Spider season is here - how to keep them out of your car and avoid £1K fine
With spider season now upon us, Brit drivers are being warned to keep them out of your car or risk a £1,000 fine.
For many with a fear of arachnids, it is the time of the year that they dread and it could be dangerous if they suddenly find one in their car while driving. But here are some natural deterrents to help keep creepy crawlies out of your vehicle this spider season. If you're frightened of spiders, it's no surprise that you could get distracted and take your focus off the road - but this could result in a £1,000 fine for failure to have proper control of your vehicle or full view of the road and traffic ahead, according to the Highway Code.
Car and van leasing company Vanarama has shared remedies you can use to deter spiders from your vehicle, including essential oils with scents such as peppermint, placing cinnamon sticks in your car door and cleaning your car with white vinegar. Here is a list of top tips.
A makeshift essential oil spray can help keep spiders away
The first way to stop spiders from entering your car is to mix some essential oils in with water and spray the solution around your car. Spiders don’t like scents such as peppermint, cedar, lavender and eucalyptus. You can put these scents together, or pick your favourite to spray over your car's interiors.
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You may have these scents around the house already, but you can pick them up from local stores and pharmacies if you need to find them quickly. While it's unclear why arachnids don’t like these scents, they smell and taste through their legs so walking through these in your car would deter them from staying.
Add some cinnamon sticks to your car door
Another smell spiders don’t like is cinnamon. The time of year is approaching for this festive favourite, so why not get it in early to keep spiders out of your car, and save a few extra for decorations and drinks for when the weather changes and the cold nights creep in. You can put cinnamon anywhere in your car, but the easiest option would be to put some cinnamon sticks in your car doors. This way your car will smell lovely, and it’s also an ideal option for those who don’t like the smell of essential oils.
Buy a citrus car air freshener
It's said that spiders aren’t a fan of citrus or citronella, too. While you can’t safely put citrus or citronella candles in your car like you can at home, you can use air freshener equivalents. A citrus air freshener would set you back as little as £1.99, depending on the scent and brand you go for. If you really want to deter them, feel free to add as many as you like. Just make sure these aren’t in your eyeline to distract you from driving.
Keep your car clean – both in and out
This doesn’t just count for cleaning the inside of your car to make sure you aren’t attracting spiders, but also refers to the outside of your motor. Make sure you are regularly tidying and cleaning your car, as you may not just attract spiders themselves but also the food that spiders are a fan of, such as flies. They can be attracted to any food mess that could be lingering around your vehicle, and with that spiders may follow.
For the exterior of your car, watch for cobwebs that may form on areas such as near your wing mirror. Spiders are attracted to damp areas, so after cleaning your car make sure to dry it. You could also use a car cover to deter spiders overnight.
Use £1.20 white vinegar to clean your car and stop spiders
White vinegar is a great natural and cheap method for making sure your car is clean, which you can buy for as little as £1.20 in a spray bottle. Leave it in a small bowl in the car to neutralise odours, while also giving a smell the spiders won’t enjoy. Or use the white vinegar spray whilst cleaning the interior of your car. If you don’t want the smell of vinegar to linger in your car afterwards be sure to use a citrus car air freshener as mentioned above to combat this.
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Make sure your doors and boot are fully closed
This one goes without saying, but it’s best to make sure your doors and windows are fully closed when you aren’t in your car, from a safety perspective and to stop spiders from entering your car. If you are working on your car, whether this be cleaning or maintenance, make sure you close any doors or windows you aren’t using, to avoid extra ways for them to sneak in.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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