As autumn arrives and temperatures drop, many house spiders seek warmth indoors, finding a reliable food source in the insects that also come inside.
And while in the UK spiders are harmless and help to keep other insects at bay, many homeowners can be frightened by their presence.
That’s why an expert has offered a natural and affordable deterrent to keep them out of the house without spending a fortune.
Joshua Houston, our Pest Control Expert at Household Quotes uses onions to keep these little insects away.
He said: “Spiders are a common enemy to many in Britain, they find them scary and tend to scream in panic if one is spotted.”
The expert continued: “To keep them out of your home, one unorthodox solution is using onions. Slice up some onions and place them in a bowl filled with water.
“Then place the bowl in the area where you are having spider problems, and the smell should keep them away.”
Joshua concluded: “It’s a great way to make sure that leftover food is used, instead of being wasted.”
Also to keep arachnids at bay, Jess Steele from BestHeating recommends another inexpensive solution that can also be found in supermarkets: peppermint oil.
Available for just £1.45 at Asda, or slightly higher on Amazon (£2.25) or Dunelm (£5), peppermint oil acts as an effective spider deterrent.
Jess explained: “Peppermint oil provides a strong smell, and spiders are sensitive to them which makes it an effective yet cheap method of taking away the worry of finding creepy crawlies all over the home, without causing harm to them.”
To use it, Jess suggests mixing the peppermint oil with water to create a spray. Apply this mixture to areas where spiders are likely to appear, such as window sills, the edges of carpets, and inside curtains.
You can also place soaked cotton buds in these spots, or use the oil as a diffuser in high-traffic rooms to help prevent spiders from entering. This method is equally effective for keeping ants away.
