UK households are being urged not to throw away used tea bags next week, as wet weather and spider mating season are expected to drive more spiders indoors. Placing certain types of tea bags around the house can help repel spiders during the upcoming wet and windy weather.
Spider mating season and indoor sightings
Spider mating season runs from late August to mid-October. Male spiders leave their webs to search for mates during this time, leading to more sightings indoors. The most common types seen in UK homes now are house spiders, lace money spiders, and cellar spiders. These spiders are harmless and simply following their natural instincts.
Male spiders are usually more active and easier to spot. After mating, male spiders often die, while females protect their egg sacs until cold weather arrives. Spider numbers drop significantly in winter as they go into hibernation.
Why spiders come indoors
With cooler autumn weather coming, many people want to spider-proof their homes. Spiders move inside during rainy spells to find shelter from the cold and wind. Heavy rain disrupts their usual habitats, driving spiders and insects into warmer, drier areas of houses.
If you dislike spiders, seeing them indoors can still be upsetting. Luckily, there are simple and humane ways to keep them out.
Which tea bags work as spider repellents
Spiders avoid strong scents like peppermint, citrus, eucalyptus, tea tree, and lavender, so if you often drink peppermint tea, for instance, keeping the tea bags may be worthwhile. Standard black or green tea bags lack the strong aromatic oils needed to deter pests.
Alternatively, you can mix these essential oils with water and spray entry points like doors and windows. You can also use cedar blocks, cinnamon sticks, or crushed garlic to deter them from problem areas.
How to use peppermint tea bags
Peppermint oil and peppermint tea bags act as natural repellents. Spiders dislike the strong scent, making tea bags a cheap and easy way to keep them away.
Let used tea bags cool, then place them near entry points, windowsills, or room corners. Tuck them into room corners, along baseboards, behind large furniture, near windowsills, or under the kitchen sink. Replace them every few days as the smell fades to keep them effective.
Alternatively, brew strong peppermint tea, let it cool, and spray it around your home. Reapply it regularly to keep spiders out continuously.
