Every September without fail I start to dread evenings at home. Not because of the darker nights or the chaos with my youngest being back at college but because it’s spider season. If you live in the UK you’ll know exactly what I mean. One minute you’re sat happily watching TV and the next a massive spider runs across the living room floor like it owns the place and you’re left either perched on the sofa with your feet tucked up or sprinting out of the room to find someone else to deal with it. I hate them, I always have. Doesn’t matter that everyone tells me they’re harmless or they eat flies. I don’t care, I just don’t want them in my house!
Why spiders show up more in September?
Spiders are around all year but we notice them more in late summer and autumn for a couple of reasons. It’s their mating season. The males start wandering about looking for females, which means they’re suddenly out in the open instead of hiding quietly in corners. They want warmth. Once it starts getting chilly outside our cosy homes look like the perfect place to move into and that’s why it feels like they’re suddenly everywhere. They’re not new, they’ve just come out to play at the worst possible time.
How they sneak in!
I used to think they just appeared out of thin air but no they get in through tiny gaps. Around windows, doors, vents, under skirting boards, even where the pipes go through walls. If there’s a way in, they’ll find it.
Myths we’ve all heard!
People love to throw out facts about spiders when you admit you’re scared of them. Here are a few I hear all the time:
They’re more scared of you than you are of them!
Sorry but I don’t believe that for a second. If they were scared, why would they run straight across the carpet towards me? I’m not buying it!
You swallow loads of spiders in your sleep every year!
Thankfully this is a complete myth. Spiders aren’t interested in humans as food and don’t willingly crawl into our mouths.
If you put a house spider outside, it’ll die!
Partially true. Some species like the house spider are adapted to indoor life and may struggle outdoors, especially in cold weather. That said, many still survive and thrive in gardens and sheds.
It’s bad luck to kill a spider!
That’s just superstition. I still prefer not to squash them but if it’s me or them, I’m choosing me.
Why they freak me Out!
I know loads of people who can just scoop them up and carry on like nothing happened. I’m not one of those people. When I see a spider, I freeze, my heart races and I suddenly feel itchy all over like something’s crawling on me. Even after it’s gone I’ll avoid that room for a while and if it’s in the bedroom, I’m sleeping on the sofa! It sounds dramatic but I know loads of us are the same.
How to keep them out!
You can’t stop every single one, but you can cut down on the chances. Here’s what actually helps:
Seal up gaps. Around windows, doors, pipes, vents. A bit of sealant or draught excluder works wonders.
Vacuum often. Corners, under the sofa, behind furniture basically anywhere they might spin a web or hide.
Peppermint spray. Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and go around windowsills, doors, and skirting boards. They hate it and it makes the house smell nice.
Keep clutter down. Piles of clothes, boxes and bags are perfect hiding spots. The tidier it is the fewer places they’ve got to lurk.
Go easy on outdoor lights. Lights attract flies which attract spiders. Motion sensor lights are a decent compromise.
Try citrus. Lemon peel or citrus scented polish can put them off.
Should we learn to live with them?
The experts say yes. Spiders eat flies and other bugs so they’re actually useful and in the UK and they’re harmless. The biggest house spiders look scary but they won’t hurt you. I do get that they have their place in nature. I just wish their place wasn’t in my living room!
So if you’re like me and hate this time of year for the eight legged reason remember that it’s normal to see more spiders now, it’s just their season and it’s totally fine to hate them, even if everyone else tells you they’re harmless.
Are you scared of spiders too?
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