Do conkers stop spiders?CONKERS aren't just used in the children's game of the same name, they're apparently a tool to get rid of spiders. But do conkers really stop spiders from getting

inside your home? By Izzie Deibe 15:32, Thu, Sep 17, 2020 | UPDATED: 15:32, Thu, Sep 17, 2020 Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied

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Conkers is the informal name for the seeds of the horse chestnut tree.

These seeds are used to play the traditional British children’s game– conkers. The game is played by two people.

Each player threads a conker onto a string and they hit the other's conker until one conker breaks.

Apparently, conkers can be used to ward off spiders from our homes too.

READ MORE- How to get rid of spiders

Do conkers stop spiders: Conkers are rumoured to get rid of spiders... but do they? (Image: Getty)

READ MORE UK spiders: How to stop spiders coming into your home this month Do conkers stop spiders?

Lucy Askew, spokesperson for Hillarys.co.uk, reckons conkers do stop spiders from getting into your home.

She said: “Many people the world over swear by popping conkers in the corners of their rooms to keep spiders out.

“It’s thought that they give off a noxious chemical that will cause a spider to curl up and die within just one day of them coming into contact with it.”

But is this just an old wives tale, or does it really work?

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There is no real scientific evidence to prove conkers get rid of spiders.

According to WoodlandTrust.org: “The story goes that conkers contain a noxious chemical that repels spiders but no-one’s ever been able to scientifically prove it.

“There’s hearsay that if a spider gets close to a conker it will curl its legs up and die within one day.

“Others say spiders will happily crawl over conkers with no ill effects at all.”

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to get rid of spiders for good

Even though there is no proper research to find out whether spiders really are tempted to crawl inside conkers, there is one study.

Pupils studying at Roselyon Primary School in Cornwall won a Royal Society of Chemistry prize in 2010 for their study on the subject.

The experiment managed to debunk the myth by showing spiders weren’t fazed by conkers.

The children put spiders in boxes with conkers and found the spiders simply climbed over the conkers rather than inside them.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of tried and tested methods of getting rid of spiders.

Lucy suggested:

Placing slices of lemon or lime on windowsills

Spraying water and vinegar into cracksSealing cracks in your homeKeeping your windows closedKeeping your house cleanTurning off your outside lightsGetting a cat