It’s that time of year when we wrap up warm and close all the windows to retain warmth, but autumn can also bring the arrival of some unexpected visitors. Spiders can be a common occurrence in many UK households this autumn, with the insects looking for shelter from the cold and food to sustain themselves.
To help combat any creepy crawlies, one cleaning fan shared her homemade solution for keeping them at bay. You won’t need a long list of ingredients, just three household items. In a recent TikTok video, Lily, better known as Clean with Lily, said: “This time of year, you’ve probably noticed a few unwanted guests in your home, a.k.a [also known as] spiders, and I’m about to give you a quick and easy hack to keep them away.”
How to get rid of spiders
Lily explained that you should mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Then add 10 drops of orange essential oil and 10 drops of lemon essential oil.
Spray the solution onto a cloth and wipe around the entrances to your home, including window and door frames. Lily said: “Spiders actually smell with their legs and they hate these scents.”
The strong aroma will deter spiders from seeking refuge in your home.
Lily claimed that a benefit to using lemon and orange oils is that they are more pet-friendly than peppermint oil, which is also an effective deterrent for spiders.
However, VCA Animal Hospitals warned that many liquid essential oils and potpourri are poisonous for dogs.
These include oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang. Both ingestion and skin exposure can be toxic.
PetMD explained that if you are going to use essential oils as a part of a cleaning routine, be sure to clean in places that can’t be reached by pets. It explained: “If a dog walks on oil that is being used as part of a cleaning solution, it may irritate their skin or paw pads, or possibly their gastrointestinal tract if ingested by licking their paw.
“For dogs who get into everything, ingestion of the oil itself (sometimes including the bottle it came in) can cause health problems.
“If you want to use essential oils in your home around your dog, it can often be done safely, but it will take some research and thought to ensure your pup’s safety.”
Zoflora explained that spiders aren’t fans of strong scents, including citrus, tea tree, lavender, rose or cinnamon, all of which have strong scents.
The Spruce further explained that another theory behind their dislike is down to a chemical compound – monoterpenoids – found in essential oils, which act as a fumigant.
