FINDING a spider in your home can be an unpleasant and even terrifying experience for many, but there are a number of ways to keep them at bay.
Autumn is often known as “spider season” in the UK because this is when the critters leave their webs and crawl into homes in search of a mate and warmth as temperatures start to drop.
If you tend to run a mile every time you see one of these eight-legged creatures, it is worth keeping in mind that almost all of Britain’s 650 species of spiders are harmless.
But if you are not a fan, there are plenty of ways to keep your home spider-free without spending a fortune.
First, it’s worth dusting and hoovering your home on a regular basis to get rid of any cobwebs that could contain unhatched spider eggs.
These eggs can be tiny and hard to spot, but they typically look like little round white balls and may be fluffy.
When you clean, make sure you try and reach every corner including behind TV and book stands, as spiders like to hide in dark corners and crevices.
Laura Juniper, expert at GardenBuldingsDirect, shared her top affordable hacks to keep the pests out of your home in the first place.
“Spiders don’t have the best reputation and some people really don’t like sharing their home with them,” she said.
“If they’re really not for you, think about some simple changes like using scents they dislike, keeping the garden debris and moving outdoor bins away from open windows.
“Maybe think about a wheelie bin storage shed too,” she added.
Lemon, lime and oranges all repel spiders, according to Ms Juniper.
Try spraying the scents around window sills and doors.
You can buy a lemon for 30p in Tesco.
You can also squeeze the juice of a lemon into a spray bottle and add some water to make a natural repellent.
This is non-toxic, so it is suitable to use around pets.
Other scents spiders don’t like include eucalyptus oil, lavender, tea tree oil, peppermint oil and vinegar.
“Try adding repelling plants to your interiors to deter the eight-legged insect,” Ms Juniper explained.
“Peppermint, lavender, mint and lemon balm are good ones to grow.”
“You could put them on pots outside by your front and back doors and near any windows you keep open,” she adds.
The Sun found a lavdender plant on sale for £1 on Gardening Express, but you will need to factor in shipping costs too.
Elsewhere, Ocado is selling a mint plant for £1.60.
Closing your window when you sleep is a free hack to keep spiders out of your home.
“Spiders are nocturnal and keeping the window open will encourage them in,” Ms Juniper explained.
If you are keen on keeping your window open, then you could also try a mesh insect net.
These usally come with an adhesive tape that you stick to the inside of your window after you open it.
The Sun found one on Amazon for £4.99, but again you will have to factor in delivery costs.
The B&Q webiste is also selling a pack of four for £6.99, but these are only availble online and not in store.
Conkers are said to be an effective spider repellent.
Ms Juniper recommends placing them in “parts of your home where you tend to spot spiders like window sills and door frames”.
You can find conkers in places with horse chestnut trees, such as parks, gardens, streets, and village greens.
Conkers ripen in autumn and fall to the ground in September and October.
It is said that conkers contain a noxious chemical that spiders avoid, but no one has been able to scientifically prove it.
While spiders are known to hide in dark places, they can also sometimes be drawn to light.
“Dim the lights if you can or use a lamp instead to stop the creepy crawlies sneaking in,” Ms Juniper said.
If you are feeling extra cautious, you could try an insect repellent device. B&Q is selling a plug-in spider repellent for £23.99.
It works by creating ultrasonic waves which hit frequencies too high for humans and most pets to hear.
These ultrasonics are thought to be extremely uncomfortable for spiders and crawling insects, causing them to leave the room.
Again, this product is only available to shop online and you can not buy it in store.
“Dead flies and other small insects are perfect spider food. So clear them up to limit the food sources available,” Ms Juniper warned.
Once you have done a good sweep and clean of your home, why not mop with a citrus-based floor cleaner too.
Flash Multipurpose Cleaning Liquid Lemon is currently on sale for £3 at Ocado.
Spiders are not fans of the strong, medicinal scent of an eucalyptus tree, according to Ms Juniper.
This can be quite an expensive investment, with the average tree costing upwards of £30 in garden stores. B&Q is selling on by You Garden for £32.99, for example.
A cheaper option may be picking up some essential eucalyptus oil and rubbing it in the corner of windows and other places spiders tend to hide.
Superdrug is selling an essential eucalyptus oil for £4.99 online.
Spiders like to eat flies – and flies can always be found around bins.
Ms Juniper said it is worth remembering to “close bin lids and move them away from doors”.
Instead, if you are really concerned about attracting spiders, it may be worth leaving your bin outside or putting it in the shed.
Spiders don’t like the texture of pet hair, so it may be worth keeping your dog or cat’s sheddings near areas that spiders like to crawl in.
“If you have a pet, let the fur accumulate in areas spiders sneak in,” Ms Juniper added.
However, be aware that this may cause issues if you have guests with an allergy to pet hair.
If you are keen to keep spiders out of your home then you should be start by keeping your garden clear.
“Clear up autumn leaves, grass cuttings and any other garden debris. Spiders and other bugs love to lurk in them,” Ms Juniper said.
B&Q sells garden rakes starting at £10, which can be used as a handy tool for getting rid of leaves that have fallen in your garden.
As well as keeping corners clean and tidy, it may be worth sealing any gaps in your windows to stop spiders getting in, Ms Juniper added.
You can buy window seals for £8.99 on Amazon and they can be an inexpensive way to keep out a draught as well as any creepy crawlies.
Laura recommends encouraging natural predators like ladybirds and birds into your garden to help repel spiders.
Ladybirds are beneficial predators that eat insects that harm crops, such as aphids, scale bugs, fruit flies, mites, and mealybugs
Ladybirds are attracted to pollen-rich blooms, such as dill, fennel, angelica, and yarrow, so it may be worth planting a few of these plants to keep spiders at bay.
Waitrose is currently selling a fennel plant for £6.99 in stores and online.
