Summer’s back, and so are the spiders. As we all begin to enjoy the summer heat, some unwanted guests may be sneaking into your home. Spiders. Whether they’re lingering in room corners, or crawling over your bed at night, these pesky creatures will be getting ready for their mating season. And what better place to do it than in the comfort of your warm house?
But don’t be alarmed, an influencer claims to have – not just one – but three secret remedies to spare us all from spiders and various other crawlies too. Anna Louisa, the UK mum and cleaning creator, used Instagram (@anna_louisa_at_home) to share her tricks which are unexpectedly simple.
“Anyone else had crowds of ants and spiders in their homes recently? “, she asked her four million followers. “The ants especially have been everywhere so I was a woman on a mission to get them out. These are three ways I have found have helped.”
Anna shared that a mixture of water and 20 drops of peppermint oil, poured halfway into a spray bottle, could ward off insects due to the oil’s minty aroma. Spraying this concoction around windows and doors is supposed to deter their entry.
However, this method is unsuitable for homeowners with pets, as the oil is harmful to dogs and cats.
Continuing her tutorial, Anna said, “[Secondly,] fruit flies dislike the smell of white vinegar, so put a small bowl of it near your fruit to keep them away. “I add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to mask the smell of white vinegar, but this isn’t necessary. [And finally,] adding 10 drops of orange oil, water and a few drops of dish washing liquid to your spray mop is another way to keep crawling insects away too.”
If you are using a bucket to mop, Anna instead recommends 20 drops of orange oil to a gallon of warm water plus a teaspoon of washing-up liquid. Once again, it’s important to use this with caution, as dogs and cats shouldn’t consume orange oil.
She then stressed: “Please always research which essential oils you can use if you have pets.”
Unsurprisingly, this was quick to rack up countless comments on the platform, with many users eager to try out these tricks for themselves. One person wrote: “Oh my god! ! We have so many spiders suddenly because we’ve cut down some hedges! I’ll be saving this,” as someone else chimed in: “Lavender also works with ants too and spiders! “.
For those with cats and dogs, another recommended: “Use Indorex defense spray for cats and dogs. It works on spiders, ants and flies too. It’s made to kill fleas and dust mites. “It doesn’t stain, so it can be used on floors, nooks and crannies where spiders normally lurk.”
