People are urged to put cotton wool on windowsills this month — and it’s not as wild as it sounds

Cotton balls in bowl (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Summer is officially over, and as the months get colder, you may have already noticed an increase of spiders invading your home to seek warmth, food and shelter until the warmer temperatures return. According to pest experts, ‘spider season’ is set to peak in September, which is why it’s important to take preventative measures this month.

Not only can it be unnerving to try and get rid of spiders, but these pests are notorious for creeping into our homes through windowsill cracks or tiny gaps, hiding in your home and leaving unsightly cobwebs to get rid of. If your first instinct is to squish spiders on sight, you might want to try this clever hack to stop them in their tracks. This simple trick uses a common bathroom item, and takes seconds to do.

Soak cotton wool in essential oils

Peppermint oil and cotton balls on countertop — (Image credit: Future)

While there are many ways to repel spiders such as traditional spider catchers, one thing spiders are known to steer away from are strong scents such as peppermint or lavender essential oils.

Experts advise to soak cotton wool in peppermint essential oil, before putting them on windowsills or around door frames. The strong fragrance will be too overpowering for such pests, and will prevent them from entering.

"In addition to peppermint, spiders hate citrus, eucalyptus, and lavender," adds Olivia Edmondson of Express Bi-Folding Doors. "Place citrus peels on windowsills, or dab a drop of essential oil on cotton pads and place them near doors and windows to keep spiders from venturing inside."

Alternatively, dilute drops of peppermint essential oil with water in a small bottle. Spray directly into corners, around cracks and any other trouble areas where you often spot spiders.

"Peppermint oil emits a strong scent which repels spiders," states Robert Collins, pest control expert at MyJobQuote. "Add 15 – 20 drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle with water and spritz this in any areas where you’ve noticed spiders in the home.

"You can also purchase spider-repellent plug-ins. These plug-ins usually emit a peppermint scent that will help to deter spiders from your home. If you are using these, place them in rooms where spiders are seen more often or in high-traffic areas."

What’s more, essential oils can also be added to homemade cleaning products to help deodorize surfaces. So not only will you have a spider-free home this fall but a fresh smelling home too. Win-win!

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As the Homes Content Editor, Cynthia Lawrence covers all things homes, interior decorating, and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial experience testing the latest, ‘must-have’ home appliances, writing buying guides and the handy ‘how to’ features.

Her work has been published in various titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Ideal Home, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Beautiful, amongst many.

With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior design blog for style inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). When she’s not testing cool products, she’ll be searching online for more decor ideas to spruce up her family home or looking for a great bargain!

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