Overview

• Male spiders are starting to roam indoors in late August with activity expected to build into mid‑October as they seek mates and shelter.
• Advisers recommend keeping windows shut in the evening, sealing cracks around frames, turning off exterior lights and clearing clutter to reduce entry and hiding spots.
• Low‑cost deterrents circulating in the media include citrus peels, peppermint or tea tree sprays, vinegar mixes, chalk lines, cotton balls soaked in essential oils and lemon‑scented kitchen cleaners.
• Effectiveness varies and essential oils can be unsafe for pets, while pest specialists repeatedly dismiss conkers as an unsupported remedy.
• Social posts and past retail signals are amplifying the trend, including a TikTok showing lemon cleaner on window frames and a 2023 spike in chalk sales, as coverage also notes false widow spiders are established in UK homes with bites reported rarely.