Bec Oakes
UK homes are under attack by a certain eight-legged monster... That's right, it's spider season.
Much to the dismay of arachnophobes around the country, each September, giant spiders start creeping into our homes, scurrying across skirting boards and hanging ominously from ceilings, in the hope of finding a mate.
And, after an unusually wet summer, spider season started even earlier this year.
Fortunately, one woman has come up with a genius tactic to keep these creepy crawlies out.
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TikToker Kamana Bhaskaran has taken to the social media platform to share her DIY 'Spider Spray.'
"Spiders coming into the house with the summer heat," she says in the video. "Let me show you how to keep them away with this all natural DIY spider spray."
Kamana fills an empty spray bottle with water before adding peppermint oil and mixing the two liquids together.
She recommends spraying the solution alongside the outside of the house, entryways and windows, as well as in corners.
"The peppermint smell repels the spiders," Kamana claims.
Experts agree. According to The Mirror, they recommend adding up to 20 drops of peppermint oil to water and spraying it around the house to make your abode a spider-free zone.
If you aren't a fan of peppermint specifically, a few other scents may also work, as spiders apparently don't like strong smells. You can also opt for lavender, eucalyptus, or citronella.
Experts also recommends a few other things to keep the eight-legged critters from living rent-free in your home.
First, keep your house clean, tidy and free of cobwebs. Once the webs are gone, this will deter them from wanting to return.
You can also try the 'chalk method'.
Spiders taste with their feet and they really don't like the taste of chalk. Draw a line of chalk around your bed, along window frames, doorways and other areas to create no-go zones they won't want to enter.
But as tempting as it may be to whack these home invaders with a shoe on sight, an expert has shared why you should never kill a spider in your home.
Matt Bertone, an Extension Associate in Entomology at the North Carolina State University, explained that spiders are 'an important part of nature and our indoor ecosystem' and actually provide a whole range of services like eating 'nuisance pests and even disease-carrying insects', such as mosquitos.
He said: "Killing a spider doesn’t just cost the arachnid its life, it may take an important predator out of your home."
Instead, if you just can't cope with the idea of cohabiting with the creepy crawly, Matt recommends trying 'to capture it and release it outside'.
"It’ll find somewhere else to go, and both parties will be happier with the outcome," he added.