A TikTok user revealed a brilliant life hack for dealing with spiders as the colder months continue.
September to mid-October has been dubbed “spider season” due to the increase in creepy crawlies getting into warmer spots in your home.
But a simple trick to keep them at bay shows how best to deal with the nuisances.
For those “terrified of the eight-legged freaks” like @plantbasedkate, this hack may be a game-changer in keeping your home spider-free. Colder conditions outdoors mean insects and other creatures dart straight for warmth.
It is not just the smaller spiders trying to make their way into homes at this time of year but the larger ones too, according to Kate who seems to have the solution for keeping them at bay.
In a now viral post to TikTok, Kate revealed: “If like me you’re terrified of spiders and it is the season for those big, thick spiders to try and come in the house, get some VapoRub or ulbesoil and pop it on your windowsills and door frames.”
The minty flavour of VapoRub is enough to prevent spiders from stepping into your home as they cannot stand the taste of it, and have taste receptors on their feet. Kate explained: “Spiders have little taste buds in their feet and they hate mint. So once they taste the mint they will not come in.
“It’s a really ethical way to stop spiders from getting in your house.” But some suggested Kate let the spiders in, with one user writing: “You know they’re called house spiders for a reason right? They don’t survive outside hence the name.”
Another user replied to their comment and revealed it was not the problem of arachnophobes to house spiders. “That sounds like the spiders problem, they can go find another house,” they wrote.
Some users were unable to use the hack due to the toxicity of VapoRub with animals, with one user writing: “Unfortunately it’s toxic to cats so I can’t use it.” That same user revealed their way of dealing with spiders as they cannot use mint or cleaning products for fear their cat will ingest it.
They wrote: “I recommend just closing holes and use an insect screen door/window.” Another user added the VapoRub tip is not safe for dogs either.
