{
 "schema": "whattobuyfor/v1",
 "type": "situation",
 "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house/",
 "json": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house.json",
 "publisher": "What to Buy For",
 "method": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/how-we-build-a-basket/",
 "pricesAsOf": "2026-09-29T07:19:39.897Z",
 "priceNote": "Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.",
 "affiliateDisclosure": "Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.",
 "title": "What to buy for spiders in the house",
 "section": "home",
 "answer": "Six things close the gaps big house spiders use in autumn, from a brush strip for the back door to caulk along skirting boards, and a catcher moves the ones already inside. Killer sprays, conkers and plug-in repellers are skipped.",
 "published": "2026-09-29",
 "updated": "2026-09-29",
 "noindex": false,
 "whyThisBasket": [
  "The Natural History Museum says house spiders are mostly seen in autumn, when the males leave their webs to look for females, and that they come in through open windows, chimneys and gaps under doors. Its remedy is to close windows and block those gaps, so six of the seven roles close one.",
  "The same page says nobody has yet invented an effective device to deter spiders, so repellers and sprays are under Skip, with the reason for each.",
  "The gov.uk draught proofing factsheet names the same fixes for draughts: brush excluders on outside doors, foam strips around windows and a long excluder across the gap under an inside door.",
  "For a spider already inside, the British Arachnological Society's method is a cup or glass and a postcard, then release in a shed or garage. The catcher does the same job at arm's length, for anyone who would rather not get close."
 ],
 "basket": [
  {
   "id": "doors",
   "label": "Doors",
   "intro": "The museum says house spiders move around most at night from August to October, so fit these first.",
   "countsTowardTotal": true,
   "roles": [
    {
     "role": "A brush strip for the bottom of an outside door",
     "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house/#role-door-brush",
     "quantity": "1",
     "lasts": null,
     "consumable": false,
     "lastsDays": null,
     "pick": {
      "asin": "B00GZ8XCLU",
      "name": "STORMGUARD 02SR0190914G Gold Door Brush Strip Draught Excluder",
      "amazonTitle": "STORMGUARD 02SR0190914G Gold Door Brush Strip Draught Excluder",
      "brand": "STORMGUARD",
      "image": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Uc-qKx42L._SL500_.jpg",
      "amazonUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GZ8XCLU",
      "data": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/products/B00GZ8XCLU.json",
      "price": {
       "amount": 6.49,
       "currency": "GBP",
       "checkedAt": "2026-09-29T07:19:39.897Z",
       "note": "Checked on Amazon UK that morning; the price at checkout on amazon.co.uk applies."
      },
      "availability": {
       "status": "IN_STOCK",
       "amazonMessage": null
      },
      "subscribeAndSave": null,
      "signal": null,
      "amazon": {
       "source": "amazon.co.uk",
       "recordedAt": "2026-09-27T02:17:49.761Z",
       "rating": 4.5,
       "ratings": 2818,
       "boughtLastMonth": "500+",
       "categoryRank": {
        "position": 10,
        "category": "Draught Excluders & Seals"
       }
      },
      "buyersSay": {
       "method": "Our own summary of the reviews Amazon showed; each count is the number of reviews making the point.",
       "reviewsRead": 13,
       "readOn": "2026-09-27",
       "like": [
        {
         "text": "Easy to cut down to the door width and screw on",
         "count": 8
        },
        {
         "text": "Noticeably cuts the draught under the door",
         "count": 6
        },
        {
         "text": "Feels strong, and the bristles stay in after trimming",
         "count": 6
        }
       ],
       "watchOutFor": [
        {
         "text": "The supplied screws are tiny and awkward, so use your own",
         "count": 2
        }
       ]
      },
      "ourName": "Stormguard door brush strip",
      "ourTake": "The Natural History Museum names gaps beneath doors as a way in, and the gov.uk factsheet suggests brush excluders fitted along the bottom of outside doors. Stormguard's strip seals gaps up to 25 mm, can be cut to size and comes with fixings, the listing says. It screws to the door, so in a rented home ask the landlord first."
     },
     "budget": null,
     "upgrade": null,
     "sources": [
      {
       "name": "Natural History Museum: House spider identification",
       "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identify-nature/spiders-in-your-home/house-spider.html",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "GOV.UK: Draught proofing, it's a breeze (factsheet)",
       "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75c297ed915d506ee81453/DECC_factsheet_11.11.16_DRAFT_PROOFING_LOCKED.pdf",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "the product's Amazon listing"
      }
     ]
    },
    {
     "role": "A draught excluder for the door from a garage or utility room",
     "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house/#role-door-excluder",
     "quantity": "1",
     "lasts": null,
     "consumable": false,
     "lastsDays": null,
     "pick": {
      "asin": "B0DFWDTSL1",
      "name": "Hongbaite 1-Pack 91 x 8 cm Heavy Under",
      "amazonTitle": "Hongbaite 1-Pack 91 x 8 cm Heavy Under Door Draught Excluder Cushion Draft Wind Stopper for Doors Window with Hanging Loops - Gray",
      "brand": "Hongbaite",
      "image": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41u2RFYcYEL._SL500_.jpg",
      "amazonUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFWDTSL1",
      "data": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/products/B0DFWDTSL1.json",
      "price": {
       "amount": 11.98,
       "currency": "GBP",
       "checkedAt": "2026-09-29T07:19:39.897Z",
       "note": "Checked on Amazon UK that morning; the price at checkout on amazon.co.uk applies."
      },
      "availability": {
       "status": "IN_STOCK",
       "amazonMessage": null
      },
      "subscribeAndSave": null,
      "signal": null,
      "amazon": {
       "source": "amazon.co.uk",
       "recordedAt": "2026-09-27T02:18:00.361Z",
       "rating": 4.5,
       "ratings": 113,
       "boughtLastMonth": "400+",
       "categoryRank": {
        "position": 3,
        "category": "Draught Stoppers"
       }
      },
      "buyersSay": {
       "method": "Our own summary of the reviews Amazon showed; each count is the number of reviews making the point.",
       "reviewsRead": 8,
       "readOn": "2026-09-27",
       "like": [
        {
         "text": "Heavy enough to stay put against the door",
         "count": 4
        },
        {
         "text": "Stops the draught coming under the door",
         "count": 2
        },
        {
         "text": "Well made from good quality fabric",
         "count": 2
        }
       ],
       "watchOutFor": []
      },
      "ourName": "Hongbaite draught excluder, 91 cm",
      "ourTake": "House spiders are most numerous in garages and sheds, the museum says, and reach living rooms through gaps around doors. A weighted excluder lies across the gap under an inside door, as gov.uk suggests between a heated and an unheated room. This one is 91 cm long, covers gaps up to 8 cm and has hanging loops, per the listing. Measure the door first."
     },
     "budget": null,
     "upgrade": null,
     "sources": [
      {
       "name": "Natural History Museum: House spider identification",
       "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identify-nature/spiders-in-your-home/house-spider.html",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "GOV.UK: Draught proofing, it's a breeze (factsheet)",
       "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75c297ed915d506ee81453/DECC_factsheet_11.11.16_DRAFT_PROOFING_LOCKED.pdf",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "the product's Amazon listing"
      }
     ]
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "windows",
   "label": "Windows",
   "intro": null,
   "countsTowardTotal": true,
   "roles": [
    {
     "role": "Foam draught strip for window frames",
     "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house/#role-window-strip",
     "quantity": "1 roll",
     "lasts": null,
     "consumable": false,
     "lastsDays": null,
     "pick": {
      "asin": "B0BR5PXZY9",
      "name": "Draught Excluder Tape for Door Window",
      "amazonTitle": "Draught Excluder Tape for Door Window, Self-Adhesive Weather Stripping, 6M Type D Sealing Foam Tape Strip Against Cold Draught/Anti-Collision/Soundproof/Waterproof/Dustproof White",
      "brand": "Bynsaer",
      "image": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41PVK07I5-L._SL500_.jpg",
      "amazonUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BR5PXZY9",
      "data": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/products/B0BR5PXZY9.json",
      "price": {
       "amount": 4.49,
       "currency": "GBP",
       "checkedAt": "2026-09-29T07:19:39.897Z",
       "note": "Checked on Amazon UK that morning; the price at checkout on amazon.co.uk applies."
      },
      "availability": {
       "status": "IN_STOCK",
       "amazonMessage": null
      },
      "subscribeAndSave": {
       "amount": 4.49,
       "currency": "GBP"
      },
      "signal": null,
      "amazon": {
       "source": "amazon.co.uk",
       "recordedAt": "2026-09-27T02:18:03.320Z",
       "rating": 4.4,
       "ratings": 2383,
       "boughtLastMonth": "1K+",
       "categoryRank": {
        "position": 1,
        "category": "Foam Tape"
       }
      },
      "buyersSay": {
       "method": "Our own summary of the reviews Amazon showed; each count is the number of reviews making the point.",
       "reviewsRead": 13,
       "readOn": "2026-09-27",
       "like": [
        {
         "text": "Noticeably cuts the draught round windows and doors",
         "count": 4
        },
        {
         "text": "Easy to cut to length and stick on by yourself",
         "count": 6
        },
        {
         "text": "The foam is thick and soft enough to fill uneven gaps",
         "count": 4
        }
       ],
       "watchOutFor": [
        {
         "text": "The adhesive can lose its grip sooner than hoped",
         "count": 2
        }
       ]
      },
      "ourName": "Bynsaer foam draught strip, 6 m",
      "ourTake": "Closing windows and blocking gaps is the museum's remedy, and gov.uk suggests foam strips around windows. This is a 6 m roll of self-adhesive D-profile foam for gaps of 3 to 5 mm, the listing says. Clean the frame and let it dry before you stick it on."
     },
     "budget": null,
     "upgrade": null,
     "sources": [
      {
       "name": "Natural History Museum: House spider identification",
       "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identify-nature/spiders-in-your-home/house-spider.html",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "GOV.UK: Draught proofing, it's a breeze (factsheet)",
       "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75c297ed915d506ee81453/DECC_factsheet_11.11.16_DRAFT_PROOFING_LOCKED.pdf",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "the product's Amazon listing"
      }
     ]
    },
    {
     "role": "An insect screen for a window you keep open",
     "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house/#role-insect-screen",
     "quantity": "1 per window",
     "lasts": null,
     "consumable": false,
     "lastsDays": null,
     "pick": {
      "asin": "B09WYGKH3K",
      "name": "Yuing Custom Sizes Cat Pets Protection Window Guard",
      "amazonTitle": "Yuing Custom Sizes Cat Pets Protection Window Guard with Zipper, Self-Adhesive Netting Fly Screen Anti-Mosquito Insect Window Mesh Net, Tear-proof Cat Bird Isolation Net …",
      "brand": "Yuing",
      "image": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5190Vlms8gL._SL500_.jpg",
      "amazonUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09WYGKH3K",
      "data": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/products/B09WYGKH3K.json",
      "price": {
       "amount": 11.99,
       "currency": "GBP",
       "checkedAt": "2026-09-29T07:19:39.897Z",
       "note": "Checked on Amazon UK that morning; the price at checkout on amazon.co.uk applies."
      },
      "availability": {
       "status": "IN_STOCK",
       "amazonMessage": null
      },
      "subscribeAndSave": null,
      "signal": null,
      "amazon": {
       "source": "amazon.co.uk",
       "recordedAt": "2026-09-27T02:25:45.070Z",
       "rating": 4.5,
       "ratings": 609,
       "boughtLastMonth": "100+",
       "categoryRank": {
        "position": 1,
        "category": "Cat Balcony Nets"
       }
      },
      "buyersSay": {
       "method": "Our own summary of the reviews Amazon showed; each count is the number of reviews making the point.",
       "reviewsRead": 13,
       "readOn": "2026-09-27",
       "like": [
        {
         "text": "Made to the sizes you send, so it fits awkward windows",
         "count": 6
        },
        {
         "text": "Keeps flies and other bugs out with the window open",
         "count": 3
        },
        {
         "text": "Quick and simple to put up",
         "count": 5
        }
       ],
       "watchOutFor": []
      },
      "ourName": "Yuing made-to-measure window screen",
      "ourTake": "The museum suggests insect screens for doors and windows, and its spider expert says warm autumns keep windows open longer, letting more of the wandering males in. This fibreglass mesh screen is made to the height and width you enter, has a zip and fixes with hook and loop strip, the listing says. Measure the frame carefully before ordering."
     },
     "budget": null,
     "upgrade": null,
     "sources": [
      {
       "name": "Natural History Museum: House spider identification",
       "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identify-nature/spiders-in-your-home/house-spider.html",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "Natural History Museum: Invasion of the giant spiders? Not quite",
       "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/invasion-giant-spiders.html",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "the product's Amazon listing"
      }
     ]
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "walls",
   "label": "Walls and skirting boards",
   "intro": "Once the doors and windows are done.",
   "countsTowardTotal": true,
   "roles": [
    {
     "role": "Decorators' caulk for gaps along skirting boards and frames",
     "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house/#role-caulk",
     "quantity": "1 cartridge",
     "lasts": null,
     "consumable": false,
     "lastsDays": null,
     "pick": {
      "asin": "B00HUWU1ZU",
      "name": "Sika Caulk Once Premium Quality Acrylic Caulk",
      "amazonTitle": "Sika Caulk Once Premium Quality Acrylic Caulk - Highly Flexible - Fast Drying - White - 295ml",
      "brand": "Everbuild",
      "image": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31hRpfUAnnL._SL500_.jpg",
      "amazonUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HUWU1ZU",
      "data": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/products/B00HUWU1ZU.json",
      "price": {
       "amount": 2.69,
       "currency": "GBP",
       "checkedAt": "2026-09-29T07:19:39.897Z",
       "note": "Checked on Amazon UK that morning; the price at checkout on amazon.co.uk applies."
      },
      "availability": {
       "status": "IN_STOCK",
       "amazonMessage": null
      },
      "subscribeAndSave": {
       "amount": 2.69,
       "currency": "GBP"
      },
      "signal": null,
      "amazon": {
       "source": "amazon.co.uk",
       "recordedAt": "2026-09-27T19:49:57.423Z",
       "rating": 4.5,
       "ratings": 11913,
       "boughtLastMonth": "5K+",
       "categoryRank": {
        "position": 1,
        "category": "Silicone Caulk"
       }
      },
      "buyersSay": {
       "method": "Our own summary of the reviews Amazon showed; each count is the number of reviews making the point.",
       "reviewsRead": 8,
       "readOn": "2026-09-27",
       "like": [
        {
         "text": "Comes out smoothly and is easy to apply with a gun",
         "count": 4
        },
        {
         "text": "Gives a neat finish that sticks well",
         "count": 3
        },
        {
         "text": "Good for filling gaps along skirting boards",
         "count": 3
        }
       ],
       "watchOutFor": []
      },
      "ourName": "Sika Caulk Once decorators' caulk, 295 ml",
      "ourTake": "The museum's remedy includes plaster for blocking gaps, and the gov.uk factsheet suggests decorators' caulk or flexible filler along floorboards and skirting boards. Sika's acrylic caulk is sold for skirting boards and window and door frames, and can be painted over in about an hour, the listing says. Surfaces must be clean, dry and free of dust first."
     },
     "budget": null,
     "upgrade": null,
     "sources": [
      {
       "name": "Natural History Museum: House spider identification",
       "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identify-nature/spiders-in-your-home/house-spider.html",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "GOV.UK: Draught proofing, it's a breeze (factsheet)",
       "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75c297ed915d506ee81453/DECC_factsheet_11.11.16_DRAFT_PROOFING_LOCKED.pdf",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "the product's Amazon listing"
      }
     ]
    },
    {
     "role": "A sealant gun for the caulk cartridge",
     "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house/#role-sealant-gun",
     "quantity": "1",
     "lasts": null,
     "consumable": false,
     "lastsDays": null,
     "pick": {
      "asin": "B07YM78RZH",
      "name": "Amazon Basics Heavy Duty Sealant Caulking Gun",
      "amazonTitle": "Amazon Basics Heavy Duty Sealant Caulking Gun - 310 ml (0.3 Litres) - 12:1 Thrust Ratio, Aluminium handle with plastic support grip, Blue/Grey",
      "brand": "Amazon Basics",
      "image": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Cl2r-oI1L._SL500_.jpg",
      "amazonUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07YM78RZH",
      "data": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/products/B07YM78RZH.json",
      "price": {
       "amount": 7.51,
       "currency": "GBP",
       "checkedAt": "2026-09-29T07:19:39.897Z",
       "note": "Checked on Amazon UK that morning; the price at checkout on amazon.co.uk applies."
      },
      "availability": {
       "status": "IN_STOCK",
       "amazonMessage": null
      },
      "subscribeAndSave": {
       "amount": 7.13,
       "currency": "GBP"
      },
      "signal": null,
      "amazon": {
       "source": "amazon.co.uk",
       "recordedAt": "2026-09-27T02:20:10.472Z",
       "rating": 4.7,
       "ratings": 5555,
       "boughtLastMonth": "5K+",
       "categoryRank": {
        "position": 1,
        "category": "Caulking Guns"
       }
      },
      "buyersSay": {
       "method": "Our own summary of the reviews Amazon showed; each count is the number of reviews making the point.",
       "reviewsRead": 13,
       "readOn": "2026-09-27",
       "like": [
        {
         "text": "Solid, well built gun that feels better than the price suggests",
         "count": 10
        },
        {
         "text": "Smooth trigger and quick release make the bead easy to control",
         "count": 4
        }
       ],
       "watchOutFor": []
      },
      "ourName": "Amazon Basics sealant gun",
      "ourTake": "The caulk's listing says to apply it with a standard sealant gun and to cut the nozzle at 45°, a little wider than the joint. This Amazon Basics gun is a heavy duty model for 310 ml cartridges, per its listing."
     },
     "budget": null,
     "upgrade": null,
     "sources": [
      {
       "name": "the product's Amazon listing"
      }
     ]
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "inside",
   "label": "Spiders already inside",
   "intro": null,
   "countsTowardTotal": true,
   "roles": [
    {
     "role": "A catcher to carry a spider outside",
     "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/spiders-in-the-house/#role-catcher",
     "quantity": "1",
     "lasts": null,
     "consumable": false,
     "lastsDays": null,
     "pick": {
      "asin": "B09HHH4DLL",
      "name": "Niftii Spider Catcher Long Handle",
      "amazonTitle": "Niftii Spider Catcher Long Handle - Bug Catcher & Insect Trap for Indoors",
      "brand": "Niftii",
      "image": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31kZaiSrw+L._SL500_.jpg",
      "amazonUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09HHH4DLL",
      "data": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/products/B09HHH4DLL.json",
      "price": {
       "amount": 9.99,
       "currency": "GBP",
       "checkedAt": "2026-09-29T07:19:39.897Z",
       "note": "Checked on Amazon UK that morning; the price at checkout on amazon.co.uk applies."
      },
      "availability": {
       "status": "IN_STOCK",
       "amazonMessage": null
      },
      "subscribeAndSave": null,
      "signal": null,
      "amazon": {
       "source": "amazon.co.uk",
       "recordedAt": "2026-09-27T19:50:01.004Z",
       "rating": 4.2,
       "ratings": 1189,
       "boughtLastMonth": "1K+",
       "categoryRank": {
        "position": 6,
        "category": "Pest Control Traps"
       }
      },
      "buyersSay": {
       "method": "Our own summary of the reviews Amazon showed; each count is the number of reviews making the point.",
       "reviewsRead": 8,
       "readOn": "2026-09-27",
       "like": [
        {
         "text": "Holds the spider firmly without hurting it until you let it go",
         "count": 5
        },
        {
         "text": "Easy to use, even for people who are scared of spiders",
         "count": 4
        },
        {
         "text": "Copes with large and quick spiders",
         "count": 2
        }
       ],
       "watchOutFor": [
        {
         "text": "The handle is shorter than older versions and the name suggest",
         "count": 3
        }
       ]
      },
      "ourName": "Niftii spider catcher",
      "ourTake": "The British Arachnological Society suggests trapping a spider under a cup or glass and releasing it in a shed or garage, and the museum's spider expert says the kindest thing is to let them outside. With this catcher you squeeze the trigger to open the bristles, place it over the spider and let go to hold it, the listing says."
     },
     "budget": null,
     "upgrade": null,
     "sources": [
      {
       "name": "British Arachnological Society: Spiders in the house",
       "url": "https://britishspiders.org.uk/spiders-in-the-house",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "Natural History Museum: Invasion of the giant spiders? Not quite",
       "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/invasion-giant-spiders.html",
       "checked": "2026-09-27"
      },
      {
       "name": "the product's Amazon listing"
      }
     ]
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "totals": {
  "today": {
   "amount": 55.14,
   "currency": "GBP",
   "itemsPriced": 7,
   "itemsMissingPrice": 0
  },
  "monthlyRunningCost": null
 },
 "canWait": [
  {
   "what": "A chimney balloon for an unused fireplace",
   "why": "The museum lists chimneys among the ways in, and gov.uk suggests a balloon to block an unused chimney, taken out in summer so air can circulate. Only worth it if you have an open, unused flue."
  }
 ],
 "skip": [
  {
   "what": "Plug-in ultrasonic repellers",
   "why": "The Natural History Museum says nobody has yet invented an effective device to deter spiders."
  },
  {
   "what": "Peppermint oil spray as the main fix",
   "why": "In a 2017 lab study, peppermint oil repelled two of the three spider species tested but not the third, a false widow, and the large house spiders were not tested at all. The museum still says no effective deterrent exists."
  },
  {
   "what": "Spider killer sprays",
   "why": "The British Arachnological Society says it is impossible to rid a house of spiders for long, because new ones soon move in when the residents are killed."
  },
  {
   "what": "Conkers on the windowsill",
   "why": "BBC Science Focus says there is no evidence conkers deter spiders, and points to a school study that won a Royal Society of Chemistry prize in 2010 for showing spiders were not put off by them."
  },
  {
   "what": "Plughole covers to stop spiders coming up the drain",
   "why": "The British Arachnological Society says spiders do not come up through the drain hole, which has a water-filled U-bend. They fall into the bath while hunting, and a towel over the edge lets them climb out."
  }
 ],
 "questions": [
  {
   "question": "Why are there so many big spiders in my house in September?",
   "answer": "Because male house spiders are out looking for mates. The Natural History Museum says sightings peak in autumn, when the males of many species reach adulthood and wander in search of females. Its spider expert says there are not really more of them: warm weather keeps doors and windows open for longer, so more of the wandering males get in."
  },
  {
   "question": "How big do house spiders get in the UK?",
   "answer": "Up to about 12 cm across, legs included. The Natural History Museum gives that leg span for the largest, the cardinal spider; the common house spider is much smaller. The museum says these spiders can bite if picked up, but the effect of their venom is small. The males usually die in autumn, soon after mating."
  },
  {
   "question": "How do I get a spider out of the house without killing it?",
   "answer": "Put a cup or glass over it, slide a postcard underneath and carry it out; a catcher does the same from further away. That is the British Arachnological Society's method. It suggests releasing a house spider in a shed or garage rather than the open garden, because outside is not its habitat. If one is stuck in the bath, hang a towel over the edge so it can climb out."
  },
  {
   "question": "Do conkers or peppermint oil keep spiders away?",
   "answer": "Conkers do not, and peppermint oil is unproven for house spiders. BBC Science Focus says there is no evidence for conkers. A 2017 study found peppermint oil repelled two of three species in lab choice tests, but house spiders were not among those tested. The Natural History Museum says nobody has invented an effective deterrent yet, and its remedy is blocking the gaps they use."
  },
  {
   "question": "Do spiders come up the plughole?",
   "answer": "No. The British Arachnological Society says spiders do not come up through the drain, which has a water-filled U-bend beneath it. They slip into the bath or sink while hunting at night and cannot climb the smooth sides. It suggests leaving a towel over the edge of the bath overnight so any that fall in can climb out."
  }
 ],
 "sources": [
  {
   "name": "Natural History Museum: House spider identification",
   "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/identify-nature/spiders-in-your-home/house-spider.html",
   "checked": "2026-09-27"
  },
  {
   "name": "Natural History Museum: Invasion of the giant spiders? Not quite",
   "url": "https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/invasion-giant-spiders.html",
   "checked": "2026-09-27"
  },
  {
   "name": "British Arachnological Society: Spiders in the house",
   "url": "https://britishspiders.org.uk/spiders-in-the-house",
   "checked": "2026-09-27"
  },
  {
   "name": "GOV.UK: Draught proofing, it's a breeze (factsheet)",
   "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75c297ed915d506ee81453/DECC_factsheet_11.11.16_DRAFT_PROOFING_LOCKED.pdf",
   "checked": "2026-09-27"
  },
  {
   "name": "Entomology Today: Do chestnut, lemon, or peppermint scents repel spiders?",
   "url": "https://entomologytoday.org/2018/01/22/do-chestnut-lemon-or-peppermint-scents-repel-spiders/",
   "checked": "2026-09-27"
  },
  {
   "name": "BBC Science Focus: Are spiders scared of conkers?",
   "url": "https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/are-spiders-scared-of-conkers",
   "checked": "2026-09-27"
  }
 ],
 "related": [
  {
   "title": "What to buy for a cold house",
   "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/a-cold-house/",
   "json": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/a-cold-house.json"
  },
  {
   "title": "What to buy for clothes moths",
   "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/clothes-moths/",
   "json": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/clothes-moths.json"
  },
  {
   "title": "What to buy for damp and condensation",
   "url": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/damp-and-condensation/",
   "json": "https://whattobuyfor.co.uk/damp-and-condensation.json"
  }
 ]
}