£1 household staple ‘repels’ giant arachnids from homes as spider season approaches

Spiders are lesser spotted in the summer months but they can show up in abundance as autumn arrives.

While they tend to be easy to spot on floors, ceilings, skirting boards and window sills, catching them is a little more difficult.

That’s why it’s much more effective to try and deter the eight-legged insects from invading the home in the first place using some simple remedies.

Of course, sealing up entry points is one way to keep them out but it’s a laborious task in small spaces, let alone a whole property.

Instead, experts recommend harnessing the power of household items like chalk.

Spiders don’t like the taste of chalk, and as they taste with their feet, it’s easy to create a barrier with the powdery substance.

Drawing a line of chalk around the bed, along window frames and near doorways will create a no-spider zone which they will not want to cross.

The handy product is incredibly affordable too, costing around £1 on average for a large pack of chalk sticks. Anti-Dust White Chalks cost £1 for 12 from Hobbycraft and CRAYOLA Anti-Dust Coloured Chalk cost £1.50 from Amazon.

According to an expert at the Family Handyman, the remedy is just as effective on other insects like ants too.

They claimed: “The ants will be repelled by the calcium carbonate in the chalk, which is actually made up of ground-up and compressed shells of marine animals. Scatter powdered chalk around garden plants to repel ants and slugs.”

Unlike other natural deterrents such as peppermint oil, toothpaste, and citronella, chalk won’t fill the house with a pungent fragrance, so it’s much better for busy rooms.

Less busy areas like bathrooms may benefit from these stronger remedies, however, which are effective for different reasons.

Lavender, mint and eucalyptus are all known spider deterrents as the bugs don’t like the strong smells.

Simply cut some off from the garden or fill a bottle with essential oil and sprinkle it in key spider points like windowsills, near doors and dark skirting boards.

While these are useful for keeping spiders out of the way, it should be noted that most species found in the UK are completely harmless and could actually be useful to have around.

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