What Spiders Hate: The Smells That Keep Them Away
Most spiders that will find their way into your home are not dangerous. As a matter of fact, they can actually be good to have around the house to kill and eat other pests. However, a lot of people do not like have these eight-legged, creepy-crawlers in their home. Luckily, there are some natural methods to deter spiders if they’ve found their way into your home.
These are the best ways to naturally deter spiders without using any toxic or harsh chemicals.
Here are the best scents to use to deter spiders from staying in your house:
- Vinegar spray
- Mint plants
- Catnip plants
- Cayenne pepper
- Essential oils
Natural Smells That Deter Spiders
There are a few scents that you can utilize to scare spiders off. Luckily, most of these smells are quite pleasant to spray around the home and won’t bother you or your family. However, keep in mind that if you have small children or pets, some of these smells may not be the best option for your home.
Vinegar Spray
The acidic smell of vinegar is unpleasant to spiders and will keep them away. You can mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it around your home. Spray it around doorways, windowsills, and any other places where spiders might enter your home.
It is best to spray the areas that you’ve seen spiders frequenting. In fact, you can also use vinegar to clean surfaces and get rid of spiders’ webs.
Mint Plants
Mint plants are a great way to keep spiders out of your home because they hate the smell. You can grow mint plants around your home or put them in pots and place them inside your home.
If you don’t have the space to grow mint plants, you can also steep mint leaves in boiling water and then spray the mint water around your home. Another option is to put mint leaves in a sachet and place it in areas where spiders might enter your home.
Catnip Plants
Like mint, spiders hate the smell of catnip. Catnip is also effective at repelling mosquitoes, so it’s a great plant to have around if you live in an area with a lot of insects.
You can grow catnip plants around your home or put them in pots and place them inside your home. This being said, it’s important to note that catnip is also a attractant for cats. So, if you have indoor cats, you may want to avoid using this method.
As with mint plants, if you don’t have the space to grow catnip, you can also steep the leaves in boiling water and then spray the catnip water around your home. Another option is to put dried catnip leaves in a sachet and place it in areas where spiders might enter your home.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is another spice that spiders hate. You can sprinkle cayenne pepper around the areas of your home where you’ve seen spiders.
You can also make a spider repellent spray by mixing cayenne pepper and water in a spray bottle. Just be sure to avoid spraying this around areas where food is prepared.
Essential Oils
Another method is to use essential oils. Spiders hate the smell of mint, citrus, marigold, peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender. So, try diffusing these oils around your home or spraying them on areas where spiders are commonly found. You can also add a few drops of these oils to a cotton ball and place them in areas where spiders are frequently seen.
Whichever method you choose, make sure to keep an eye out for spiders and their webs. By using these natural methods, you’ll be able to deter spiders from making your home their own.
Do Essential Oils Kill Spiders?
Unfortunately, essential oil sprays do not kill spiders (good news for you if you capture and release every bug in the house so as to avoid harming them), but they provide a hostile environment that they are unwilling to enter. As a result, spiders tend to leave because of the oils.
You can use any essential oil, but some of the most effective ones include mint, citrus, marigold, peppermint and lavender. You can either diffuse these oils around your home or make a spider repellent spray by adding water to a few drops of oil in a spray bottle. Simply spraying the areas where spiders are commonly seen will usually be enough to get them to leave.
Best Homemade Spider Repellent
Spiders despise peppermint and citrus oils. Mix 10 to 15 drops of peppermint essential oil or citrus essential oil with 2 cups of water. For a little more power, add a few drops of dishwashing soap or Castile soap.
Spray directly on the spider’s nest and in areas that you often see spiders. You can also spray the repellent directly on spiders when you see them.
Remember that whenever you webs you should take them down so that they don’t come back and use some of your DIY spider repellent on the nest.
Conclusion
There are a number of natural methods you can use to deter spiders from making your home their own. Vinegar, mint plants, catnip plants, cayenne pepper, and essential oils are all effective at repelling these eight-legged creatures. Whichever method you choose, make sure to keep an eye out for spiders and their webs so that you can catch them early on.
And remember, essential oils won’t kill spiders but they will make your home an unsuitable environment for them to stay.
Do you have any tips on how to keep spiders away? Share them in the comments below!
