Urgent guidance issued to protect your home as brits await 'rat-sized' spiders

With the return of 'rat-sized' spiders in the UK, it's probably time to gear up your home's arachnid defences. And now, one pest expert has revealed how to do just that,

but cautions that a common blunder could inadvertently welcome them in. Believe it or not, this all comes down to the lighting used in and outside your home as too much of it may create the

perfect environment for eight-legged creatures. Speaking with The Sun, John Stewart, from the technical team at Pelsis UK, said: "While spiders themselves are not attracted to light

sources, many of the insects they feed on are, which in turn draws them towards outdoor lighting. "Reducing outdoor lighting, especially overnight, can help decrease the number of

insects - and consequently spiders - around your home." Stewart's thoughts come as a ginormous creature known as the 'fen raft spider' is making a comeback in the UK, all

thanks to a 'successful' breeding project, according to the publication.  Incredibly, these arachnids are reportedly the 'size of rats', with webs stretching to the

'size of pizzas' at 25cm.  And to make matters worse, spider mating season is just around the corner too. This may encourage even more arachnids to come into your home while

seeking out a rendezvous. But fear not. Aside from less lighting, there are a few other things you can do to keep them at bay. While Stewart also promotes sealing your windows and keeping

the home as clean as possible, other experts recommend using different fragrant oils. This includes peppermint and chestnut products which are thought to repel bugs due to their strong

odours. Spiders taste and smell the world around them using their legs, so a pungent whiff of these oils is rather overpowering. In a previous Mirror article, experts at Magnet Trade said:

"Like all species, spiders need water and moisture to survive. From sinks and dishwashers to the warmth given off from appliances, it’s the kitchen and bathroom that create the perfect

moist_ _environment to draw them in. "Although they are mostly harmless, we don’t want crawlers contaminating our food or creeping up on us in the bathroom [...] Using houseplants and

natural tricks to do the work for you is not only cheaper, but the chemical-free method makes your home look and smell amazing." However, it's worth noting that it isn't

suitable to use around pets, as the oil is toxic to dogs and cats.