Spider Season Arrives: Experts Offer Tips to Deter Pests

As autumn temperatures fall, homeowners are more likely to encounter spiders indoors, a phenomenon often referred to as 'spider season.' Contrary to popular belief, spiders do not primarily seek warmth but are driven into homes by male spiders searching for mates during September and October.

The UK is home to approximately 650 spider species, with an average small house potentially harboring up to 40 individuals. Older properties, especially Victorian homes, can have thousands, offering numerous hiding places within their structures.

Experts recommend several straightforward methods to 'spider-proof' homes. A key strategy involves closing windows at sunset, around 7 p.m., to prevent flying insects like moths and flies, which serve as a food source for spiders, from entering. Bill Parkinson, a bed expert at Sleepy Piglet, notes that indoor lights can attract these insects once darkness falls.

Preventing spiders from entering requires sealing small gaps around window frames, pipework, and skirting boards with draught excluder strips. Cleaning expert Luke Arnel-Cameron also suggests the 'bed island' technique, which involves moving beds away from walls and tucking in bedding to disrupt spiders' common routes across floors and up walls.

Reducing clutter is another crucial step, as piles of clothes or storage boxes under beds can serve as ideal nesting sites. Regular vacuuming can help remove potential hiding spots and any insects that spiders might feed on. Properties with damp areas such as bathrooms and kitchens may become hotspots due to humidity and insect presence. Improving ventilation, using extractor fans, and promptly fixing leaks can make these areas less inviting.

Outdoor lighting near doors and windows can also attract insects, thereby drawing spiders. Experts suggest using dimmer, warmer bulbs or motion sensors for porch and security lights, and positioning them away from entry points to minimize insect congregation.

Natural deterrents can also discourage spiders. Strong scents like peppermint oil, tea tree oil, citrus, or white wine vinegar are disliked by spiders and many insects. Applying these scents to windowsills and bed frames may help keep spiders at bay.