The Truth About Spiders: Creepy Crawlies Or Helpful Houseguests?
Spiders might give us the heebie-jeebies, but they’re actually pretty helpful to have around. Find out the truth! 🕷️ #Spiders #LifeHacks #HomeHacks
Edina, MN – Picture this: You’re getting ready for bed, and you flip on the bathroom light only to find a spider smack dab in the middle of the floor. Or maybe you’re watching TV, and out of the corner of your eye, you see a little critter scurry across the room and disappear under the couch. Yikes!
Now, before you go grabbing the nearest shoe, let’s take a step back. Spiders might give us the heebie-jeebies, but they’re actually pretty helpful to have around. They chow down on other pests like flies and mosquitoes, keeping your home bug-free.
But if you’re not too keen on sharing your space with these eight-legged roommates, you might’ve heard about a natural spider repellent: hedge apples. We’ll explore that and how you can take care of these pesky critters that make springtime in the Midwest so much fun! Hehe.
🍎 Hedge Apples: Mother Nature’s Spider Spray?
Hedge apples are the funky-looking fruit of the Osage orange tree. Some folks swear by placing them in the nooks and crannies of their homes to keep spiders at bay. The idea is that the natural chemicals in these fruits work like a “do not enter” sign for spiders and other creepy crawlies.
But before you go stocking up on hedge apples, you might want to pump the brakes. A study from Iowa State University found that while hedge apples can shoo away some pests like German cockroaches and houseflies, they might not be the spider-repelling superheroes we thought they were.
👀 Spotting Spider Entry Points
So, if hedge apples aren’t the answer, how do we keep spiders from making themselves at home in our space? Well, the first step is figuring out how they’re getting in.
Spiders are sneaky little things. They can slip through cracks in your walls, holes in your foundation, or tears in your window screens. Sometimes, they’ll even hitch a ride inside on toys or boxes that were left outside.
🕸️ Keeping Your Home Spider-Free
Now that we know how spiders are getting in, we can work on keeping them out. Here are a few tips:
- Give any items a good once-over before bringing them inside, especially things like firewood or old boxes.
- Repair any rips or tears in your window screens.
- Seal up any gaps around pipes or vents (as long as it’s safe to do so).
- Make sure to close your doors and windows when they’re not in use.
😄 The Bright Side of Spider Sightings
Even with our best efforts, we might still spot the occasional spider hanging out in our homes. But instead of reaching for the bug spray, try to think of it as a friendly visit from nature’s pest control service. After all, spiders are just doing their part to keep our homes free of other bugs. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even start to find their little spider dances kind of cute. 🕺🏽🕷️
🗣 Are you scared of spiders? What gives you the heebie-jeebies? We’d LOVE to hear from you in the comments section below. ⬇️
