AS spider mating season approaches, homes across the country will be trying different tips and tricks to keep the creepy crawlies at bay.
But you don’t need to spend a fortune on posh products, in fact, this 14p hack is all you need.
Spiders generally seek out dry and warm conditions inside towards the end of August, meaning you’re likely to spot them in dark corners in your home throughout September.
But it’s not just somewhere cosy to shelter they’re looking for – they’re also on the hunt for females to mate with.
Spiders reportedly don’t link strong scents, which means you can make the most of certain foods you might already have in your kitchen.
Lemon is a good option, since it will drive spiders away and leave your home smelling fresh.
Simply save the peel from lemons and any other citrus fruits.
Mike Norton – trade and projects director at Magnet Trade, told House Beautiful: “This is one of the easiest and most effective tricks, costing around 14p compared to a £10 ready-made spider repellent.
“Rub lemon peels all over the windowsills or anywhere spiders tend to perch, such as on skirting boards and bookshelves. The strong citrus scent will repel them away and give your home a lovely fresh scent.”
You can mix the peels with water first to make a paste as well, this will make it easy to rub into the the cracks of windowsills and doorways.
Of course, if you don’t already have any lemons at home the trick still works out pretty cheap, since you can buy the fruit in supermarkets for under a quid.
You can buy a pack of four in Asda currently for just 79p, or head to Tesco to get four for 65p.
Nic Shacklock from Online-Bedrooms.co.uk previously shared some cheap and easy tricks for banishing the pesky creatures from your property.
Spiders can’t stand lavender, Nic said, and won’t want to be near the smell.
He added: “A lavender-scented essential oil can do the trick as the aroma will spread around the home.”
You can use a few drops in your fabric softener, or on your pillow cases to have the scent spread around the house.
Or place a handful of dried lavender into a sachet in your drawers.
You can buy a 10ml bottle of lavender essential oil from Holland and Barrat for just £4.87, or just £2.25 on Amazon.
Just remember that if you order online you will have to pay a little extra for delivery so make sure you factor this in.
Spiders often fit through tight passages when making their way into homes, so it’s worth checking for any holes and gaps that may be in your skirting boards or floorboards and sealing them up.
Nic said: “Preventative measures like this are best for keeping these eight-legged insects out.”
To block these gaps, use some sort of sealant or draught excluding tape.
Screwfix sells a two-pack of 3.5 meters of extra thick tape for £6.99.
But if you don’t need something as sturdy, you can get a six-metre roll of tape from Amazon for £3.99.
“A mix of white vinegar and water is not just a genius cleaning trick, it can also be used to steer spiders away as they can’t stand the smell,” Nic said.
Try spraying it in corners once every morning to keep pesky spiders away.
A bottle of white vinegar costs just £2 at B&Q or a 750ml bottle is £1.19 at Savers.
Another scent which spiders can’t stand is the fresh smell of mint.
Nic said: “Light a mint-scented candle to spread the aroma, or even add fresh mint to some of your meals as the distinct smell will deter them away.”
Candles can be pretty pricey – for example, we found one for sale at The White Company for £24.
But Ikea sells them for just £1.25 and it burns for 20 hours.
To prevent the mating spiders from coming into the bedroom, give the space a regular clean to get rid of excess dust.
This includes headboards, throws, pillows and even mattresses, as less dust means fewer spiders, Nic said.
This won’t cost you anything apart from a few hours of your time if you already have dusters at home.
If not, you can pick up four large yellow dusters for £1 at B&M – or just 33p each.
