The leaves are changing colour, the nights are drawing in earlier and the weather is getting colder – which means one thing – spiders are heading back indoors to lurk in the darkest corners of your home.

Switch off your outside light

It’s a myth that spiders are attracted to light, but the insects they feed on often are. So if you switch off your light you’re less likely to play host to a feeding ground in your front room.

Logically, spiders are getting into your house through any small gaps you may have, so it makes sense to fill cracks and holes leading from the outside in. Use a sealant to fill in large gaps of space in closed doors and windows.

Move plants away from your house

Spiders like plants because they provide great hiding spots. When spiders need to seek out warmth or new food sources, they crawl from the vegetation toward your home, getting in through cracks. With this in mind, you might want to move plants and vegetation away from the exterior of your house. You should also aim to move mulch, stones, leaves, or other debris that could provide a neglected hiding spot.

Peppermint oil and vinegar

Here’s a cheap and easy method to keep the spiders at bay: keep a spray bottle handy filled with vinegar or peppermint oil – spiders dislike the smell of both. Give windows and doors a light spritz to act as a natural deterrent to creepy crawlies.

Get a cat

This is an extreme measure, but even the most docile house cats are natural hunters. While they aren’t going to eliminate the entire spider problem, they’ll catch anything they see running through your house.

Deter spiders with conkers

A popular old wives tale says that conkers can be placed around the home to deter spiders – many claim they hate the smell. Walnuts are thought to have the same effect.

Lastly, keep your house clean and tidy

Probably not as fun as getting a new cat or picking conkers, but it works. Spiders love to hide in dark places, and any leftover food will attract small insects that they can feast on. Giving your house a thorough clean on a regular basis will also effectively rid of egg sacs and webs that have already formed in your house. Norwex have a great range of eco friendly cleaning items that will help you keep those spiders at bay. I particularly love the envirowand for removing them from ceilings and the mop system for getting into all those nooks and crannies, under cupboards and beds