Householders are being advised to close their curtains and switch off unnecessary lights after sunset to discourage spiders from entering their homes during the darker autumn evenings.
As nights grow longer, people naturally use more lighting indoors. However, leaving curtains open with lights on can make a home more inviting to insects, including spiders, according to pest expert Luke Arnel-Cameron, founder of Yass Clean.
Simple evening routine change
Arnel-Cameron recommended closing curtains or blinds once the sun has gone down and turning off any lights that are not needed. “Insects are drawn to light, including spiders,” he explained. “Keeping curtains closed after sunset, and switching off any unnecessary lighting will help keep spiders out of your bedroom.”
Light can also attract insects, which serve as a food source for spiders. Closing curtains can therefore prevent bugs from being drawn to the home in the first place.
Sealing gaps and cracks
There is no need to sit in darkness, as simply turning off a few unneeded lights could make a difference. For those particularly keen to keep spiders out of the bedroom, closing the curtains before settling down for the night is a habit worth trying.
A more hands-on approach involves sealing gaps and cracks around the home to give spiders fewer entry points. “Spiders aren’t coming into our homes to scare us, they’re coming into our homes because we’re inviting them in with warm and cosy spaces,” Arnel-Cameron said.
Checking window frames, pipework and skirting boards and sealing them with draught excluder strips can help. “You can get these in your local hardware store, and they’re cheap and easy to apply!” he added.
