The start of September brings with it the start of spider mating season, which can wreak havoc on your home if you’re not prepared for the eight-legged guests to make their way inside.
And while tackling creepy crawlies can sometimes feel like an impossible task, there are ways to keep bugs at bay using simple items that you probably already have at home.
Did you know, for example, that spiders can’t stand the smell of citrus?
That’s right, you can keep spiders out of your home using nothing more than a lemon – and you don’t even need to waste the fruit, as just the peel is enough to send them running, apparently.
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According to Expert Home Tips, rubbing lemon peel over your windowsills, bookshelves, and anywhere else you usually find spiders will help move them along and out of your home, with the added benefit of smelling fantastic.
Lemon can also be a great way to keep spiders out of basements and garages, as rubbing the peel along skirting boards and door frames should have the same outcome.
If you don’t like the smell of lemon, or you want to try a different approach, here are some other ways you can banish spiders from your home.
Peppermint
One of the most talked about tips for keeping spiders at bay is mixing peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle, which you can then spray in corners of your home to deter the pests.
A TikTok user shared a hack and received rave reviews when she suggested spraying the solution on windows and doors.
She said: “For all of you that do not like spiders, this is a hack.
"You can put peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle. Spray it on the outside of doors, window frames - they'll stay out of your house."
Vinegar
You can also achieve the same result as the peppermint trick with white vinegar diluted in water.
Although this version of the trick does smell worse than the mint approach, the stench of the vinegar should disappear as soon as it dries.
Lavender
Once again, filling a spray bottle with warm water and adding lavender oil alongside washing up liquid can help to send spiders scurrying out of your home.
The eight-legged creatures can’t stand the smell of lavender, so they’ll be sent packing - with the added benefit of making your home smell great to humans.
Conkers
This tip isn’t actually scientifically proven, but many people across the world swear by placing conkers in the corners of their home.
It’s thought the conkers – also called horse chestnuts – release a noxious chemical that will cause a spider to curl up and die within just one day of them coming into contact with it.
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