Jump directly to the content
KEEP IT CLEAN

Cheap hacks to keep your car clean – as little-known rule could see drivers slapped with huge fine

SPIDERS on your car can be a spooky surprise when on the road, but not as scary as the £1,000 fine you could get as a result.

Drivers can get slapped with the huge fine for failure to have proper control of your vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead, the Highway Code states.

Experts shared tips to keep your car clean during spider season
2
Experts shared tips to keep your car clean during spider seasonCredit: Getty
Spiders can land you with a hefty £1,000 fine
2
Spiders can land you with a hefty £1,000 fineCredit: Getty

To avoid this scare, experts at leasing company  have shared some tips help keep creepy crawlies out of your vehicle this spider season. 

Makeshift essential oil spray

Try mixing some essential oils in with water and spray the solution around your car to keep spiders away.

Turns out that spiders don't like scents such as peppermint, cedar, lavender or eucalyptus.

 You can put these scents together, or pick your favourite to spray over your car's interiors

If you don't have them at home, these scents are usually available from local stores or pharmacies.

While it's unclear why arachnids don’t like these scents, they smell and taste through their legs so walking through these in your car would deter them from staying. 

Cinnamon sticks

Cinnamon is another scent known to keep the creepy crawlers away.

You can put cinnamon anywhere in your car, but the easiest option would be to put some cinnamon sticks in your car doors.

This way your car will smell lovely, and it’s an ideal option for those who don’t like essential oils. 

Citrus car air freshener

Experts say spiders aren't the biggest fans of citrus scents or citronella.

While you can’t safely put citrus or citronella candles in your car like you can at home, you can use air freshener equivalents.

A citrus air freshener would set you back as little as , depending on the scent and brand you go for.

If you really want to deter them, feel free to add as many as you like.

Just make sure these don't block your vision when driving. 

Keep your motor clean inside and out

This doesn’t just count for cleaning the inside of your car to make sure you aren’t attracting spiders, but also refers to the outside of your motor.

Make sure you are regularly tidying and cleaning your car, as you may not just attract spiders themselves but also the food that spiders are a fan of, such as flies.

They can be attracted to any food mess that could be lingering around your vehicle, and with that spiders may follow. 

For the exterior of your car, watch for cobwebs that may form on areas such as near your wing mirror.

Spiders are attracted to damp areas, so after cleaning your car make sure to dry it.

You could also use a car cover to deter spiders overnight.

£1.20 white vinegar

White vinegar is a great natural and cheap method for making sure your car is clean, which you can buy for as little as  in a spray bottle.

Leave it in a small bowl in the car to neutralise odours, while also giving a smell the spiders won’t enjoy.

Or use the white vinegar spray whilst cleaning the interior of your car.

If you don’t want the smell of vinegar to linger in your car afterwards be sure to use a citrus car air freshener as mentioned above to combat this 

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Doors and boot must be fully closed

This one goes without saying, but it’s best to make sure your doors and windows are fully closed when you aren’t in your car, from a safety perspective and to stop spiders from entering your car.

If you are working on your car, whether this be cleaning or maintenance, make sure you close any doors or windows you aren’t using, to avoid extra ways for them to sneak in.

Topics