With spider season beginning in the UK, you may be seeing more of these eight-legged creatures in your home, but there are a number of natural repellents that can help to deter spiders from entering your home
According to Google Trends, there’s been a whopping 5,000% surge in searches for ‘how to get rid of spiders’ in the past month. As spider season looms, Brits are bracing themselves for an influx of eight-legged visitors, including some non-native species like the Distinguished Jumping Spider.
Miroslav Radov, owner of Rainbow Rubbish Removals, has come to the rescue with some handy tips on how to keep these creepy crawlies at bay. He suggests using natural repellents that won’t break the bank—you can pick them up for as little as 35p!
These include citrus scents, vinegar, and essential oils such as eucalyptus and tea tree.
Citrus Scents
Spiders aren’t fans of the potent smell of citrus fruits. Miroslav advises placing citrus peels or citrus-scented products near entrances to stop spiders from making themselves at home, reports the Express.
Vinegar
“Vinegar also has a strong acidic scent, which helps to deter spiders,” explains Miroslav. “White vinegar can be particularly useful, as it contains acetic acid, which is unpleasant for spiders, causing them to avoid areas in which this vinegar is used.
“This is a popular non-toxic method to deter spiders, and costs as little as 35p!”
Eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil
Similar to citrus fruits, both eucalyptus and tea tree are fragrances that spiders absolutely loathe.
Both of these essential oils contain aromatic compounds that spiders find repulsive and actively seek to avoid.
They also have a tendency to disguise the scent pathways that spiders rely on for navigation, which additionally puts them off.
Other spider repellents
And it’s not merely these three items that can keep spiders away from your property.
Miroslav also recommends blocking up any potential entry routes that spiders might exploit, including any gaps in doorways and walls.
He additionally proposes that maintaining your house free from mess and rubbish can significantly help in stopping spiders from being drawn to your property.
Miroslav counsels: “Ensure that you regularly vacuum and mop, taking extra care in spaces such as kitchens that can harbour crumbs and food waste, which attracts small insects. These insects are spider prey and can thereby attract spiders.”
In addition to this, you ought to be maintaining any external areas clean and organised as well.
Eliminating any possible concealment spots and food sources outdoors can make your garden less attractive to spiders, which consequently decreases the chances of them finding their way inside.