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Every home in the UK is home to at least 30 spiders crawling around it - and they’re useful to have around. Spiders eat other insects such as flies, moths and earwigs, keeping the population
in check. However, the pests can be horrifying to some Britons. In fact, an estimated six percent of the general population suffers from arachnophobia which is a fear of spiders. Deterring
spiders can be tricky business as they often scurry quickly from place to place. With this in mind, property experts at HomeServe have offered their tips on how to deal with spiders this
summer. READ MORE: WOMAN FUMING AFTER NEIGHBOUR COMPLETELY 'RUINS' HER FENCE - 'HATE THE COLOUR' One common method that is often used is conkers, however, the experts
claim this is an “old wives’ tale”. They said: “Throw the conkers out, spook spiders with a mix of water and white vinegar. “The idea that conkers will scare off your eight-legged invaders
is an old wives’ tale. “The story goes that conkers contain a noxious chemical that repels spiders but no one's ever been able to scientifically prove this. “An alternative solution is
mixing equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle, and spritzing directly on spiders, webs, or in places where you find them like corners, cabinets, or closets. “White vinegar
contains acetic acid which is harmful to spiders.” White vinegar can be found in most kitchen cupboards, but for those who don’t have any it can be bought online or from most local
supermarkets. Wilko Original White Vinegar costs £1.25 from Wilko, Dri-pak Clean & natural White vinegar costs £2 from B&Q and Stardrops White Vinegar Multi-Purpose Cleaning Spray
costs 99p from Asda. While white vinegar is harmless to humans, acetic acid tastes sour to spiders. Other spider deterrents include citrus, peppermint, tea tree, lavender, rose and cinnamon.
Citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges are particularly unpleasant to spiders. Using the peel is a good way to deter spiders.
