Have you heard of using peppermint oil for spiders? Here’s the method for DIY peppermint oil spider repellent and the results! Does it really work?
I’ve heard from a few different sources now that spiders really don’t like the smell of peppermint and that you can use peppermint oil for spiders trying to get into your home. When I first heard about this, I have to be honest: This natural spider repellent spray seemed like a dream come true to me. I’m not deathly afraid of spiders, per se, but out here in the middle of nowhere, we really do get a whole lot of them. August and September seem to be the worst months as far as I can tell, and they make a terrible mess all over the house. It can get a little embarrassing sometimes if I don’t keep up with my de-spidering duties.
Of course, I could get my house sprayed for spiders, but I’ve been avoiding the scary, dangerous chemicals as much as I can, so the idea of a natural repellent bug spray instead of an insecticide really appeals to me. Plus, I love the smell of peppermint.
Problem Areas in Need of Spider Repellent
This seems to be our spiders’ favorite hangout. Our humble little side entrance that everyone uses instead of the front door. They’ll just cover the door right up with their webs if you let them.
Here’s what we’re dealing with: Lots of spider webs being put up in every corner, across every shrub, and on every railing they can find.
I’m avoiding showing you the really thick webs with the big scary spiders on them, just in case you’re here because you have a bit of a phobia, but you know what that whole situation looks like.
We get flies and other various little bugs trapped in the webs all over the siding, as well as leaves and other debris that blows around when it’s windy. Just ugliness all around. All that mess really shows up on our old white farmhouse.
The Method for Using Peppermint Oil for Spiders
I followed the instructions that I’d heard about for this pest-control method. All it takes is about 15-20 drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle of water. I used 30, just to be sure. These are the glass spray bottles I use around the house. You can also put the essential oil directly on a few cotton balls and tuck those into corners and crannies that seem to be frequented by spiders. So quick! So easy! So delightfully Christmassy smelling!
Could this be the freshly scented answer to my prayers? Can you use peppermint oil for spiders? Does it really work?
No. No, it doesn’t.
I went around and de-spidered the whole area with my special de-spidering broom, then sprayed the whole area with peppermint spray. Then I placed the cotton balls. Then I repeated all this 3 days in a row. The webs seemed to be getting worse and worse every day! This area has a little roof, so it doesn’t get wet when it rains. So it wasn’t that the peppermint got washed away.
Should You Try Peppermint Oil Spider Spray?
Will this spider repellent work for you, though? I don’t know. A whole lot of people seemed to rely on this method. It’s worth a try, really, just for the delicious fragrance of the spray alone.
If you’re like me and don’t have any luck with the peppermint: Here are a few things that I find do work:
- Spiders are supposed to dislike strong scents in general, so you can try other oils like lemon, cinnamon, or tea tree oil. I’ve had some luck with the tea tree oil in the past. It definitely kept the spiders away more than the peppermint did.
- Keep the spidery area super clean and tidy. They especially like cardboard boxes, so keep them stored somewhere else or replace them with lidded plastic tubs.
- My most successful method: Get an old broom that you can use frequently (1-2 times per week at least) to clear away new webs and bug carcasses. Spray the area down with the garden hose each time you do this. Use a nozzle with a very strong spray.
So What Insect Repellent Works?
I find having to get out the old broom and garden hose so regularly to be really inconvenient, actually, but it seems to be the only thing that really works. The spiders truly seem to think twice after I do this, and the re-occurrence of webs seems to lessen significantly after I give the area a really strong spray. I wish it was as easy as a sweet-smelling spray bottle, but for me, that’s just not going to happen!
When things get really bad at the peak of spider season, we do usually have to resort to using strong chemical sprays. We clean and de-web the area really well, then just spray the area under our porch roofs down sparingly with a basic spider spray from the hardware store. This method does seem to keep things contained a bit for about three-four weeks. We definitely still get webs being made, but it’s a not so out-of-control.
Good luck with your own spidery situations! If you’ve got any other great tricks (ones that really work for these crazy country spiders), I’m all ears! Have you ever tried using peppermint oil for spiders?
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Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.