I like bugs in general but have always had a fear of spiders, it’s gotten a little better over the years, but we’re still not friends. I know spiders are beneficial, and eat mosquitoes, but there's something about them that I just do not like, I think it's the legs...
I wish they would stay away from me of their own accord, but they don't seem to understand that I don't want them around.
I don't love the idea of spraying poison around, however, so, peppermint oil to the rescue!
Peppermint oil is safe to use around the house, and I think it smells good, but for whatever reason, spiders (and ants!) don't like it. See below for a simple recipe to help to encourage spiders to stay away and do their spider business elsewhere.
This recipe is stronger than recipes to use on skin and is meant to be used around the house as a spider and ant repellent. See our article on essential oil dilutions on our website here for topical use.
Spray around doors, windows, baseboards, and wherever you see them to get them to go away and hopefully not come back!
INGREDIENTS:
8 oz bottle*
1 teaspoon peppermint oil
2 tbs witch hazel (optional)
Water (purified or distilled)
* We have both glass and plastic 8 oz bottles of the store. I know everyone used to say that you should really only use glass bottles with essential oils, but Zum, a brand we carry and love, makes essential oil sprays and puts them in plastic bottles, so I'm starting to think maybe glass versus plastic doesn't matter as much in regards to essential oils. If you were going to store a mixture with essential oils for years and years it's probably better to have it in glass, but for things being used in a regular amount of time, I don't think that using plastic is the worst (other than just avoiding plastic use in general for environmental reasons, but I feel like if you're reusing a plastic bottle it's fine).
DIRECTIONS:
Combine peppermint oil and witch hazel (if using) in an 8oz bottle and then carefully fill with water. I like to use witch hazel since it acts as a natural preservative and helps to keep the mixture blended better.
Shake well before using and spray liberally on places spiders and ants hide as well as around doorways and baseboards to help keep them away.
