After a sometimes very hot, sometimes very wet summer, it is that time of year again when giant spiders start appearing in British homes. We are doing everything we can to keep them out.
Spiders usually come indoors from mid-August to late August, with a peak in September. People who are afraid of these eight-legged creatures often see spiders on floors, along skirting boards and against walls.
If you come across a spider that moves, chances are it is a male. Male spiders move a lot, while females stay in one place.
It is this movement – where male spiders go hunting for a female – that attracts most people's attention. They then leave their sheltered hiding places, such as interior walls, basements and dark cupboards, and go in search of a casual atmosphere with another spider.
After an exceptionally wet summer, people across the country are seeing more and more spiders in their homes.
Millions of people in the UK are afraid of spiders and are desperately looking for a way to keep them at bay.
The best ways to keep spiders out:
Lavender, mint and eucalyptus, but also citronella: Spiders don’t like strong smells like lavender, and many spiders have it growing in their gardens. Simply snip some off and sprinkle it in key spider-friendly areas, like windowsills, doorways and dark skirting boards.
Mint: You can buy fresh mint from Asda for just 65p and sprinkle it along windowsills and in dark corners of skirting boards, where spiders often hide.
Lemon/Citronella: You can buy sprays made from these ingredients for around £5 to £7, or
Remove the web: If you remove the web regularly, the spiders will realize that it is not a good place to spin a web. They will eventually move somewhere else.
Chalk: Spiders taste with their feet and they don’t like the taste of chalk. Draw a line of chalk around your bed, along window frames, and by doors to create a spider-free zone that they won’t want to cross.
Do you need to kill spiders?
Large house spiders can bite, but it is unlikely that they will ever get close enough to do so, as they do not like people and will do anything to get away from you.
However, you should avoid killing spiders. They are extremely useful for a home, they catch and remove flies, ants and other pests so they can't take over your home.
Besides the old fashioned methods like using a glass and a piece of paper, You can use a 'spider grabber'. These extendable arms have lightweight bristles that grab and hold a spider at arm's length. You can then safely push it out of the window and it will not sustain any damage, and You can buy them from Amazon for around £8-10.