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Looking for a safe and effective spider spray? Look no further! This simple and natural DIY spider repellent will keep those pesky arachnids away for good.
DIY Spider repellent
When we moved into our new house we were been forced to reconsider our love for nature and try to adjust to the new realities. It’s been a wonderful experience, in spite of the huge amount of work and the challenges involved that proved to be way bigger than what we expected when we embarked on this journey. One of those was dealing with a large numbers of spiders which forced us to find natural ways to get rid of them. That’s how this spider repellent DIY was created.
It took us years to get the house project moving and when we finally started to see our dream come true we’ve stumbled upon a few throwbacks. We never imagined we’d end up making our own homemade spider repellent! We’ve heard people talking about having problems with bugs and mice or/and rats but no one seemed to be bothered by spiders. And we definitely did not expect them to be a problem in a new house!
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And I truly, deeply hate spiders! Although some of them are so incredibly small and cute, I might change my mind about them one of these days; just kidding, arachnophobia is a big issue around this household! So here I am now, armed with a bottle of this homemade spider spray, frantically spraying the windows and the doors, almost every day, in what it seems a successful attempt to keep these little, wild creatures away from our human, domestic world.
This spider repellent is quite nice, really and extremely quick and easy to make! I love using peppermint oil or lemon oil in my spider repellent, sometimes both, but I wouldn’t say no to cinnamon oil either. My spider repellent spray can be used in your home and garden. The natural ingredients in it won’t harm your family or your pets and although it has to be applied more often than pesticides, it’s way safer and has a very pleasant smell, you won’t need a deodorizer for your house.
What attracts spiders in your house?
There are two types of spiders: the hunting ones that look for food (flies, mosquitoes, small bugs) and the web spinning kind that waits for its prey to get trapped in its web.
Both of them are attracted by the same thing: insects. So if you have a spider problem in your house it means there’s an insect problem as well. To get rid of spiders you have to get rid of the insects first.
How can I keep my house spider-free?
The best way to keep your house spider-free is to vacuum regularly. Start with a good cleaning, both inside and outside your house and clean your windows and doors screens, don’t leave food or food debris around, take out the trash often. In short: make your house as unappealing as possible for insects.
If you have cracks and holes in your walls or floors, seal them. If you have gaps around doors and windows, fill them. Make sure every little crevice in your house is sealed. These are the places where insects (and spiders) can enter your home.
Keep your house dry and ventilated as much as possible. Spiders hate that! So open the windows as often as you can and use a dehumidifier during the humid months.
If you dry your clothes outdoors, give them a good shake before bringing them inside. Sometimes spiders and other small bugs find a home in your clean dry clothes. And sometimes they sneak inside when you open the door so keep an eye on the your entryway when you enter the house.
Use a good insecticide around the perimeter of your house, paying special attention to doors and windows. This will keep the insects (and spiders) away.
You can also try using this DIY spider repellent spray. It can be used for both your home & your garden! Safe and natural, this simple spider spray won’t harm your family or pets and has a very pleasant smell!
What natural smell do spiders hate?
There are several smells that spiders hate:
- Peppermint oil
- Cinnamon oil
- Citronella oil
- Lemon juice
- Vinegar
You can use any of these in your spider repellent. I like to use peppermint oil or citrus oils, sometimes both, but you can also try cinnamon oil, tea tree oil or lavender oil.
What is the best spider-repellent?
The best spider-repellent is the one that works for you. If you have a serious spider problem, you might want to use a professional exterminator but if you just want to keep them away, you can try this DIY spider repellent spray as a safe alternative.
How does this spider spray works?
While this is not a strong spider killer spray, the natural ingredients in this spider repellent will keep the spiders away without harming your family or pets. The spray has to be applied more often than pesticides, but it’s way safer and has a very pleasant smell.
The spiders will avoid areas that are sprayed with this repellent and they will eventually leave your home since it’s not a friendly environment for them.
Can spider spray make you sick?
No, this spider repellent is safe to use around your home. The natural ingredients in it won’t harm your family or pets.
However, if you have a serious spider problem, you might want to call a professional exterminator.
How often do I need to spray?
You will need to spray this spider repellent every few days or weekly, depending on the severity of your spider problem. The spiders will eventually leave your home if it’s not a friendly environment for them. Then you can spray less often for maintenance.
Can you use this spider repellent for outdoors?
Yes, this spider repellent can be used both indoors and outdoors. It’s safe to use around your home and garden. However exercise caution when spraying near food as the essential oils in the repellent can make them unsafe to eat. Also protect the plants in your garden as the essential oils can be damaging to them.
Where to spray this natural spider repellent?
You can spray this repellent anywhere in your home or garden where you have a spider problem. The best spots to spray this onto are:
- around any entry points such as doors, window frames and similar areas
- in corners
- the underside of shelves and sinks
- behind the refrigerators
- in basements
- in attics and storage areas
- on porches, particularly at corners
As for the furniture, test this spray on a small, hidden area first as some essential oils can damage certain materials.
Do I need to wear gloves when using this spider repellent?
It’s not necessary to wear gloves when using this spider repellent but it’s a good idea to avoid getting the essential oils on your skin. If you do get the oils on your skin, wash them off with soap and water as soon as possible.
How effective is this spray?
We found that this spider repellent is quite effective for our house but it has to be applied more often than pesticides. While they won’t kill the spiders, the natural ingredients in the spray will keep them away and eventually they will leave your home but you need to be consistent with the spraying.
What are the side effects of this spider repellent?
The essential oils in this spider repellent can be damaging to some materials and plants. It’s important to test the spray on a small, hidden area first before using it on your furniture or in your garden.
This spider repellent is also not effective against all types of spiders. If you have a serious spider problem, you might want to look for pest control companies in your area.
Does this spray work on ants?
This spider repellent might work on ants, cockroaches, bed bugs, ticks and other pests but it’s not guaranteed. If you have a serious problem with ants or other pests, I recommend calling a professional exterminator. For mild bedbugs problems I use this homemade flea repellent.
Ready to get rid of spiders for good? Try this homemade spider spray made with essential oils. It’s easy, natural, and effective!
Homemade spider repellent recipe
What do I need to make this spider repellent spray?
- 10 drops essential oil of choice peppermint, citrus, tea tree, lavender, cinnamon
- 5 drops dish washing liquid
- 1 qt water
How to make spider spray?
- Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well
- Spray the areas inside your home where you’ve seen spiders. Spray along baseboards and in the corners where the wall meets the ceiling
- Don’t forget to spray doorways and on your windowsills
- Wipe your countertops with the blend. You can also wipe down the insides of drawers and cabinets with this mixture.
- Reapply 2-3 times a week until you’re certain you’ve removed all the spiders already in the house. After this once a week should suffice.
Notes: Instead of essential oils you can use half a cup of fresh lemon juice. The mixture won’t last as long though as the lemon juice will ferment.
So if you’re looking for a natural and effective way to get rid of spiders, this DIY spider repellent spray is definitely worth a try. All you need are some simple ingredients that you probably already have at home, and you can say goodbye to those pesky spiders for good. So what are you waiting for? Give it a go today and let me know how it works for you!
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DIY Spider repellent
Materials
- 10 drops essential oil of choice such as peppermint, citrus, tea tree, lavender, cinnamon
- 5 drops dish washing liquid
- 1 qt water
Tools
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well
- Spray the areas inside your home where you've seen spiders. Spray along baseboards and in the corners where the wall meets the ceiling. Don't forget to spray doorways and on your windowsills
- Wipe your countertops with the blend. You can also wipe down the insides of drawers and cabinets with this mixture.
- Re-apply 2-3 times a week until you're certain you've removed all the spiders already in the house. After this once a week should suffice.
If I had spider issues like that, I’d move. No word of a lie, I’d rather live in a shelter with no spiders than a big beautiful house with spiders. But, you are talking to someone one who is severely arachnophobic. One of those little cute ones would stop me dead in my tracks with fear. With that said, thank you for sharing at G’Day. Fortunately I don’t encounter many in my home but still good to use.
I did get scared at first too as I never had to deal with bugs other than mosquito and flies but when I realized there’s no other place I could live, I had to do something. It does require me to spray the solution every 3-4 days but I really love the minty scent and I soon got into the routine. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
I’m going to make a batch of this solution today. I was bitten last summer, and I’ve been reluctant to brave my garden. Thanks for contributing to Foodie Friday. I’ve pinned this post to our Homemade board. Have a good weekend.
Aww, thanks so much, you’re too kind.
Or you could just catch them in a jar or glass and put the outside…
I read that if they are indoor spiders, and used to that environment, if you catch them and put them outside they often die because that is not their habitat and they do not know how to survive out there.
I’m not an expert Patricia but I believe spiders don’t get born in the house unless they’re plant spiders in which case I doubt they’ll have issued surviving outside where there’s plenty of plants. I didn’t have spiders when I first moved in and I could see them coming from outside, they were forming their webs around windows. I still have lots of spiders outside but since using the repellent I rarely see one inside.
Will definitely be giving this a try.
Be careful, what you call “incredibly small and cute” can actually be baby recluse spiders just coming out of their eggs. These spiders are very dangerous and can kill you. My beautiful daughter nearly lost her leg to those “incredibly cute, small spiders.” They come in through open doors and they love it when your windows are open to let fresh air in. Just thought you may need to know this.
Desi