Latest news with #PestUK
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- General
- Daily Record
Stop spiders entering the home this mating season with two simple cleaning rules
The end of August marks the start of spider season in UK households. Brits have been advised on the simplest methods to keep spiders away from their homes before mating season begins. Approaching the final weeks of August, you might notice an increase in arachnids coming into your dwelling. When temperatures begin to drop at summer's end, spiders will venture indoors searching for drier, more comfortable surroundings. This period also signals the start of their breeding season, with male spiders beginning their hunt for potential mates. Consequently, if you're not particularly fond of these eight-legged visitors, it's worthwhile implementing measures to spider-proof your property. Fortunately, specialists have disclosed that this can be straightforward and inexpensive to achieve. As reported by The Mirror, pest control experts have urged residents to adopt two cleaning principles to reduce the likelihood of finding spiders inside their homes. Through maintaining these habits, you'll remove some of the concealment spots that spiders favour. Clear away clutter According to Pest UK, spiders favour hiding away from sight. The firm explains: "They love hiding in boxes and packages while they wait for their prey. Keep your home tidy and free of clutter that could encourage spiders to take residence." Vacuum regularly You should give "special" attention to tricky spots behind furniture, in dark corners, and under sofas where spiders tend to hide themselves. This advice is supported by Country Living, which explains: "Spiders like having somewhere to hide, so keep your house neat and tidy through regular tidying, cleaning and decluttering to prevent mess from building up. "Plastic storage containers are better than cardboard boxes as they are harder for spiders to crawl into. Make sure to dust and vacuum frequently to rid your house of unwanted webs." Other methods to deter spiders You could also consider adding the following plants to your home, which are known for their spider-repelling qualities: Basil Rosemary Lavender Mint Chrysanthemum Citronella Using certain scents around your home can also be highly effective. These include peppermint, tea tree, lavender, citrus (lemon, lime, orange), cinnamon, vinegar, and cedar.
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Stop spiders entering the home this mating season with two simple rules
Towards the end of summer, spiders will start to enter homes Experts have advised Brits on the easiest ways to deter spiders from their homes ahead of mating season. Towards the end of August, many households will typically see more arachnids coming inside. As temperatures start to cool at the end of summer, spiders will start to head into homes seeking drier and warmer conditions. It also marks the beginning of their mating season. As a result, male spiders will start looking for females. Therefore, if you are not the biggest fan of the eight-legged creatures, it is worth taking some steps to spider-proof your home. Luckily experts have revealed this can be simple and cheap to do. Pest management professionals have encouraged people to follow two housekeeping principles to minimise the chances of discovering spiders indoors. By maintaining these practices, you'll eliminate some of the hiding areas favoured by spiders. On its website, Pest UK advises people to: Clear away clutter Vacuum regularly Clear away clutter According to Pest UK, spiders prefer to hide out of view. The company states: "They love hiding in boxes and packages while they wait for their prey. "Keep your home tidy and free of clutter that could encourage spiders to take residence." Vacuum frequently You should pay "special" attention to challenging areas behind furniture, in shadowy corners, and beneath settees where spiders prefer to conceal themselves. This guidance is backed by Country Living, which states: "Spiders like having somewhere to hide, so keep your house neat and tidy through regular tidying, cleaning and decluttering to prevent mess from building up. "Plastic storage containers are better than cardboard boxes as they are harder for spiders to crawl into. Make sure to dust and vacuum frequently to rid your house of unwanted webs." Other ways to repel spiders You might also contemplate introducing the following plants into your home, which are recognised for their spider-deterrent properties: Basil Rosemary Lavender Mint Chrysanthemum Citronella Introducing particular fragrances throughout your property can also prove effective. Examples include peppermint, tea tree, lavender, citrus (lemon, lime, orange), cinnamon, vinegar, and cedar.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Nancy Birtwhistle says 'keep flies out' using one simple tip
Nancy Birtwhistle, an author and regular figure on ITV's This Morning, shared her advice on Instagram Flies can be a nuisance to deal with, especially when they buzz around the house during summer. But one expert believes their lesser-known hack may keep them at bay - and it's surprisingly straightforward. Nancy Birtwhistle, an author and regular figure on ITV's This Morning, shared her ideas on Instagram this week. All you need are egg cups plus two ingredients you probably have lurking in the cupboard. "Keeping the flies out," she said, standing in her kitchen. "Two egg cups, lemons. Cloves, stick them in [to the lemons]." Nancy panned the camera down to show herself placing individual cloves into each segment of a halved lemon. The 2014 Great British Bake Off winner continued: "Insects hate the smell of cloves, not too fussed about lemon, whereas we love the smell. I keep one in my pantry [and I] keep flies away from my houseplants." She popped another lemon into a squeezer and went on: "Or use your lemon [first and] add your cloves." Nancy certainly isn't alone in using this trick. Citrus fruits have long been used as natural insect deterrents in various cultures. Recent research suggests this may be due to the fruits' phytochemicals, including limonene, citronellol, and citral, which produce scents that may be off-putting to unwanted houseguests. However, it's crucial to note this isn't a foolproof method. Another study, which explored using lemon oil and other aromatic products to repel spiders, found that they did not affect them. While its scientists, therefore, classed its spider-repelling properties as bogus, they did acknowledge that its use had been referenced in more than one million Google hits. And for flies, at least, Nancy's followers also claimed the trick worked. Amidst a wave of comments, one fan wrote: "My goodness it works. It's a beautiful day so my doors are open. They're flying in and within seconds flying out. Thank you." Meanwhile, another added: "My fruit flies gone! Just like that! Thank you." While flies are annoying, they also pose a potential health hazard, especially when buzzing around food. Species like fruit flies are not only attracted to your dinner, but also take a liking to faeces, rotting products and manure. This means they may carry a wealth of bacteria as a result, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which can make you very ill. Previous advice from Pest UK has warned: "They like to live, feed, and breed in warm, damp spaces such as drains, cleaning cloths, mops and buckets, waste disposals, bins, or anywhere there is ripe, rotting, decayed fruit or empty beer and wine bottles and food tins. "An adult female fruit fly can lay up to 2,000 eggs on the surface of anything that's moist and rotting. Within 30 hours, tiny maggots hatch and start to eat the decayed food. Within two days, they're all grown up and ready to mate, too."
