Households across the UK are being urged to put orange peel by their windows, doors and in bins to keep spiders away.

Spider season usually starts in the UK in early September and lasts until mid-October, but timings can vary depending on the weather. When conditions are warmer and drier in the late summer, this can kick off spider season early as they start to head indoors to seek shelter and mates. As the weather has been particularly warm so far this summer, households should expect to see increased spider activity this year and it’s likely they’ve already started to appear inside homes.

There are several species of spiders that commonly creep inside UK homes, with the most common being house spiders. It’s also possible to see cellar spiders, lace web spiders and false widows, which have shiny brown bodies and a slightly rounded shape.

The eight-legged creatures find their way inside through any cracks or gaps they can find, open windows and doors, or they can be brought in on plants or clothing from outside.

Any easy solution to keep them out is to keep doors and windows closed, particularly when you have the lights on inside, and by filling any gaps or cracks around your home, but there is an extra layer of defence you can use to keep them at bay – and all you need is orange peel.

Spiders don’t like citrus smells like orange peel because of the strong acidic aroma, so it provides the ideal natural deterrent to use around your home. Simply place the peel on windowsills, in a bowl in the kitchen, and even in bins, and the scent should help to keep them out.

Experts at Enviroliteracy explain: “Orange peels can help to repel spiders. Spiders are known to dislike strong citrus scents, and the compounds found in orange peels can be an effective, natural deterrent. 

“While not a guaranteed solution for complete spider eradication, using orange peels is a low-cost and environmentally friendly way to make your home less attractive to these eight-legged visitors.

“Spiders rely heavily on their senses, particularly the tiny hairs on their legs, to detect vibrations and smells. Strong odours, like those emitted by citrus fruits, can overwhelm their senses, causing them to avoid the area.”

It can also be a good idea to use citrus scented cleaners around your home to discourage spiders from entering, or use a few drops of essential oils containing orange around your windows and doors.

Alternatively, you could make your own homemade solution by soaking orange peels in boiling water, along with a few drops of essential oil, and leave this overnight before transferring into a spray bottle.

Experts at Lake Norman Pest add: “If you have oranges at home and you tend to throw the peels, better stop doing it, especially if you have spiders at home. Orange peels help in repelling spiders, and it will not cost you much.

“The crawling insect is not friends with citrus scents, and it can be the most effective solution for your problem. You only have to cut the peel in chunks and place it inside a container with boiling water. Soak the orange peel overnight and place the extract on a bottle and spray it on places where spiders are usually hiding.

“If you don’t have orange peels, you can also use grapefruit and lemon. Whatever citrus fruits you have, spiders don’t like it, and you can use it to drive them away completely.”