Spider mating season has kicked off, meaning arachnids will be taking up residence in homes across the country in the coming weeks.
The invasion seems to have started for some homeowners, who have taken to the internet in search of ways to repel the eight-legged critters.
One homeowner recently took to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook page “begging for help” after finding spiders in her house.
Milena Wieczorkowska’s post quickly racked up more than 151 comments, many from cleaning fans endorsing the same chemical-free product.
Several users advised using the essential oil of lavender, which is notoriously unpleasant for spiders because of its potent compounds.
“Conkers lavender oil on cotton wool on a place,” wrote one person. “They don’t like the smell.”
One of the main non-toxic compounds of the aromatic plane is linalool, which is commonly used in generic insect repellents.
This is why lavender can be used to repel spiders whether it is used in candles, incense sticks, or essential oils, as all of these can emit strong scents.
While lavender essential oil is a popular choice for treating bug bites and warding off insets, it needs to be applied correctly to keep spiders away.
Adding 15 to 20 drops to a spray bottle filled with water and spritzing the solution around the house should do the trick, according to Facebook cleaning enthusiasts.
Elsewhere in the comments, users recommended conkers, which have long been rumored to repel spiders with their pungent smell.
“I swear by putting conkers in the corners of every room,” wrote one user. “I’ve done this for the past five years and it really does work. I’ve tried the horse chestnut spray but they didn’t work.”
Though hundreds of users endorsed the use of conkers for repelling spiders, there is no scientific basis for this argument.
Others in the comments advised peppermint oil as an even better solution, with one user penning: “Conkers never work for me. Peppermint oil works wonders!”
Another echoed this advice, writing: “Peppermint I swear by it”.
