can be applied outside of the home.
Regularly sweeping and cleaning patio areas, decking, garden furniture and other surrounding areas prevents spiders from spinning webs and setting up camp, and ultimately deters them elsewhere.
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Use chalk to deter any creepy-crawlies
There are many tried and tested methods to keep spiders out of your home, most of which fail to do the trick.
Essex House Dolly said: “There is the old wives tale of placing conkers in the corners of your rooms, but personally, I never found this effective.
"On the other hand, a tip I recently learnt was using a piece of chalk and drawing a line on a surface. Spiders do not like the feel of chalk.”
This hack can be done both inside and outside of your home, by tracing lines across your paving, driveway, and stone walkways.
Essential oils are your best friend
Whether it's cedarwood or tea tree, essential oils can be the ideal natural method for preventing spiders from entering your home.
Essex House Dolly said: “You can make natural deterrents using citrus smells, as well as peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus to simply spray in these areas.”
Not only will the strong scent deter any spiders, but the areas around your home will smell great. However, if homeowners are looking to spray this on a paved area, take caution and ensure the oils are diluted, as oils can stain paved surfaces which can be tough to remove, or in some cases, can be corrosive to certain materials.
Meanwhile, garden experts from GardeningExpress.co.uk have shared their tips to help families spider-proof their gardens.
Reduce lighting
Spiders are attracted to light because it draws insects, their food source. Minimise or reduce garden lighting, especially near doors and windows, to decrease the spider’s food supply and discourage them from getting comfy and settling in.
Physical barriers
Check the exterior of your home and garden sheds for cracks, gaps, or holes.
Seal these to prevent spiders from entering.
Silicone sealant is a cheap and effective material for this job, and installing fine mesh over vents, windows, and door gaps can prevent spiders from entering these structures.
