Life Hack: Cruelty-free ways to keep spiders out of your home this autumn
Many house spiders reach maturity by the end of summer and start of autumn and the males are out in force to seek some females to reproduce with. Picture: iStock
It’s that time of year again. It seems like every time I open my phone, I’m confronted with another picture of a massive spider in someone’s home. Between social media and WhatsApp chats, lately people have been sharing unsettling images of the eight-legged creatures that have been cropping up in their homes.
There aren’t really more spiders around than usual: this time of year is the start of their mating season. Many house spiders reach maturity by the end of summer and start of autumn and the males are out in force to seek some females to reproduce with. On top of this, the cooling weather means many more of them will take any opportunity they find to move into our warm and dry homes.
Despite being a little bit scared of huge spiders (I know, I know, they’re more scared of me, etc) I’m also a softy and I really don’t want to go around killing them. The obvious result is I’ve become skilled at preventing them from turning up in my home altogether so when the rare one does appear, I can summon my bravery (and a cup and sheet of paper) to evict them in one piece.
There are certain strong scents that spiders hate, and luckily, they’re scents that humans not only tolerate but often enjoy. Spiders have tiny hairs on their legs and they actually use these to smell and taste while moving around. If they encounter scents like citrus and peppermint, they’ll turn and get away from them. Essential oils like these overwhelm their senses and are a great item to have in your home.
I create a mix of water and lemon scent and spray my windows and doors with it, making sure to concentrate on the surfaces that would allow spiders to gain entry into the house. Citrus in particular contains limonene, which repels many insects and spiders. There’s a reason citronella candles are the go-to in summer to keep pests away from your outdoor areas.
Tea tree oil is another item that is often recommended to deter spiders, and while its strong odour can overwhelm their senses, it’s not as strong as peppermint or citrus oils, so it won’t be quite as effective.
Sometimes we have to think practically: an open door or window is basically an open invitation for creepy crawlies to invade your home. Obviously, it’s easier to keep these closed in the latter half of the year when we want to keep the heat in our homes. However, it is also worth inspecting entryways for cracks and crevices that might be allowing a few pests indoors. You can seal small cracks around windows, doors, and even foundations to prevent spiders, and if you have a gap under the door, install a door sweep to block their way too.
We might associate spring with cleaning, but this is a great time of year to sweep through your home to remove dust and clutter — places spiders love to hide. Sort through any building piles of clothes and keep your wardrobe slick and span. Vacuum your home regularly, paying particular attention to corners and crevices, under furniture, and along baseboards. Tidy up any food crumbs and leftovers immediately as this can attract spiders too.
If you spot a spider web forming, remove it immediately, and they’ll be deterred from rebuilding.
As spiders will enter our homes from outside, it’s just as important to monitor your outdoor areas and remove anything that might be helping them to gain entry. If you have an outdoor light, keep it dim or change it to a yellow bulb, which is less of a draw for insects.
Do some end-of-season gardening by cutting back branches and bushes so they aren’t as close to your home. If you keep a compost heap, make sure it’s far from your home as well, as insects are often attracted to them.
Essentially, anything that attracts spiders should not be located near your doors and windows, or the likelihood that they wander in increases.
