Homeowners can use a simple item to prevent spiders from invading, and you may already have it in your kitchen. Spider season typically begins in late August and early September in the UK as temperatures cool and the eight-legged creatures seek shelter in homes to find shelter and mate.
Though some people are terrified of them, most spiders in the UK are harmless, and do their bit by going after pests including flies, mosquitos, and cockroaches. But if you’re experiencing a build up, there are cheap and effective ways to ward them off.
Country Living identified a number of low cost solutions for keeping the critters away, including a trusty kitchen ingredient used for all kinds of cleaning hacks, white vinegar.
The outlet recommends mixing the acidic liquid with water in spray bottle (half and half) and squirting the solution into hard to areas that the insects tend to hang out in, like crevices, corners, and cracks.
However, it warns not to spray the liquid onto varnished surfaces, as the acid in the vinegar can corrode them.
It can also cause damage to other surfaces, like hardwood floors, and wreck some types of stone like travertine, limestone, or onyx, as per BBC Future.
And while most spiders aren’t anything to worry about, there are some that Britons are warned to be aware of, particularly now.
False Widows are considered to be the country’s most venomous spider and have been known to inflict painful bites.
The breed, which is one of 12 spiders in the UK known to have sunken their teeth into humans, are on the verge of their yearly mating-season march indoors, experts warn.
Leading arachnologist Dr Tom Elwood says “August is when male spiders become active”, and advises keeping windows closed day and night, adding that this isn’t “paranoia — it’s smart preparation”.
“They’re searching for a mate and they’ll wander through open windows, up walls, into bathtubs — anywhere they can.”
“Spiders are drawn to dust, insect remains and debris on window frames,” he explains. “Webs cling better to rough or grimy surfaces. That’s why cleaning your windows is just as important as keeping them shut.”
Dr Elwood warns that spiders “are already on the move. “You may not see them, but they’re out there — climbing walls, slipping in through vents, and squeezing through the tiniest cracks,” he added.
You can find out more info about keeping them out your home here.