Spiders are one of the most common household pests in the UK. They find their way into homes up and down the country, and while they are rarely dangerous, they are still very much a pest. For a lot of people they are far more than that. Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, is one of the most common phobias in the world.
Spiders are not all bad
It is worth saying that spiders do some good. They feed on plenty of other household pests, including cockroaches, earwigs, flies and moths. Left to it, a spider will work its way through most of the insects in your home, which makes it a surprisingly effective bit of natural pest control.
The trouble is the mess. Unlike our pest control technicians, spiders leave webs behind, and for many people they are pretty unsettling to look at too. Cobwebs make a room look neglected even when it is not. You could clean the house from top to bottom one day and find a fresh web the next. Combine that with the fear factor and it is easy to see why most people want them gone quickly.
What a lot of spiders is really telling you
A spider only stays where there is food, and its food is other insects. So if you are suddenly seeing a lot of spiders, treat it as a clue. It often means there is another pest problem in the house that you have not noticed yet. Worth keeping your eyes peeled for what is feeding them.
Keeping spiders out
Regular vacuuming and cleaning goes a long way. A clean, dust-free home is far less inviting and helps prevent a full infestation, which is a more serious matter than the odd spider here and there. Two popular home remedies are peppermint oil and conkers; placed by doors and windows, the smell tends to put spiders off. The most reliable approach, though, is to remove their food source, because once the other insects are gone the spiders have little reason to stay.
If you are struggling with a spider infestation, or any other kind of pest problem, call our team. Our technicians can visit your home, get to the bottom of what is going on and recommend the right treatment. We are open every day except Christmas Day, from early until late.