Scots households urged to draw chalk around beds before next month
The method is believed to be effective in controlling and repelling spiders during peak season.
Ahead of peak spider season, householders are being urged to draw chalk around their beds to prevent the creatures from invading their properties. Spider season tends to begin at the end of August or the beginning of September, when temperatures begin to drop. To keep warm, the creepy crawlies attempt to find shelter for the wetter, colder months, usually inside our homes.
To prepare for the invasion, householders are being urged to stock up on repellents to help keep the eight-legged creatures out. One hack that is believed to work wonders is chalk. Lavender is also good at keeping them at bay.
Male spiders tend to move around more than female spiders. So if you catch a crawly running around your home, it's most likely a male.
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The Mirror reports that male spiders go on the hunt for a female mate. This is usually when people spot them running freely in their homes. Spiders leave their sheltered hiding places, such as inside walls, cellars, and dark cupboards, and head for some no-strings fun with a fellow arachnid.
Millions of people in the UK are afraid of spiders, though, and frantically search for ways to keep them out.
Chalk is believed to work well at repelling spiders because they taste with their feet, and they don't like walking over disagreeable or strong flavours, such as chalk.
In 2023, stationery chain Ryman's reported that chalk sales had increased as more people bought the common household item to try to keep spiders at bay.
Chloe Danskin, Head of Marketing at Ryman, told the Irish Mirror at the time: "It's both unexpected and amazing to see chalk being embraced as an effective and affordable spider repellent. Our range of chalk products, from traditional white to colourful alternatives, is flying off the shelves as homeowners take proactive measures to keep their homes spider-free."
If chalk doesn't work, you can also try spraying lavender oil, rubbing citrus peel or spraying citrus oil, or using eucalyptus oil, all of which spiders also don't like to cross.
Pest UK reports: "Strong smells are a natural way to deter spiders from entering your home. Smells such as lemon, lime, oranges, anything with a strong citrus aroma, help repel spiders. Also, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, or peppermint oil. Vinegar is another strong scent to help repel spiders, but most people aren’t too keen on vinegar lingering around their homes. Rub or spray around window sills and doors with these scents to help prevent spiders from entering."
Other suggestions for repelling spiders include hoovering regularly, including in awkward spots behind cupboards and in corners, and filling gaps around doors and windows to prevent spiders from being able to get into or move freely through your home.
However, according to Pest UK, conkers are an 'old wives tale' an there's no firm evidence this works. They added: " An old wives’ tale tells that apparently, spiders don’t like conkers. While there’s no evidence to back this up a row of conkers on the window sill still makes a festive autumn decoration."
Of course, spiders are actually good to have around in your home. They eat flies, as well as moths, silverfish and other common insects, as well as smaller spiders, helping keep you home clean and other invaders at bay.