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SPIDEY SENSORS
I’m a spider expert and these 7 common mistakes invite giant critters into your home… here’s how to get rid for good
IT'S that time of the year again where it feels like our homes are being invaded by unwanted eight-legged guests.
September is mating season for spiders, and as a result the male critters have bulked up and are on the prowl.
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Not to alarm any arachnophobes, but according to arachnologist Dr Chris Terrell-Nield, we have around 12 spiders in our house at any one time.
For most of the year they avoid detection thanks to their small size and dormant nature - but come autumn they're more noticeable.
Nottingham Trent University lecturer Dr Chris says: “By this time of year, spiders are fully grown and mature, meaning their focus is on creating the next generation.
“Up until now they will largely remain sedentary in hidden spots in the house.
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“It's the large male spiders that you see sprinting across your hearth or living room as they look for a mate.
“What scares most people is the unpredictability of the movement.
"They can be there one second and gone the next, leaving you wondering where the unwanted guest is in your house.”
If you're keen to banish the critters from your home, Dr Chris has a few top tips - and reveals the common mistakes we make that lets them to sneak in.
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Clever scents
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Spiders have a pretty good sense of smell and are known to react to certain scents.
If you're leaving your doors and windows open in warm weather, Dr Chris recommends investing in some bunches of lavender - and not to make your home look pretty.
“It sounds a bit like an old wives tale, but putting lavender by openings can deter spiders from coming in,” he explains.
“They're also not keen on citrus scents, eucalyptus or peppermint, so spraying those around the house will also encourage them to go elsewhere.”
Some spider enthusiasts claim using Vick's VapoRub can also help keep the critters away, as it contains that menthol scent they don't like.
Ditch your fruit bowl
One of the reasons spiders love coming into our homes is because we provide a steady stream of food sources for them.
While they won't eat things we find tasty, leaving food out and about attracts things they do like snacking on.
Fruit bowls draw flies hoping to feast on the sugars, while drain flies can be attracted to food being washed down the sink.
“Leaving fruit and other food out on the counter will attract flies and other insects, which in turn bring in spiders,” Dr Chris explains.
“It gives the arachnids a sustainable diet, so putting food away will limit their food source and make your home less spider-friendly."
Close your curtains
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Dr Chris says closing your curtains as soon as it starts to go dark is a good way to stop insects that spiders feed on coming into your home.
“Moths and flies will be attracted by lights in your house, and that will draw the spiders in after them because they'll want dinner," he says.
The other bonus is less biting insects will be flying in too, so you can avoid being nibbled on a night.
Own a pet
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If you've been looking for an excuse to get a pet, here's a perfect one.
Spiders are primarily sedentary creatures, so anything that would cause chaos in their home is likely to encourage them to move out.
“Cats can be a good deterrent as they will chase anything that moves,” Dr Chris says.
“However house spiders can bite, so a few nasty nips to somewhere sensitive like their nose might put them off.
“And while they might stop spiders thinking your house is an ideal home, they may bring in other pests like mice.”
Dogs may also put the creepy crawlies off as they bounce about the house.
Plus, if they love chasing a ball, that means your furniture may be moved which is likely to disturb any hidden spiders.
Create a deterrent
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If you're not bothered by spiders living in your shed or garage, making one of these more hospitable is a great way to lure them out of your house.
Leaving their webs undisturbed will tell them it's a safe place to live – unlike your house.
Another option is to make somewhere in the garden appealing as well.
Dr Chris suggests: “Try buying an insect home, they're also great for spiders. Mine quickly became a spider hotel.
“Not only are there lots of places to spin their webs, it will also provide them with a constant supply of food.”
Clean up
Most of us are familiar with the idea of spring-cleaning, but Dr Chris reckons an autumn one might be more useful.
“Spiders don't like being disturbed, so if you're hoovering their cobwebs from the corner of the room, they won't feel very comfortable,” he says.
“Cleaning also removes dust and other debris, which means their food sources are less likely to be in your house. This all makes it less spider friendly.”
Regularly cleaning your home will make spiders more likely to move out, especially if you're constantly removing their webs.
If you manage to catch a spider, try to release them across the road or down the street from your home (or by your deterrent!) to avoid them making a return.
Dr Chris says: "The best method is to trap them under an inverted tumbler, slide a piece of card underneath it, invert, carry outside and release.
“This should be some way away from the house, otherwise, because they are house spiders, they may simply walk back in again.”
Delay turning on your heating
After the recent heatwave few of us will have given a thought to turning on the heating, but temperatures are likely to plummet in the coming weeks.
When looking for a home for the winter, spiders like places that are warm and dry where they won't be undisturbed, Dr Chris says.
If you can stand it, delaying turning on your heating will help deter arachnids from settling in.
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Dr Chris says: “If you're not turning on your heating, you're probably keeping spiders out of your house, too.
“House spiders are after somewhere warm to nest and settle down. So if it's a cold environment, they'll be less inclined to stay.”
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