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Spiders

(71 Posts)
blueskies Sun 07-Oct-18 19:22:17

Last year I used conkers ( yes I know it’s an old wives tale} to deter spiders in the house. It worked as only one all winter and usually huge garden spiders scuttle around up and downstairs. They are so big I swear I can hear them breathing! This autumn I can’t get any conkers as too far away from trees. My question are horse chestnuts similar and would they work?

Diana54 Sun 07-Oct-18 19:36:53

Assuming this is not a wind up, where I come from Horse Chestnuts are conkers. The boys at school used to hang them on a string and tried the smash each other's.
No idea if they deter spiders

blueskies Sun 07-Oct-18 19:59:05

I think there is a difference between conkers and the chestnuts that can be roasted and eaten?

lemongrove Sun 07-Oct-18 20:13:49

You can buy chestnut oil to deter spiders, I think Lakeland sell it, but google it.

aggie Sun 07-Oct-18 20:13:57

Horse chestnuts are conkers , sweet chestnuts are roasted and eaten ..yum yum !

blueskies Sun 07-Oct-18 20:32:26

Thank you lemon grove. I’ve looked on the internet and it seems there is anecdotal evidence that horse chestnuts deter the large garden spiders (these are the ones I have].it could be the placebo effect but hey it worked for me last year. The other sprays etc have to be re applied while conkers are free.i need to plan a trip to the New Forest.

lemongrove Sun 07-Oct-18 20:35:32

Yes, I think it works, I usually dot conkers around the place, split open the outer shell.Spiders have sensitive noses!
When you paint/wallpaper a room you won’t see a spider in it for ages.Horrible blighters aren’t they?

tanith Sun 07-Oct-18 22:35:55

I use conkers every year and rarely see a spider once I put them down.

Jalima1108 Sun 07-Oct-18 22:53:21

it could be the placebo effect grin
I'm wondering how the placebo effect works with spiders - does the spider think 'I know I'm not supposed to go in there because there are conkers in the hallway, they don't deter me in fact but I'll be a good boy/girl and go next door instead'.

Actually, I know someone who uses conkers (horse chestnuts) and says that they do work.

MissAdventure Sun 07-Oct-18 22:56:35

You can buy a spray that contains conker oil (?)
From Betterware.

blueskies Mon 08-Oct-18 07:47:39

Jamilla1108 I was thinking that the placebo would be me “not” seeing the spiders.

Sparklefizz Mon 08-Oct-18 10:56:41

I am spider-phobic and really suffered in September last year, although once I got hold of some conkers I didn't have any more in the house.

However, conkers being late this year, I bought a spray called Midas X from Amazon which has been brilliant. Sprayed every corner I could possibly think of/reach, including corners of the built-in wardrobes. The spray stank of chemicals so I sprayed the livingroom and bedrooms in the morning so that they smelt ok by the time I used them in the evening.

I have not had a single spider (fingers x'd, touch wood, etc etc) although friends and neighbours have had some monsters!

Jalima1108 Mon 08-Oct-18 15:29:56

There is one that lives under the little cupboard in the downstairs loo - it pops out to say hello now and again, but every time I try to catch it to put it outside it shoots back under the cupboard again.

Jalima1108 Mon 08-Oct-18 15:30:38

I couldn't kill one, would have to move it somewhere else!

Auntieflo Mon 08-Oct-18 18:07:15

We have a large, hairy spider, called George, or it may be several in disguise, who pops out and says hello from October. But, I think we may have had a spider lay eggs in the downstairs loo, as I keep finding tiny spiderlings in there
I'll have to go hunting for conkers and see if they work.

Auntieflo Mon 08-Oct-18 18:17:56

We have a large, hairy spider, called George, or it may be several in disguise, who pops out and says hello from October. But, I think we may have had a spider lay eggs in the downstairs loo, as I keep finding tiny spiderlings in there
I'll have to go hunting for conkers and see if they work.

Auntieflo Mon 08-Oct-18 18:18:25

sorry twice posted.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 08-Oct-18 18:29:16

Our resident spider is called Harry, couldn't kill one I do not mind picking them up and putting them in the garden.
My friend who is really phobic about anything with 8 legs swears by conkers!

There is also a product called spider X which works. Lakeland or Amazon.

oldgaijin Tue 09-Oct-18 10:57:59

I have George and Harry's cousin Oscar living in the downstairs loo. Occasionally, he wanders through to watch a bit of telly, then he buggers off back to his hole behind the cistern, They are totally harmless and are good to have as they kill and eat other nasties.

Rosina Tue 09-Oct-18 10:59:46

My DiL puts conkers in the corners of rooms and swears it deters the many legged ones. I would never kill a spider but don't have the courage to move them - DH appears with his 'spider box' and escorts them elsewhere. I'm told if you put a
house spider outside it won't survive - 'don't know if this is true - are there 'indoor' and 'outdoor' spiders...?

GabriellaG Tue 09-Oct-18 11:18:15

Horse chestnuts and conkers are one and the same thing.
Why not Google the question? Some people...whew!

sarahcyn Tue 09-Oct-18 11:21:19

Interesting that people give their favourite household spider a male name. Far more likely to be female at this time of year, as the males have been killed and eaten by their mates by now.

Theoddbird Tue 09-Oct-18 11:21:48

Spray mint around your doors and windows every couple of weeks. Spiders scuttle away from the smell
You can buy mint spray on Amazon. Trust me, it woeks...

GabriellaG Tue 09-Oct-18 11:21:50

Spiders are goodies. They eat flies and other insects.

Growing0ldDisgracefully Tue 09-Oct-18 11:28:31

I am NOT houseproud and so for several winters running we had a large 'houseguest' living in the top corner of our bedroom. Not bothered about it being there until one night it woke me up running across my bare shoulder in bed .....
Thereafter relations with it were somewhat strained!