Fear is a potent thing. It completely overrides our sense of logic and makes us behave in unusual ways that have the rest of the world looking on at us, eyebrows way up into their hairlines.
According to a 2022 study by consumer genetics company 23andMe, nearly 40 per cent of those surveyed have an excessive fear of something, from a fear of heights to a total inability to cope with spiders.
The spider phobia is a common one. While it may not debilitate everyone, the sight of an eight-legged insect has the wimpiest of us scrambling for cover in another room and the bravest souls edging closer with a pint glass to trap it under and deal with at some undetermined point in the future.
It could be their excessive amount of spindly and hairy legs, number of eyes and pincers, their erratic movements, or the clamouring fear of laying eggs in our ears as we sleep (just us?); there are plenty of reasons as to why arachnophobia is so prevalent in British society, despite the ones that can actually do us any real harm on these shores being less than a handful.
While they may not maim or kill us, they still gross the majority of people out - and that’s enough to have us looking for ways to deter them from our homes. That said, spiders are useful creatures that eat other insects and keep gardens and plants healthy, so it might be worth keeping them around - just not in your bed or lounging areas.
With this in mind, we’ve opted to find as many poison-free formulas to keep them away but not kill them. Think of these products as a gentle nudge so that both spiders and humans can co-exist in peace.
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Zero In Spider Repellent
Scented with mint and made without poison, this natural spray from Zero In wards off spiders in a humane way. Spray at entry points to stop spiders and other crawling insects from wandering in uninvited. Don’t forget to reapply after you’ve done your cleaning to keep your home a spider-free zone.
Buy now £4.49, Amazon
Ready Steady Gro Spider Repellent Spray
This double-strength spray encourages spiders to find another place to spin their webs by including highly scented essential oils in the formula. This repels them without harming them and with repeated use, should stop them from coming back entirely. One to crack out in early autumn when the UK has its spider season.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Karlsten Natural Spider Spray Peppermint Oil Humane Spider Repellent
Harnessing the natural spider-battling properties of peppermint oil, Karlsten’s formula can be used both inside and outside the home to keep creepy crawlies away. While it’s unfair to spiders to douse your entire garden with this stuff, it’s a good eco option to keep in pantries, conservatories and sheds. However, peppermint oil can be harmful to pets so best to rule this option out if you’re the owner of furry creatures.
Buy now £13.99, Amazon
Diptyque Citronnelle Scented Candle, 190g
They may be good for keeping mozzies away in the summer, but citronella scents can continue fighting the good fight into autumn when spiders are at their most active in the UK. There are plenty of citronella candles at much cheaper price points, but we’ve chosen Diptyque because - well, any excuse in honesty. Light along a windowsill and leave the smoke to trail out once you’ve blown it out. Spiders hate smoke too.
Buy now £56.00, John Lewis
Vicks VapoRub
Spiders are sensitive beings that hate the smell of citrus, peppermint, tea-tree, lavender, rose and cinnamon, so look for repellents that are scented with these notes, or make your own with scented essential oils. They also hate things like Vicks VapoRub, so it’s an excellent thing to put on if you know there’s an elusive spider hiding somewhere in your bedroom.
Buy now £5.25, Boots
Prezzybox Pink Spider Catcher
Sometimes there’s nothing for it but to put on our big person pants and rehome a wandering arachnid back into the wild where they belong. Leave the glasses in their cupboards and reach instead for this catcher that keeps you at more than arm’s length without hurting Incy Wincy. The clever catcher is fitted with a bunch of harmless bristles on one end and a trigger release handle so you can set them free once you’re a safe distance out of your home.
Buy now £15.00, Prezzybox
WD-40 Multi-Use Smart Straw 450ml Spray Aerosol Can Clean Rust Lubricant
This familiar blue can is for more than easing squeaky hinges; it can keep spiders outside too. Simply apply some to windowsill edges and door frames to keep bugs out without hurting them.
Buy now £5.66, Amazon
Pestbye Whole House Plug In Spider Repellent & Deterrent
It may be some sort of primal wiring to run screaming from spiders, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a 21st-century way to deal with them. From PestBye comes this plug-in deterrent which uses electromagnetic waves and ultrasonic sound waves to deter them from not just the room, but the whole house. It’s important to bear in mind that some waves cannot penetrate solid objects, so unless you’re trying to clean an open-plan space, you’ll likely need more than one of these little cruelty-free gizmos.
Buy now £37.99, Amazon
Verdict
Humane yet oh-so effective, Zero In takes the lead in getting spiders out of your hair. The natural formula won't hurt them but will encourage them to find a new home that's not yours.
