As temperatures drop and spider season begins, learning how to keep spiders out of your home becomes a top priority. The arrival of autumn brings an influx of spiders, including Giant House Spiders, Cellar Spiders, and Noble False Widow spiders, which can be unsettling for many people.
These spiders are essentially harmless, but their sudden appearance can still cause anxiety. To help keep them out of your home, it’s essential to understand their habits and preferences. According to James Higgins, a flooring expert, spiders love moist environments and tend to migrate to areas with hot water and appliances, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Natural Remedies and Easy Heating Adjustments
One effective way to deter spiders is to use natural remedies, such as placing bundles of cinnamon sticks in wardrobes, cupboards, and drawers. Spiders dislike strong spice smells, and cinnamon’s heavy scent can act as a great deterrent. Saif Derzi, founder of Property Buyers Today, recommends using cinnamon sticks as a subtle natural spider repellent.
In addition to natural remedies, easy heating adjustments can also help keep spiders out. Rob Nezard, a heating expert, suggests checking your heating system for gaps and openings that can allow spiders to enter your home. He recommends looking at where pipes pass through walls and floors and checking for obvious gaps around the point where they enter the wall or floor.
Lighting Tweaks and Spider-Repelling Plants
Cool, blue-tinted light bulbs can attract nocturnal insects, which can, in turn, attract spiders. Switching to warm-white LED light bulbs or LEDs with a warm color setting can help reduce the number of pests entering your home. Derzi explains that certain plants, such as mint, lavender, and citronella, can also act as natural pest repellents and help keep spiders away.
Placing these plants on windowsills and near doorways can create a natural barrier that wards off spiders with their pungent smell. Higgins recommends keeping spider-repelling greenery where it matters most, such as near windows and doors. A lush pot of spearmint on your windowsill can be an attractive botanical barrier that naturally keeps spiders at bay.
Sealing Gaps and Managing Thermostat
Sealing unwanted gaps around doors, windows, and skirting boards can help prevent spiders from entering your home. However, it’s essential not to block essential ventilation gaps, as this can contribute to condensation and moisture problems. Nezard advises checking for obvious unwanted gaps but not automatically covering vents or air bricks.
Managing your thermostat properly can also help keep spiders away. Overheating your home and then opening windows can create an ideal environment for spiders. Nezard recommends lowering the thermostat or adjusting the radiator to maintain a comfortable temperature without overheating the space.
Additional Tips and Precautions
In addition to these tips, keeping your outdoor bins closed, away from windows, and regularly cleaned can help reduce the number of flies and spiders entering your home. It’s also essential to keep the area around your radiators clear of clutter and debris, as this can create an ideal spot for spiders to settle.
By being proactive and relying on natural fragrances, easy housekeeping practices, and a non-toxic cleaning routine, you can keep spiders safely away from your home without using nasty chemicals. With these tips and precautions, you can enjoy a spider-free autumn and winter.
James Higgins reassures that spider mating season only lasts through September and October, so after Halloween, you should be free from any creepy crawlies. Once November arrives, you can relax and enjoy an uneventful, spider-free autumn and winter.