Households urged to soak cotton balls in tea tree oil in December | UK | News | EUROtoday

Households throughout the UK are being urged to soak cotton balls in tea tree oil this December to discourage spiders.

December is now formally underway which implies it’s time to embrace all issues festive, together with placing the Christmas tree up (in the event you haven’t accomplished so already). If you’re choosing an actual tree this 12 months then it’s possible you’ll be in for an disagreeable shock as pest consultants are warning that spiders and egg sacs might be lurking among the many branches, and when introduced into the heat of your house, it might probably trigger them to hatch. And due to an unusually heat summer time this 12 months, spider populations have elevated which implies the creatures will probably be searching for a comfortable spot to cover out this winter.

Sophie Thorogood, pest prevention specialist at Pest-Stop, defined: “We’ve seen significantly higher insect numbers throughout 2025 due to the warm weather, which has created an increased food supply for spiders. With more spiders around and colder weather driving them indoors, there’s a good chance your Christmas tree could be carrying some unexpected passengers.”

Even in the event you don’t get an actual tree, synthetic ones aren’t immune from housing spiders both, significantly in the event you’ve had it saved within the storage or the loft for the previous 12 months, because the darkish, undisturbed house makes it particularly enticing for the creatures to cover in and lay eggs.

While giving your tree – actual or faux – a superb shake exterior earlier than you begin adorning ought to assist to dislodge any critters, there may be one other layer of defence you possibly can attempt – and all you want is a few tea tree oil.

Spiders have a really delicate sense of odor and don’t like robust aromas, significantly pungent important oils like tea tree. As such, tea tree oil could make an efficient pure spider deterrent and it has the added bonus of giving your house a stunning contemporary odor within the course of.

Experts advocate soaking cotton balls within the oil and inserting them round your house, akin to on windowsills, within the corners or rooms and even beneath your Christmas tree, and the scent will assist to maintain spiders at bay.

Alternatively, you possibly can combine round 10 to fifteen drops of tea tree oil with some water in a twig bottle, shake it nicely after which spritz the answer round your house to assist repel the creatures.

You may improve the efficiency of the answer by including different strong-smelling important oils like peppermint, lavender, lemon or eucalyptus, or only a tablespoon of white vinegar, as spiders additionally don’t like every of those scents.

Experts at Smart Plan mentioned: “You can make a spider-repellent spray by filling a 500ml spray bottle with water and adding 10 to 20 drops of your chosen essential oil. Shake the mixture well, then spray it around your home.

“Spray the mixture around doors and windows, the entrance of your home, along skirting boards, along the corners of your ceiling, and anywhere else you think spiders might be.

“Alternatively, you could soak cotton balls with your chosen essential oil and place them around your home. Not only will the soaked cotton balls help keep spiders away, but they will also give your home a nice fresh aroma.

“As the smell of essential oils fades with time, you will need to spray your home a few times a week to keep spiders at bay.”