Households across Ireland are being urged to spray garden paths and patios with vinegar over the next five weeks to repel spiders during their peak autumn season.This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
The key to keeping spiders out of your home starts outside(Image: Getty Images)
Households across Ireland are being urged to spray their garden paths and patios with vinegar for the next five weeks – and not just for cleaning, but to fend off some unwanted guests.
September marked the start of spider season in Ireland, and that means many households are currently seeing a surge in eight-legged intruders.
As the weather cools, spiders become far more visible as they head inside homes in search of warmth and breeding partners ahead of the winter months. Male spiders roam around the house in search of females, while female spiders usually stay in one spot and wait for males to find them.
Spiders are most active from September until the end of October – but there’s a simple, eco-friendly method to keep them at bay that could make your home almost spider-free until the mating season ends in November.
Landscaping expert Andy McLaughlin from RF Paving says the key to keeping spiders out of your home starts outside. One effective approach is to treat your garden paving and Andy recommends using a vinegar-based solution.
He explained: “Vinegar is not only an affordable kitchen staple, but also a powerful patio cleaner. A balanced mixture of white vinegar and water is an effective method for cleaning your patio slabs, and the acetic acid composition in white vinegar makes it especially effective at removing moss from paving slabs.”
The strong smell of vinegar also drives spiders away, as it disrupts their senses and causes discomfort. He continued: “Allow the solution to sit on the paving slabs for 30 minutes to an hour, and then gently scrub the patio to work in the solution. The diluted mixture can also be sprayed in any potential hiding spots, such as cracks, corners and outdoor furniture.”
White vinegar is inexpensive and widely available in many Irish stores, or you can get a huge five litre tub on Amazon for €9.09. The Miniml Sorrento Eco White Wine Vinegar with Lemon Fragrance has racked up almost 700 glowing reviews.
If you prefer a handy spray bottle, Amazon also sells the ever-popular 750ml bottle of Stardrops White Vinegar for €4.99.
Other ways to keep spiders at bay include creating an outdoor space that offers few hiding spots or places to nest. Andy advised tidying the garden regularly and moving items disturbs spiders and encourages them to move on.
He also suggests planting strongly-scented herbs such as basil, rosemary and thyme, which spiders find unpleasant and will avoid.
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