Why do chestnuts keep spiders away

In Britain, the notion may be more widespread. Their Royal Society of Chemistry held a contest to find the best evidence for or against the idea that spiders dislike conkers, which is what they call horse chestnuts. The winning entry came from a grade five class from Cornwall. They showed that their spiders did not seem concerned about walking over conkers compared to other materials. Not all or even many of the spiders tested would occur in a house.

So if the question is whether horse chestnuts keep spiders out of your house, it might be useful to find spiders that would be in your house.

Here are some notes about some misconceptions people might have about spiders in BC. Did you know spiders hate conkers? According to old wives' tales the creatures are repelled by chestnuts, so scattering a few in the corners of rooms and on your windowsills could help to keep spiders away.

If you have pets consult your vet before putting conkers in your home, as they may be poisonous. Spiders are said to steer clear of essential oils, such as peppermint oil, with one theory being that they dislike strong odours. To make your own natural insecticide, add 15 to 20 drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle filled with water and spritz around the house.

Often used as a repellent for moths, cedar wood is considered an effective way to deter spiders, too. You can buy packs of cedar wood cubes and blocks to scatter around your home from stores like Lakeland and John Lewis. Citrus is said to be another scent that spiders hate, so using lemon-scented cleaning products, burning citronella candles or rubbing citrus peel along skirting boards and window sills may be all it takes to keep spiders away!

Vinegar works in a similar way to essential oils, and can be an effective natural remedy. So we looked it up and debunked a few myths along the way. Check out our top six facts and uses for conkers. If you're an arachnophobe, conkers might not be much help!

Others say spiders will happily crawl over conkers with no ill effects at all. Plenty of people swear by conkers for spider control, what do you think? It is said that horse chestnut is so named because its seeds were once used to treat ailments in horses. It turns out that aescin, which can be extracted from conkers, has anti-inflammatory effects and is an effective remedy for sprains and bruises for humans.

The Victorians wrote recipes for making conker flour. The seeds were shelled, ground and then leached to remove bitter flavours. We recommend sticking to self-raising! If moths are munching their way through your winter wardrobe then conkers could be the answer.

The horse chestnut seeds contain a chemical called triterpenoid saponin that wards off pesky pests. Place fresh conkers in among your clothes and as they dry out they emit the moth-repellent. Pick up some conkers on your next woodland walk for all your household needs.