Spider season is hitting its peak, with the beginning of October marking the worst time of the calendar for arachnophobes. House spiders head inside in search of a mate in the early autumn as the weather cools, and can often be seen scurrying across carpets or jumping out of dark bedroom corners.
Pest control specialists say there are things households can do to halt the worst of the problem now. Many spider-repelling tips involve using various plant oils and citrus peels, because spiders taste with their feet and cannot stand to walk over certain things like lavender oil, lemon and orange peel, and eucalyptus oil.
How to make the essential oil tip more effective
The tips add that you should make an essential oil mixture, such as with lavender oil, and spray this around windowsills, doorways, skirting boards and any other nooks and crannies where spiders are liable to pounce from. According to expert pest control site Sentinel Pest, you can use cotton wool balls to make this tip even more effective.
Sentinel Pest says: “Use cotton balls. For a longer-lasting effect, soak cotton balls in essential oil and place them strategically in corners, closets, and behind furniture. This method helps maintain a consistent scent in targeted areas.”
Positioning and safety advice
This is backed up by Gardening Know How, which explains: “Take a cotton ball and add four to five drops of peppermint oil and four to five drops of lavender oil to each one.
“Place each one in a small dish, plant saucer, or rest it on a coaster, and position them directly on windowsills, near doorways, around trash bins, and even inside cabinets or pantries.
“Replace or resoak cotton balls every two to three days, or whenever the scent fades.
“When positioning your cotton balls, keep them out of reach of pets and small children. Some essential oils can be harmful to pets if ingested or applied in a concentrated form.”
Why spiders are beneficial
It should be noted that spiders are actually beneficial for your home; they kill flies, silverfish, moths and other pests and generally clean up around the house to prevent insects from taking over, so if you can bear to leave them to their own devices tucked in a ceiling corner, you will feel the benefits.
