Between late August and ealy September, spider mating season starts in the UK. Not only do we have to deal with the fact that summer is practically over and the cold weather is starting to creep in, but it also means the eight-legged creatures will be actively trying to find a warm and dry space to mate.
While female spiders tend to stay in one place, males are always on the move. And as they go searching for females to mate with over the next few weeks, you’re more likely to notice them inside your home.
There are several ways that claim to keep the creepy crawlies out of your home, from avoiding clutter, cleaning and dusting regularly, to keeping windows and doors shut and sealing up any cracks they might try to enter from.
But there’s also a homemade deterrent you could make which is not only cost-effective, but it smells amazing.
Taking to TikTok, online content creator @cleaningwithbeelzebub shared a homemade spray “made up of two ingredients which involves using a cup of water and 15-20 drops of peppermint oil”. The savvy cleaner recommended spraying the solution on “any entry point of the home, including windows and door seals”.
The cleaning expert also likes to use it on artificial plants. He explained: “Not only does this solution repel, but it’s also a great way of keeping the home smelling lush”.
He also shared a similar hack using a duster and peppermint oil, recommending using around five to 10 drops so you can reach “those hard spots”, including to wipe away cobwebs.
According to Green Pest Solutions, spiders don’t like peppermint because they “taste” with their legs. It’s a potent natural insect solution, and they’ll want to avoid it.
However, it’s important to remember the majority of essential oils are toxic to cats and dogs, including tea tree, peppermint, citrus oils, lavender, eucalyptus and clove. If you suspect your pet has been in contact with essential oil, you should contact your vet immediately.
If you do have a pet, there are plenty of other solutions to repelling spiders you can try. Instead of using essential oils, you could try mixing equal parks vinegar and water and spray in spider-prone areas.
Another cheap and easy solution is to rub lemon peels over your windowsills, skirting boards and shelves. This is another strong scent which spiders don’t like.
It may seem obvious, but it’s also important to limit the entry points so spiders can’t get into your home as easily. So try to keep doors and windows closed – especially at night.
Having a clean home can also deter spiders. So clean off any windowsills and make sure there are no cobwebs, or anything that could attract insects – which in turn can attract spiders.
