Households urged to draw chalk around bed before September

As the summerwarmth fades and spider season looms, Brits are being urged to draw chalk around their beds to fend off the eight-legged invaders.

Typically, spider season kicks off towards the end of August or early September, as spiders seek shelter in our homes for mating and protection against the colder, wetter months ahead. If you spot a spider on the move, it's likely to be a male, as they tend to roam while females stay put.

It's this roaming behaviour - males on the prowl for a female mate - that bringsspiders into the spotlight. They leave their hidden havens, such as inside walls, cellars, and dark cupboards, in search of some no-strings fun with a fellow arachnid.

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However, millions of Brits fear spiders and are constantly looking for ways to keep them at bay. So in a bid to prepare for the looming spider activity, UK households are being advised to stock up on common spider deterrents like chalk and lavender, reports the Express.

One popular method shared every year involves using chalk. This is believed to work because spiders taste with their feet, and they're not keen on walking over strong or unpleasant flavours they dislike, such as chalk.

In 2023, stationery chain Ryman's reported a surge in chalk sales, as more people snapped up the common household item in an attempt to deter spiders.

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."

Should chalk prove ineffective, there are alternative methods, including spraying lavender oil, rubbing citrus peel or applying citrus oil, or using eucalyptus oil - all scents that spiders refuse to cross.

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Pest UK explained: "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."

Additional methods for deterring spiders include regular hoovering, particularly in difficult areas behind furniture and in corners, and sealing gaps around doors and windows to stop spiders from gaining entry or moving freely throughout your property. However, according to Pest UK, conkers are an 'old wives' tale,' and there's no firm evidence that 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."

Naturally, spiders are actually beneficial to have in your house. They consume flies, moths, silverfish, and other common bugs, as well as smaller spiders, helping keep your home tidy and other intruders at bay.

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