It’s that time of year – the time of year when it is cold outside and the little 8-legged creepy critters try to make their way indoors to get out of the cold!
These little spiders can not only be an annoyance, they can be dangerous. We have the joy of having lots of mean ones! I was bit recently and my leg swelled quickly and I had to go get an antibiotic. This can be quite concerning and scary for any human being, but especially if you have kids!
So, I make a lot of homemade products that are safe and natural (because this is important to me too!) and so I researched what essential oils spiders hate.
I have an essential oil encyclopedia in my home because we do use them for many things: cleaning, cooking, health, preventative care, personal care products, smell good air, etc., but also for pest repellent. We have shared our very popular Carpet and Car Deodorizer recipe which doubles as an insect repellent and may deter a lot of spiders too. But we also wanted to have a very specific spider repellent to spray in trouble spots, which in turn, will probably also deter many insects (like ants and beetles).
Spiders were created with taste buds on their feet. So, if they walk across something they don’t like, they will not go there! That’s a pretty weird thought! As I was writing this, Alex said “imagine if our taste buds were on our feet! We would probably lose a lot of weight!” I don’t know where he comes up with this stuff, but it would probably be true!
Well anyway, according to my encyclopedia, spiders specifically do not like citrus (lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit), citronella, cinnamon, lavender, tea tree, basil and peppermint. They also hate vinegar and “hot” spicy spices (like Tabasco sauce, cayenne pepper, other hot sauces).
So really, any and/or all of the above ingredients would make a mighty fine spider repellent!
And guess what?!?…… None of it will hurt you, your kids, or your pets! Now, as a side note, there is one essential oil that is poisonous for cats and dogs – tea tree oil. It is a wonderful oil with dozens of benefits for humans, but it is like poison for them! So if you have cats or dogs, do not include this in your spider repellent concoction!
Basically, you can create something with what you have on hand. If you are interested in the essential oils, see our post here on a hot deal on essential oils for household use!
Here’s how to make it:
- Start with a spray bottle and add your water and/or vinegar with a funnel
- Then for every 1/2 cup of vinegar or water (whichever you choose to use), use 2-3 drops of essential oils. Any of the above would work. You can also add cayenne pepper or other very spicy spices to the mix. The essential oils will not hurt paint, carpet, walls, etc., but I am not sure about spices. So you will want to be the judge of this!
- Mix it all together and spray in your problem areas.
- You will want to spray your problem areas at least once a week to be effective.
Problem areas are usually under doors, windows, cracks, basements, garages, etc. If you do use vinegar, you will find that the oils will off-set most of the smell and the rest of the smell will disappear once it is dry in the area.
So now, if you had tastebuds on your feet and you came across the taste of vinegar, mixed with citronella, peppermint, lemon, etc. and cayenne pepper – would you continue to walk on it? Probably not!
For us, it’s probably like walking on a bed of hot coals to get to the other side – I don’t think I would do it! Would you?
Sheila Toomey
My spiders attack from the ceiling. I wonder if it would work if I sprayed the whole ceiling?
BILL LOONEY
I don’t want them to turn around and leave, I want to murder them! Got any good tips for Murder? lol
Mrs Sims
I feel the same way dude! I feel the same way!
Amy
Fire. Bleach. Acetone. Shoes. Fly swatters….whatever it takes.
I don’t mind them so much when I’m outside, but when I’m inside…ohhhh nooo–that’s my space.
Hollie
I like your blue, glass spray bottle. Where did you find it?
Carolyn Franzen
I wonder if this would work with ants as well.
Michele
Do you have anything specifically for ants? I had a problem with them in my kitchen last year and none of the preventative traps worked. The sprays would kill them but they would just come back again and again.
Della Gainey
Michele you have to put a little peanut butter on your ant traps to attract them to it. An exterminator taught me that little trick. A preventative measure would be to put granulated ant killer around the base of your house at the beginnig of warm weather so they don’t come in to begin with. If you put it out early you will probably have to do it again in a few months but if you do it around June it should last all summer. Also don’t go cheap here. They have bags for about 8 dollars and bags for about 20 dollars. Get the 20 dollar bag. I like the kind you don’t have to water in so I can put in on the porches across the doorways too. Good Luck! 🙂
Shirley B
Do you have a homemade repellant for silverfish? We get them in our bathroom and closet. I’ll see if the spider repellant works on them too.
heather
A trick to stop ants from crossing any threshold is to put a thin, small line of dish soap (Dawn,etc.) down wherever u don’t want them to cross. Ants travel by scent, that is they follow a marked route which is laid out by their scouting ants. The line of dish soap literally cuts that scent trail & they cannot ‘smell’ over it to continue the path.
Dish soap works very well if u have hummingbird feeders. Just apply a little dish soap to your fingertips and rub it along the string/fishing line that enables the feeder to hang. NO MORE ANTS!!
Annette L.
I had a hellacious time with ants!!! All summer I tried spraying them with mixtures from the internet, similar to the one on this site. The concoctions will make it so they can’t smell their original pathway. Mainly this seemed to create them coming back in a different route with a vengence. What I eventually discovered was (food grade–not the one for pool filters) diatomaceous earth after they invaded a full container of cat food ;(
I sprinkled the diatomaceous earth all around the container and on top of the lid, they literally disappeared within a few hours and they have not returned and I did not have to throw out the cat’s food. Diatomaceous earth dehydrates their bodies and they take it back to the nest. Here’s a site for more information: http://www.richsoil.com/diatomaceous-earth.jsp
Trisha
Im so infested with them its impossible so were moving. Cant eat sleep or sit n watch TV without em being inbedded n in every place they get in n they took over this pos dump that the slumbers can’t deal with. Im on a murder/kill binge n never felt better at times only to picture certain faces of ppl. Yeah im an angry n crazy bitch but if provoked n sure have been. I had an army of them after my shoes let alone not realizing they love shit so I smeared them into it with gloves of course n all ya seen was this shit covered in tiny dots n I smiled sayin love me now invasive fucks smh lol. Im still tryin to find a near pro way to get rid of em n for good. I not only HATE I DESPISE them. When I get a great way to murder em all ill pass it on ill try n remember this posting n let be known.
Trisha
I seen what u recommended im lookin up n tryin it here n when we move n anywhere along the way I see em I swear. Ty tho lol
carol cole
? part water to ?paret peperment essenual oil to make Homaid NAtural Spider Repellent for large area ?
CLARE
Hi there! Actually a very important edit for you: MANY ESSENTIAL OILS ARE TOXIC TO DOGS!!!
HERE IS A LIST: This includes oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang. These oils are toxic whether ingested by mouth or spread on the skin. FROM THE AKC WEBSITE.
PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE SPREADING SUCH INCREDIBLY TOXIC INFORMATION!!!!
CLARE
HERE IS A LINK https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/are-essential-oils-safe-for-dogs/
Meredith
*****A LONG LIST OF ESSENTIAL OILS ARE TOXIC TO DOGS AND CATS***** Tea tree oil is one of MANY that can seriously hurt your pet. Even inhaling the scent can cause lung irritation and other health issues.
AUTHOR – PLEASE REMOVE THIS FALSE INFORMATION FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR READERS’ PETS.
The ASPCA notes that only as little as seven or eight drops may be all it takes to cause issues.
“Symptoms include:
Unsteadiness on the feet
Depression
Low body temperature (in severe cases)
If a pet ingested concentrated essential oils, you may see vomiting, diarrhea and depression, as well.“
Trisha
Yes I do but might not be the same thing for bugs lol anyway yeah thats exactly the same thing all the above they won’t be moving again. Im guna have to do all them being fave smells but not tea tree oil near dogs n cats cuz id get very serious on that note. Love them more than I like ppl by far. Trust me I murder ants n anything but spiders knowing they eat bugs. My higher power is ladybugs since im one of them.
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