UK households have been urged to boil lemon peels this week in a bid to ward off certain animals. You’ll have likely seen a few spiders appearing around the house this month, as males come out of their hiding spots to start searching for a mate.
However, spiders have delicate sensory receptors, so certain smells repel them because they make it harder for them to navigate, according to Daniel Steward, managing director at Shield Pest Control. So, if you have a phobia, there are a few natural hacks that can help prevent invasions without using any nasty chemicals.
Experts at The Happy House Cleaning Service suggested making a simple natural spray with leftover citrus fruits.
They recommended soaking lemon peels in boiling water with a few drops of essential oil, then leaving the solution to infuse overnight.
“Spiders hate citrus fruits! You can easily prepare green repellent by squeezing half a lemon and mixing it with water,” they told the Swindon Advertiser.
Once you have made the solution, they recommend pouring the liquid into a spray bottle so you can target prime hiding spots or entry points throughout the house.
“Spiders usually nest in wall cracks, corners of the walls, and the hidden, dark places – behind cabinets and wardrobes, heavy pieces of furniture, corners of walls and ceilings, cracks in wooden flooring,” they added.
They also recommend another method to sun-dry lemon peels before blitzing them in a food processor to make a fine powder.
Spiders will “soon disappear” if you sprinkle this fragrant concoction around the house once a week, according to the experts. This isn’t limited to just lemon peels — you could also use other citrus fruits such as grapefruit, orange, or lime peels.
Lavender and peppermint scents can also be off-putting to spiders, and pest control experts recommended a similar hack using these fragrances in a spray bottle.
