As the weather outside begins to drop, our cosy homes start to look even more enticing for a whole host of unwanted creepy crawlies
As temperatures begin to plummet outdoors, our warm homes become increasingly appealing to a variety of unwanted creepy crawlies, with millions of households across Britain preparing for some uninvited guests.
Spiders become most active throughout the autumn period, with males particularly wandering through properties seeking a partner. Whilst harmless, their unexpected emergence on walls, ceilings and bathtubs is sufficient to send chills down numerous spines.
For years, people have relied on everything from peppermint sprays to citrus peels in a bid to ward off the eight-legged trespassers.
Certain techniques prove more successful than others, yet somehow the eight-legged creatures still find ways to sneak inside.
The difficulty has consistently been discovering something organic, harmless, and powerful – without saturating the property with potent chemical odours like those costly repellents, reports the Express.
That’s where lavender steps in. A favoured option in numerous British gardens and frequently utilised in essential oils, this aromatic purple bloom serves as a natural spider deterrent.
Specialists claim the powerful fragrance overwhelms their delicate sense of smell, prompting them to remain far from rooms, entrances and windows where the plant or its oil is located.
Guidance from an essential oils expert at Nikura supported this theory. They said: “Lavender oil does the opposite of attracting spiders, as they do not tend to like strong scents.
“Although lavender oil does not kill spiders, it can be effective at repelling them. However, in many cases, repelling spiders should be enough to keep them from returning and setting up home in unwanted spaces.”
Beyond just the scent, there’s genuine scientific reasoning behind this method.
Spiders don’t depend on vision like humans do; rather, they rely on highly sensitive receptors in their limbs to pick up tremors and odours.
The potent floral aroma of lavender, whilst pleasant to humans, is believed to be overwhelming and disagreeable to these creatures.
By positioning lavender near access points, you render your property much less appealing.
There are several ways you can introduce lavender into your property, from using dried stems in sachets hung throughout your house, to more sophisticated misters, diffusers or sprays containing lavender essential oils.
You might even bring some of the plants inside, positioning potted bushes beside entrances or next to window ledges to prevent the creatures from entering.
Unlike aggressive chemical deterrents, natural lavender stems offer the bonus of creating a lovely fragrance.
Research has demonstrated that lavender oils can also assist in relaxation.
Lavender essential oils feature a substance called linalool which helps soothe the central nervous system, decrease stress, and control physical reactions such as elevated heart rate and rapid breathing. Research has also associated the scent with improved sleep, making it particularly beneficial in bedrooms.
Unlike harsh chemical repellents, it leaves behind a fragrance that most people find calming and invigorating.
