Frisky male spiders are being driven into British homes by the autumn chill and to find a new mate - this is how to keep them outside.
September marks the start of spider mating season, which drives the males indoors where their female counterparts live all year round, the Irish Mirror reports.
The changeable weather this summer has also caused a surge in insect breeding, producing a smorgasbord of crunchy delicacies for spiders to snack on.
As the weather turns cooler, the eight-legged crawlies are driven inside to keep their body temperatures stable.
The UK is home to 650 different species of spider and as a predatory insect, it will come as no surprise that some can inflict a nasty bite.
There are 12 spiders who can bite humans and possibly the most feared is the false widow, named due to its likeness to the very poisonous black widow.
This arachnid's bite can cause numbness and swelling, which could lead to gangrene if left untreated.
So as the spiders eye up your home as a shelter this autumn, we've found some home remedies to keep them outside.
1. Essential oils
Spiders do not respond well to strong aromas.
To deter the eight-legged crawlies from shacking up in your home, sprinkle some dabs of essential oils in the areas you think they're living and entering.
Peppermint, tea-tree, lavender and rose all work well to keep them at bay.
Take a spray bottle filled with water and infuse it with 15 to 20 drops of the essential oil of your choice.
To make sure the method maintains its effectiveness, change up the scent regularly.
2. Cinnamon
As previously explained, spiders struggle with strong odours and this includes breakfast-favourite cinnamon.
Either use the previous method with cinnamon oil, or hang dry sticks of the spice around your home.
Scented candles also work to effectively spread the smell through your home.
3. Vinegar
Mix a misting bottle with a 50:50 ratio of vinegar and water.
Target the cracks and crevices that spiders usually shimmy through to get into your home, making sure to spray around the entrances too.
Vinegar is acidic and can damage varnished surfaces, so please use this tip with caution.
4. Eucalyptus
The pungent odour of the eucalyptus tree has also been proven to repel spiders.
The plant requires little maintenance and produces a beautiful smell (for humans).
If you don't have room for a tree, mint and lavender beneath your windows will also work.
5. Citrus
Spiders really don't appreciate strong scents, and citrus is another smell that will send them packing.
Try rubbing the peel of lemons and limes along skirting boards, window sills and bookshelves.
Lemon scented household sprays, polishes and candles, also work to repel the insects.
6. Cleaning
A clean house is not a home for spiders. Regular cleaning will leave them nowhere to hide as they usually spin their webs in out of reach areas.
Hoovering and dusting your home's nooks and crannies will help to remove the insects which have set up camp already.
7. Check your fruit bowl
The household fruit bowl attracts fruit flies - a spider's favourite meal.
Decomposing fruit attracts them, so make sure out-of-date fruit is chucked away quickly to avoid the arachnids.
8. Remove vegetation from the walls of your home
Spiders will find it much more difficult to enter your home if plants and vegetation are moved away from your exterior walls.
Sealing your door frames and windowsills with chalk will also stop them setting up camp in some of their favourite places to live.
