Spiders are not well received by everyone, as the crawling creatures make unpredictable movements and look bizarre. But there are reasons why animals settle in the house. Even in this unnatural environment, they take on important tasks.
Which home remedies help to keep spiders away?
To effectively keep spiders away, you can apply lavender oil in corners, niches and crevices or mix peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and spray window sills, doors and floors. Crushed chestnuts, which are distributed in small bowls around the room, also help.
Deterrent measures
Scientists at Oxford University have examined how common home remedies work on three different species of spiders. Participants in their studies included brown jokers, large fat spiders and garden spiders. It turns out that lemon oil did not produce any deterrent effects. Peppermint oil, on the other hand, proved to be very effective.
The following agents were shown to be effective in a special experimental setup in which the animals were directly exposed to the fragrances. For the greatest possible protection against the creepy crawlies, you should use various measures at the same time. The problem with smells is the fact that they are not optimally distributed throughout the room and quickly become weaker.
Lavender
The Mediterranean plant exudes a smell that is pleasant to humans and keeps numerous insects at bay. The eight-legged friends also find the aroma unpleasant and stay away from human surroundings. However, the scents evaporate quickly and do not reach every corner of the room. Therefore, you should sprinkle some lavender oil on corners, niches and crevices.
Alternatives to lavender:
- Add a few drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle filled with water
- Spray window sills, doors and floors
- repeat after next cleaning
Chestnuts
Brown widows and garden spiders were shown to be sensitive to the smell of chestnuts in the studies. The Great Fat Spider had a lower aversion to the aroma. Split the fruit with a hammer. Fill the pulp into bowls and distribute them around the room. Since the scent becomes weaker over time, you should regularly put out fresh chestnuts. The effect lasts up to a month indoors.
Useful lodgers
Spiders in the garden are completely normal. Even though many people are disgusted by the eight-legged crawling creatures, the animals provide valuable services. They keep the apartment free of annoying fruit flies, mosquitoes and house flies. The spider has not specialized in its method of catching any particular prey. Any flying insects caught in their web are paralyzed by a bite and digested by injected enzymes.
Why spiders live with you
The creepy crawlies settle where they can find protection from the cold and at the same time optimal feeding conditions. In autumn, spiders retreat from the garden and enter the apartment through cracks in the facade or gaps under the doors. They need a warm environment, otherwise they will become hypothermic.
Tip
To keep unwanted guests away, you should pay attention to thorough hygiene. Leftover food and breadcrumbs attract insects, which in turn improve the feeding conditions for spiders.
