The spider season is starting. Just this week, I’ve spotted a few spider webs in my backyard, and while I don’t mind them outside, I’m not so keen when they make their way indoors.
And if, like me, you’d prefer to keep them beyond your front door, there’s a cheap hack that will keep them from passing over your threshold. What’s more, although spiders detest this natural deterrent, it will bring a delightful fragrance to your home, and you probably already have a supply in your store cupboard.
Where do spiders hang out?
Spider season typically begins in late summer and peaks in the fall, when spider activity becomes more noticeable. During this time, you’ll start to spot spider webs around your porch and windows, and attached to tree branches and fences in your yard.
Inside, house spiders like to cast their webs in dark spaces. Common spaces spiders love to hide in your home include attics, basements, and underneath furniture, but as the end of summer approaches, male spiders venture further afield into bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms, while they search for a mate.
A natural approach to keep spiders at bay
However, if you prefer to cast off house spiders from inside your home, Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner at Adam’s Selfstore, has a natural hack.
What’s more, this natural deterrent is probably sitting right inside your kitchen cupboard, ready and waiting to add a warm flavor to your homemade bakes. However, while we enjoy the taste of cinnamon, spiders will take a U-turn.
“Spiders dislike strong smells, and cinnamon is one of their least favourite,” says Hutton. “Simply sprinkle ground cinnamon around windows, doors, skirting boards, and other entry points. You can also dust it in corners, under furniture, and near cupboards.”
Hutton also adds, “Not only is this simple and affordable hack highly effective at keeping creepy crawlies at bay, but it also smells wonderful, and is completely natural.”
Apart from these benefits, it’s also a cost-effective solution that will have spiders scampering away.
Other ways to bring cinnamon into your home
But apart from sprinkling cinnamon around spider entry points, Hutton suggests autumn is the perfect time to bring the scent of cinnamon into your home in other ways. “Many households will already be stocking up on cosy cinnamon candles, scented diffusers, and other seasonal treats, items that can also serve as an effective way to deter those pesky critter,” he says.
By using cinnamon as a spider deterrent, not only will you keep spiders at bay, but you’ll also enjoy a pest-free home with a welcoming scent.
Refreshing scents to deter spiders
Apart from cinnamon, there are a few other scents that spiders dislike, including mint, lavender, and lemon.
“If you favour lighter smells, opt for lavender and peppermint scents. Grab some lavender or mint plants and pot these so they sit around your windowsill — not only will they spruce up the outdoors of your home, but they can stop spiders from making their way inside in the first place,” suggests James Higgins, flooring expert at Online Carpets.
Citrus is another scent that spiders detest. “A cheap and easy solution is to rub lemon peels over your windowsills, skirting boards, or any shelves to deter spiders. Not only does the strong citrus smell keep any spiders away, but it will also leave your kitchen or bathroom smelling fresh,” says Higgins.
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