Deter spiders from coming into your home by using 1 natural deterrent

Anyone with a driveway or a patio is being urged to spray white vinegar on it for a very important reason. It might sound bizarre, but this natural ingredient has so many benefits - including keeping unwanted pests at bay.

You may have already noticed, but right now we're in the midst of spider season here in the UK. When the weather starts to cool, spiders begin to head inside to mate and search for food and shelter. But you can stop them in their tracks by grabbing a spray bottle of white vinegar and taking it outside.

According to experts, white vinegar makes a great natural deterrent for spiders. So if you want to stop them from creeping in through cracks or gaps in your doors or walls, spraying white vinegar on the ground near your house will do just that.

These eight-legged creatures have a very strong sense of smell, and the vinegar odour can overwhelm and confuse the chemoreceptors on their legs - which they use to scope out their environment.

"Vinegar can also be a handy natural deterrent, working in much the same way as essential oils," says Liam Cleverdon, cleaning expert and Director at Flooring King.

"A simple mix of half white vinegar and half water in a spray bottle is enough; just spritz it around door frames, window ledges, or corners where spiders are likely to enter.

"The only thing to watch out for is varnished or polished surfaces, as vinegar can dull the finish over time."

This will be enough to stop spiders from trying to enter your home, and because white vinegar is non-toxic, it's safe to use inside the home too.

As well as white vinegar, there's another natural item that can come in really handy when trying to deter spiders - peppermint oil.

All you need to do is grab some cotton wool balls, soak them with the essential oil, and place them around any areas where spiders are most likely to enter your home, such as windowsills, door frames or cracks in walls or flooring.

"Peppermint oil emits a strong scent which repels spiders," said Robert Collins, pest control expert at MyJobQuote.

"Add 15 to 20 drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle with water and spritz this in any areas where you've noticed spiders in the home."