How to Spider-Proof Your Home (There’s One Thing That Actually Works)
.September has the unfortunate reputation of being “spider season,” but one company claims to have a new solution for at least one of arachnophobes’ biggest nightmares.
A U.K. company called TigerSheds says it has developed “the only spider-proof shed on the web.”
“This product is scientifically proven to be spider proof and is the perfect shed for anyone who has a fear of spiders and wishes to enter their shed in full confidence,” the company boasts.
The shed boasts airtight windows, draft-sealed doors, “spider-repellent” lining paper, and a “No Spiders Allowed” sign with questionably helpful spider-proofing tips like “shut the door behind you.”
If you want to upgrade, there are add-ons like a biannual pest test, “impregnated peppermint, citrus and insecticide treatment,” and our favorite: “a detached ‘creepy crawley’ den to attract spiders away from main shed.” You know… in case you have any enemies.
To top it all off, the whole thing is painted robin’s egg blue, which the company says is “scientifically proven” to repel spiders.
Is it worth it? Without add-ons, the shed costs an arachnophobe $3,067. And there is considerable debate over its effectiveness. Paul Hetherington of the charity Buglife told the Guardian he thinks the shed is “utterly ridiculous,” and says there’s no science supporting any of the “spider-repelling” features. Ouch!
To add insult to injury, a well-read prankster is flooding the TigerSheds site with “reviews” ridiculing the product from the perspective of literary characters —Hagrid, apparently, loves the shed.
But for those of us who live in fear of arachnids, is there anything we actually can do to make our homes a little less spider-friendly?
If you’re not prepared to fork over $3,000, is there really anything you can do to keep these eight-legged creepers away from your home?
Lots of blogs will suggest spraying peppermint, eucalyptus, and citrus oils in spider-prone corners, under beds, and along window frames. But as Hetherington points out, “there are a few herbs that insects don’t like, but I’m not aware of any that spiders are opposed to. … Short of living in a hermetically sealed box, you can’t not encounter spiders.”
Part of the problem is that the spiders you encounter in your home during August and September are usually not seeking shelter from the cold, they are lovelorn mature male “house spiders” wandering around looking for a mate. They’re most likely already in your home, hiding out in dusty corners and cluttered crawlspaces, so keeping them from coming inside isn’t the problem. Most of them probably couldn’t even survive outside.
Your best bet? Declutter. If you’re truly terrified of playing spider host, your best option is to keep a clean, dust-free home with minimal spider-friendly clutter. How’s that for motivation?
Also, remember that spiders protect your home from flies, aphids, wasps, mosquitos, and lots of other insidious beasties. So instead of sleeping with the light on, use these sources to learn which spiders are actually a threat to you and your family.
And maybe skip painting your whole house powder blue… unless, you know, you think that might look nice.
Also on Yahoo Makers:
Your Home Isn’t Ready for Fall Until You Do These 8 Chores
10 Plants to Grow for a Pest-Proof Yard
5 Unusual Ways to Use WD-40
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