Social media star's 16p hack to keep spiders out of your home during the heatwave

Some people think of them as the architects of the natural world, whilst others live in crippling fear of encountering one.

Whatever your stance on spiders, there's a good chance you might spot one in your home this week - as the long-awaited heatwave could spark a wave of the eight-legged critters invading homes.

Pest UK says spiders become more active during hotter spells. As they are cold-blooded, their metabolism speeds up during warmer weather, requiring them to hunt more frequently and weave more webs to trap their prey.

Creator of lifestyle Instagram account @my.horsford.home and CI Group ambassador Hillary has shared a quick and simple hack to keep the spiders at bay - for just 16p.

She said: "If the hot weather is attracting unwanted eight-legged visitors into your home or conservatory, this tip is for you. Get an empty spray bottle - if you don't have one, you can always repurpose and clean out an old spray bottle from another product.

"Fill the bottle with water, and add 10 drops of tea tree essential oil into the mixture. You can also use peppermint, lemon or lavender. The average bottle of essential oils costs about £4, so just 10 drops is a bargain.

"Spray and wipe along the window sills and door frames with a dust cloth to deter the spiders, because they don't like strong scents. To stop spiders in their tracks, you could also put a few drops of tea tree oil around openings into your home, such as windows and doors, as well as any cracks."

The Met Office has reported that this week, the UK could see the hottest day of the year so far. Temperatures across the country are predicted to soar four or five degrees higher than the average for this time of the year.

As a result, Brits are likely to see an