My daughter is terrified of spiders, and it seems we get them in our house all the time. We’ve tried the little spider traps they sell at the store but those aren’t really effective and when they do catch a spider, the thing is still alive, which freaks my daughter out more. And me too. I need to know the best way to get rid of spiders in your house.
I prefer all natural methods if at all possible. I don’t think those chemical sprays are safe.
Davina G. – Lawton, Oklahoma
Don’t worry; there are plenty of natural methods to get rid of spiders. In fact, many are more efficient than the chemical options you could buy.
Peppermint or citrus oils repel spiders and can be conveniently added to a spray bottle so you can spray wherever you often see spiders. These oils can be a bit concentrated though, especially peppermint, so make sure you mix it with a little water first.
Other essential oils such as cinnamon and lavender work just as well. We talk about what oils work and offer other suggestions in our longer article here: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/14-great-ways-to-keep-spiders-out-of-your-home-naturally/
Alternatively, you could just use diatomaceous earth or citrus peels, but change them out a couple of times a week, which could mean a lot of citrus.
You can also work from the outside and make a spider repellent for garage and the perimeter of your home to keep spiders away. Put cedar around your house or introduce ladybugs to your garden to help keep spiders from ever going near your house.
Make sure the area around your house is clear of clutter and that the interior is neat, as well. The more cluttered an area is and the less disturbed it is on a regular basis, the more likely a spider will be attracted to it.
Spiders don’t like to repeatedly have to rebuild their webs. Wood piles and things of that nature should be kept away from the house because they are magnets for spiders.
Finally, consider getting a pet, if you don’t have one already. Most pets will help keep the spider population down. Just make sure the spiders you have around the house aren’t poisonous. If they are, an exterminator is your best bet.