I love essential oils and use them for a lot of things. This winter I found a nest of spiders in the garage. I heard that you can use essential oils to repel spiders. I want to learn how to do that.
Ann S. Marsh, Newcastle
Some people appreciate spiders for their ability to keep other pests under control. But not everyone wants to host spiders in their home. If you don’t want to use pesticides to keep spiders away, essential oils will do the trick. They are not only great as a home remedy for a sore throat or cold and coughing and helping you to sleep, they also will help repel spiders, flies, and gnats.
The first step in removing spiders from your home is to get rid of their hiding places. You’ve already discovered a nest in the garage, and that’s a typical place they like. Similarly, investigate any other dark places. Also, seal up cracks and crevices. Get rid of spider attractions like flies and ants and clear out any webs.
Now you can create any of these essential oil mixtures for spider repellents. One uses eucalyptus and lavender oils with vodka and water. Another simple mixture is just using peppermint oil and water. Even plain white vinegar or a strong citrus scent will keep spiders away. Consequently, try spraying around doors and windows with equal parts of lemon juice and water.
Also, take a look at how to mix up the recipes in this article: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-get-rid-of-spiders-5-remedies-to-keep-spiders-away/
Since pets and people aren’t always fond of essential oil scents, an easy solution is sprinkling plain baking soda where spiders are known to enter.