Fall has officially arrived, and as the temperatures drop, you may have already noticed an influx of spiders creeping into your home to seek warmth, food and shelter.
According to experts, ‘spider season’ peaks in September, which is why it’s essential to take preventative measures this month. Not only can it be unnerving to try and get rid of spiders, but these eight-legged creatures are notorious for entering our homes through windowsill cracks or tiny gaps, hiding in your home and leaving unsightly cobwebs.
And if you prefer more natural, non-toxic repellents, you might want to try this clever trick to stop spiders in their tracks. What’s more, this simple task involves a common, household ingredient that most of us already have in our kitchens, and takes minutes to do. So before they quickly multiply, try this top tip.
Boil lemon peels to deter spiders
All you need to do is soak lemon peels in boiling water and leave them overnight before transferring the water into a spray bottle. Then you can spray around the home, targeting cracks, around windowsills, or any hidden spots where spiders like to hide.
While we might enjoy the pleasant citrus fragrance, it turns out that spiders hate it.
This is because pests like spiders have a sensitive sense of smell and find strong aromas such as lemon and other citrus to be overpowering. So the fragrance from lemon peels should be enough to repel spiders, and keep them at bay this season.
“A cheap and easy solution is to rub lemon peels over your windowsills, skirting boards or any shelves to deter spiders,” suggests James Higgins, floor expert at Online Carpets.
“Not only does the strong citrus smell keep any spiders away, but it will also leave your kitchen or bathroom smelling fresh.”
Similarly, peppermint essential oils are too overwhelming for spiders, and will prevent them from entering your home. Experts advise to soak cotton wool in peppermint essential oil, before putting them on windowsills or around door frames. The strong fragrance will be too overpowering for such pests, and will prevent them from entering.
“Peppermint oil emits a strong scent which repels spiders,” states Robert Collins, pest control expert at MyJobQuote.co.uk. “Add 15 – 20 drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle with water and spritz this in any areas where you’ve noticed spiders in the home.
You can also purchase spider-repellent plug-ins. These plug-ins usually emit a peppermint scent that will help to deter spiders from your home. If you are using these, place them in rooms where spiders are seen more often or in high-traffic areas.”
Best of all, boiling citrus will not only keep spiders at bay, but will keep your home smelling fresh too. Win-win!
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