Overview

• Motoring advice this week urges lemon peels or citrus-based sprays in vehicles, thorough cleaning and sealed vents or window seals, with experts warning distracted driving by a spider can lead to fines.
• Household guidance centers on sealing gaps around doors, windows and pipes, closing windows at dusk or after rain, decluttering, regular vacuuming and switching off unnecessary lights to reduce insect prey.
• Peppermint, citrus, cinnamon and other scent-based DIY sprays are widely promoted, yet scientists report inconsistent evidence for their effectiveness and the Royal Society of Chemistry says conkers do not repel spiders.
• Zoologists say 2025’s warm, dry spring and summer produced earlier maturation and more roaming males seeking mates, increasing sightings and pushing some species further north.
• Arachnologists stress most UK spiders are not medically significant, and households using essential oils should exercise pet-safety caution or consider professional pest control for persistent problems.