Expert shares clever cotton wool trick for keeping spiders out
Households are being urged to act now as spider season hits its peak.
Spider season is in full swing, with late September and early October marking the peak period for those with arachnophobia, according to spider experts. If you're concerned about the alarmingly large spiders that seem to be constantly appearing in your home in increasing numbers, pest control specialists suggest several measures you can take to mitigate the problem.
Many spider deterrent tips involve the use of various plant oils, as well as citrus peel. This is because spiders taste with their feet, and there are certain substances like lavender oil, lemon and orange peel, and eucalyptus oil which they simply can't bear to walk over.
The advice suggests creating an essential oil mixture, such as with lavender oil, and then spraying this around windowsills, doorways, skirting boards and any other nooks and crannies where spiders are likely to emerge from.
However, according to expert pest control site Sentinel Pest, you can make this tip even more effective by using cotton wool balls.
Sentinel Pest advises: "Use cotton balls. For a longer-lasting effect, soak cotton balls in essential oil and place them strategically in corners, closets, and behind furniture. This method helps maintain a consistent scent in targeted areas.", reports the Express.
This is corroborated by Gardening Know How, which explains: "Take a cotton ball and add 4 to 5 drops of peppermint oil and 4-5 drops of lavender oil to each one.
"Place each one in a small dish, plant saucer, or rest it on a coaster, and position them directly on windowsills, near doorways, around trash bins, and even inside cabinets or pantries.
"Replace or resoak cotton balls every two to three days, or whenever the scent fades.
"When positioning your cotton balls, keep them out of reach of pets and small children. Some essential oils can be harmful to pets if ingested or applied in a concentrated form."
Naturally, it's worth remembering that spiders are actually helpful for your home; they eliminate flies, silverfish, moths and other nuisances and generally tidy up around the house to stop insects from overrunning the place, so if you can manage to leave them undisturbed in a ceiling corner, you'll reap the rewards.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.