Spiders are those creatures with eight legs and eight eyes that seem to creep into every house no matter how hard you try to keep them out. They spin their webs in the corners of walls and ceilings and drop into the middle of the room when you least expect it.
Spraying poisons around the house isn't the healthiest, but how do you keep those pests out? None of these remedies have science behind them to show they work, but if you want a natural alternative to poisons for spider control, you may want to give these a whirl. Here are 7+ home remedies you can try to keep spiders outside.
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1. Peppermint oil. Supposedly, strong scents are repugnant to spiders, so Country Living recommends adding 15 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil to a spray bottle. Fill it the rest of the way with water and then spray it around where spiders would come in.
2. Garlic. If you don't mind the smell of garlic, maybe the spiders will. Home Remedy Hacks says to juice 10 cloves of garlic and put the juice in a spray bottle. Add water to fill the bottle and then spray where the spiders enter.
3. Diatomaceous earth. Most people want to clean dirt up from their house, but Common Sense Home recommends sprinkling diatomaceous earth around doors and windows to keep spiders at bay.
4. Orange peel. People love the smell of citrus, but supposedly, spiders don't. Natural Living Ideas says to take the peel of 1 orange and pour 1 cup of boiling water over it. Let it steep overnight. Strain the peel from the water and add 1/4 cup witch hazel to the water. Spray this where spiders come in.
5. Vinegar. Another scent that spiders are not supposed to like, Country Living says to make a mixture that's half white vinegar and half water. Spray this around the house.
6. Cat. Surprisingly, this one may actually work. Natural Living Ideas shares that cats are hunters and they observe tiny details. A cat will help catch spiders, but you may need a lot of cats to keep all the spiders under control.
7. Liquid dish soap. Home Remedy Hacks recommends combining a few drops of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle with water. This can be sprayed where spiders enter.
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8. Plants. Since certain smells are supposed to repel spiders, Common Sense Home recommends planting them outside your house: lemon balm, lemon verbena, lemon grass, lavender, eucalyptus and mint should all be considered.
Whether these remedies actually work, you'll have to be the judge.