By ANGELA PATRONE
WHILE most spiders are completely harmless, it’s common for people to want to know how to get rid of spiders from their home, because the fear most feel upon finding one in the house is palpable.
As the temperatures begin to change it’s more than likely that spider sightings around the home will increase as the uninvited guests seek shelter from the cooler climes. Thankfully, there are numerous ways to deter spiders from entering your property, from decluttering the home to making natural repellent remedies. Pest control experts have shared their useful and most effective methods to get rid of spiders in the house without causing these harmless insects harm.
John Stewart, an expert from the technical team at Pest-Shop explained: “Spiders are most commonly found in the home when the external temperatures drop and there is a lack of insects for them to feed on. In households, they can be observed walking across our floors, in the corners of rooms, and scuttling around our baths.“The best way to get rid of spiders in the house is to prevent them from even entering, and for that, there are a number of harmless deterrents you can employ in your home.”
1. Seal any potential entry gaps
Spiders can make it through any tiny nooks and crannies that homeowners might have in their property, so for those really determined to keep them out, it’s worth looking around the house to take the opportunity to seal any slight gaps that a spider could see as an open invitation into the home.Jordan Foster, Pest Control Expert at Fantastic Services suggested: “Avoid letting those pesky crawlers take up residence in your home by sealing all spider entry points in your home.
“Your walls, doors, and windows must be patched up and sealed. Put mesh over the vents and cover the fireplace when it is not in use. Pay special attention to the kitchen, attic, and bathrooms, as the high moisture levels make them popular hiding places.Ivan Ivanov advised: “Make sure the window frames are properly sealed. To keep them out, you could also try installing excluder strips at the bottoms of doors. Although these tasks require some DIY, they are very simple tasks that can be a more effective and a permanent solution than some of the other methods because it stops spiders at the source.”
2. Make an essential oil spray
For a powerful home remedy to get rid of spiders all Britons need is the best essential oil for the job – specifically the scent of peppermint. Ivan recommended: “Peppermint oil is the best option to effectively repel spiders permanently.”“This is because spiders smell through their legs, so as soon as they are hit with that overpowering scent of peppermint, they will flee because the smell is too strong for them.
We would recommend mixing peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and then spraying the areas of your home that you have noticed to be susceptible to spiders. However, because peppermint oil is toxic to pets, we recommend avoiding this method if you have any furry friends.”To make the perfect potion, if it’s safe for your household, Jordan suggests “mixing 20 drops of peppermint essential oil into a spray bottle filled with water”.He added: “Use the mixture to get rid of spiders without killing them by spraying them into cracks and corners of your house. Alternatively, you can spray it on your duvet to deter them from getting into the bed.”
3. Light citronella scented candles
Citronella is commonly used over the summer months to keep wasps and mosquitoes away, but come autumn these popular scented candles can help ward off spiders too.
Ivan explained: “Lighting candles can also keep spiders away from your home. This is mainly due to the spiders not liking a lot of different smells such as lemon, cinnamon, and citronella.”They also dislike the smell of smoke, so blowing these candles out will also help keep them away.“Putting candles on windowsills is probably the best option for placement as windows are a hotspot for spiders entering.”For safety, homeowners should always keep candles out of reach from children and never leave candles burning unattended.
4. Spritz surfaces with white vinegar
It is not just its cleaning performance that makes white vinegar a great kitchen cupboard staple, but also because it works wonders for deterring pests – particularly spiders.
Ivan said: “White vinegar is another excellent natural spider repellent because it contains acetic acid, to which spiders are extremely sensitive.
Source credit: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/property/1664828/how-to-deter-spiders-from-homes-peppermint-oil-citronella-candle
