My 12 cheap tricks for getting rid of spiders as autumn invasion begins – it costs as little as 30p and takes seconds

FINDING a spider in your home can be an unpleasant and even terrifying experience, but there are a number of ways to keep them at bay.

Autumn is often known as spider season in the UK because this is the time the critters leave their webs and crawl into homes in search of a mate.

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They can also enter homes in search of warmth as the temperatures drop.

If you tend to run a mile every time you see one of these eight-legged creatures, it is worth keeping in mind that most of Britain's 650 species of spiders are harmless.

But if you are not a fan, there are plenty of ways to keep your home spider-free without spending a small fortune.

First things first, it is worth dusting and hoovering your home on a regular basis to get rid of cobwebs that could contain any unhatched spider eggs.

When you clean make sure you try and reach every corner including behind TV and book stands as spiders like to hide in dark corners and crevices.

If you want to be extra vigilant there are also a number of other remedies to help keep your home spider-free.

Laura Juniper expert at GardenBuldingsDirect, shared her top affordable hacks to keep the pests out of your home.

"Spiders don’t have the best reputation and some people really don’t like sharing their home with them," she says.

"If they’re really not for you, think about some simple changes like using scents they dislike, keeping the garden debris and moving outdoor bins away from open windows.

"Maybe think about a wheelie bin storage shed too," she added.

1. Use citrus fruits - costs 30p

Lemon, lime and oranges all repel spiders, according to Laura.

Try spraying the scents around window sills and doors.

You can buy a lemon for 30p in Tesco so it is quite an inexpensive hack if you want to try it out.

You can also squeeze the juice of a lemon into a spray bottle and add some water to make a natural repellent.

It is also non-toxic so it is suitable to use around pets.

Other scents spiders don’t like include eucalyptus oil, lavender, tea tree oil, peppermint oil and vinegar.

2. Get planting -£1

"Try adding repelling plants to your interiors to deter the eight-legged insect," Laura explains.

"Peppermint, lavender, mint and lemon balm are good ones to grow."

"You could put them on pots outside by your front and back doors and near any windows you keep open," she adds.

The Sun found a lavdender plant on sale for £1 on Gardening Express, but you will need to factor in shipping costs to take advantage of this deal.

Elsewhere, Ocado is selling a mint plant for £1.60, which could be another afforable offer.

3. Shut the window - free

Closing your window when you sleep is a free hack to keep spiders out of your home.

"Spiders are nocturnal and keeping the window open will encourage them in," Laura explains.

If you are keen on keeping your windiow open then you could also try a mesh inscet net.

These usally come with an adhesive tape that you stick to the inside of your window after you open it.

The Sun found one on Amazon for £4.99, but again you will have to factor in delivery costs.

The B&Q webiste is also selling a pack of four for £6.99, but these are only availble online and not in store.

4. Pick up some conkers - free

Conkers are said to be an effective spider repellent.

Laura recommends placing them in "parts of your home where you tend to spot spiders like window sills and door frames".

You can find conkers in places with horse chestnut trees, such as parks, gardens, streets, and village greens. 

Conkers ripen in autumn and fall to the ground in September and October. 

It is said that conkers contain a noxious chemical that spiders avoid, but no one has been able to scientifically prove it.

5. Dim the lights - free

While spiders are known to hide in dark places they can also sometimes be drawn to light.

"Dim the lights if you can or use a lamp instead to stop the creepy crawlies sneaking in," Laura says.

If you are feeling extra cautious you could try an insect repellent device.

B&Q is selling a plug-in spider repellent for £23.99.

It works by creating ultrasonic waves which hit frequencies too high for humans and most pets to hear.

These ultrasonics are thought to be extremely uncomfortable for spiders and crawling insects, causing them to leave the room space.

Again, this product is only available to shop online and you can not buy it in store.  

6. Clear away dead bugs -£3

"Dead flies and other small insects are perfect spider food. So clear them up to limit the food sources available," Laura warns.

Once you have done a good sweep and clean of your home, why not mop with a citrus-based floor cleaner.

Flash Multipurpose Cleaning Liquid Lemon is currently on sale for £3 at Ocado.

7. Eucalyptus tree - £32.99

Spiders are not fans of the strong, medicinal scent of an eucalyptus tree, according to Laura.

This can be quite an expensive investment with the average tree costing upwards of £30 in garden stores.

B&Q is selling on by You Garden for £32.99.

A cheaper option may be picking up some essential eucalyptus oil and rubbing it in the corner of windows and other places spiders tend to hide.

Superdrug is selling an essential eucalyptus oil for £4.99 online.

8. Move your bin - free

Spiders like to eat flies and flies can always be found around bins.

Laura said it is worth remembering to "close bin lids and move them away from doors".

Instead, if you are really concerned about attracting spiders it may be worth leaving your bin outside or putting it in the shed.

9. Pet hair - free

Spiders don’t like the texture of pet hair, so it may be worth keeping your dog or cat's sheddings near areas that spiders like to crawl in.

"If you have a pet, let the fur accumulate in areas spiders sneak in," Laura adds.

However, be aware that this may cause issues if you have guests with an allergy to pet hair popping around.

10. Stay on top of your garden - £10

If you are keen to keep spiders out of your home then you should be start by keeping your garden clear.

"Clear up autumn leaves, grass cuttings and any other garden debris. Spiders and other bugs love to lurk in them," says Laura.

B&Q sells garden rakes starting at £10, which can be used as a handy tool for getting rid of leaves that have fallen in your garden.

11. Seal any gaps -£8.99

As well as keeping corners clean and tidy, it may be worth sealing any gaps in your windows to stop spiders getting in, Laura adds.

You can buy window seals for £8.99 on Amazon and they can be an inexpensive way to keep out a draught as well as any creepy crawlies.

12. Encourage other bugs into your garden

Laura recommends encouraging natural predators like ladybirds and birds into your garden to help repel spiders.

Ladybirds are beneficial predators that eat insects that harm crops, such as aphids, scale bugs, fruit flies, mites, and mealybugs

Ladybirds are attracted to pollen-rich blooms, such as dill, fennel, angelica, and yarrow, so it may be worth planting a few of these plants to keep spiders at bay.

Waitrose is currently selling a fennel plant for £6.99 in stores and online.