With spider mating season upon us, people are likely to find the critters lurking around their bathroom more than usua. Bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing has curated a list of the most cost-effective ways to help keep spiders away this autumn.
Joe Pascoe, Chief Marketing Officer at Victorian Plumbing, said: "Last year, we released a few simple tips on how to get rid of spiders around this time of year, as this is when we start to notice them appearing in our bathrooms the most. Given that this is a seasonal issue, we understand that Brits will not want to fork out loads of money on preventative measures. Therefore, we have connected with our in-house spider expert and bathroom design team and have shared cost-effective, easy hacks to stop spiders living in our bathrooms rent-free."
Tip one: Seal any cracks or openings around your windows
Despite the common belief that spiders crawl out from bathroom plugs and toilet bowls, spiders mainly enter the home through small spaces such as cracks near windows and doors. So make sure those entrances are tightly sealed to deter unwanted visitors.
Tip two: Shower with your windows open
Spiders enjoy moist rooms but hate the rain, which is why you may have noticed spiders appear after a bath and not whilst you’re bathing. As showers mimic the rain, opening your window whilst showering will scare off spiders from entering the bathroom.
Tip three: Place peppermint tea bags in the corner of each room
Spiders smell and taste with their legs and, therefore, will not want to settle anywhere with strong scents. A peppermint tea bag placed in each corner of a room is sure to make spiders reconsider moving into your bathroom.
Tip four: Natural spider repellents
As spiders do not like strong scents, you can also make spider repellent by mixing an essential oil (approximately 20 drops) with water in a spray bottle. Spray the corners of your bathroom or any moist areas that are likely to attract insects. The best essential oils to use are:
o Tea tree
o Lavender
o Peppermint
o Cinamon
Tip five: Clean your bathtub and toilet bowl with citrus-based cleaning products
Spiders hate citrus fruits, so cleaning your bathroom with any citrus-based products will help deter spiders this October and will leave your bathroom smelling great.
Tip six: Rub lemon peels on your window sills, bath tubs and toilet bowls
If you don’t have citrus-scented products to hand, a simple lemon or lime will do the trick. Rub the peel on the areas where you normally see spiders appear to deflect any critters.
Tip seven: Regularly check your fruit bowl
Whilst spiders may be considered a nuisance by many, they can prove to be useful at times, especially when it comes to getting rid of other insects, such as fruit flies. However, this does also mean they are attracted to them. Therefore, ensuring your fruit bowl is free of fruit flies will help keep the spiders away.
Tip eight: Collect conkers on your autumn walks
Although it is not scientifically proven, popping conkers on your window sill and in the corners of the bathroom is a hack that has been passed down generations.
Tip nine: Don’t eat in your bathroom/ throw away food wrappers in your bathroom
No judgement here, but if you frequently enjoy tucking into a Snickers bar or two in the bathroom, remember to throw your wrapper away because spiders are attracted to domestic waste.
Tip 10: Try to keep a clean and clutter-free space
Spiders feed off of insects, domestic waste, and enjoy hiding in small cramped spaces. Ensuring your bathroom is clean and clutter-free will help keep the spiders away.
