Spiders - the house guests you're not likely to want around for a number of reasons. If you suffer with a crippling fear of the eight-legged creatures, you'll be dreading the coming months when they seek out shelter from the cold and choose your home as the perfect place.
Despite their creepy appearance, spiders play a crucial role in the natural ecosystem as predators. They feed on small insects so they're usually the reason the house is bug free.
Because of that, people are often encouraged to look past their fears and follow some alternative ways to keep spiders out of areas that might end in them getting squashed. There are dozens of 'home hacks' that claim to rid you of the eight-legged creatures - and most of them involved strong smells as your line of defence.
There's a good bit of science behind why this works so well and it all comes down to how a spider's sense of smell works. Not to giving them another creepy feature, but spiders smell through sensory organs on their legs as they don't have noses.
Keeping a strong smelling barrier around common spider entry points can send the arachnids scurrying back the way they came. Plenty of things work for this job - and they don't smell unpleasant to us humans either - such as peppermint, citrus and lavender. Spiders also famously hate the smell that comes from conkers.
If you don't fancy clearing the supermarket shelves of oranges, raiding the florists for sprigs of lavender or sweep the local park of all its conkers, there is one other method that doesn't have to break the bank.
According to an article by Checkatrade, a popular medicine could be a spider's worst enemy. Their website claims: "The eucalyptus and menthol in Vicks VapoRub are also scents spiders hate. You can rub Vicks straight onto your chest, in the corners of your room, under your bed and around your windows and doors to reap the benefits of unblocked airways and a spider-free zone."
The branded VapoRub can cost £6 for a 100g tub in Boots which can seem very expensive compared to other alternative spider deterrents. Luckily, the eight-legged wanders don't care what brand you use because its the scent that stops them.
Therefore, a budget friendly alternative could by the own brand Boots Vapor Rub. It costs £1.99 for a small 50g tub but this price can have 10% shaved off if you pick it up and swipe your Advantage Card at the checkout.
The method was explained in a TikTok video shared by @plant.based.kate who wanted a cruelty-free way to make sure her arachnophobia wasn't being triggered by unwanted houseguests. She used a small pot of Vapour Rub from Sainsbury's (which costs £1.35 for a 50g tub).
In the video, she said: "If like me you're terrified of spiders - and it is the season for those big, thick spiders to try and come in the house - get some Vaporub or Olbasoil and pop up on your windowsills and door frames."
She also explained that spiders hate finding the substance with the "taste buds in their feet". The social media user hoped this "ethical" method, that causes the spider no real harm, will send the bugs scurrying back to the garden.