How to use essential oils to repel spiders? What essential oils against spiders, should we use to scare them away from our homes? How does it work? What are the good recipes?
Here is a simple article that answers these questions.
I. Brief reminder about spiders
The spider belongs to the animal kingdom Arthropoda and the class Arachnida. It usually has eight legs with well-developed chelicerae, transformed into fangs to inject venom into the body of its victim.
It breathes the air of course and is the largest population of arachnids.
Spiders are the seventh most common species in the world compared to other organisms.
Their body structure differs from that of other arthropods by dividing into two, the cephalothorax and the abdomen.
The two are connected by the pedicel. They do not have antennae like other insects.
The abdomen has well-developed and modified appendages called spinnerets.
They are used for the production of silk from six different types of silk glands embedded in the abdomen.
The intestine of spiders is very narrow and therefore cannot take solid food.
They liquefy the food with digestive enzymes and grind it with pedipalps, as they do not have real jaws.
II. How Essential Oils Repel Spiders?
Insect repellent is a substance applied to the skin, clothing, or other surfaces, which discourages insects from landing or climbing on them.
The long-term application of chemicals to control, repel and kill dangerous insects has created serious concerns for the environment and human health.
As a result, the use of natural, environmentally friendly, biodegradable plant-based insecticides has received much attention in recent years.
Plants have been used for centuries as crude fumigants, burned to repel insect pests, and later as oil solutions applied to the skin or clothing.
Many plant extracts and oils repel insects, with an effect that lasts from a few minutes to several hours.
Essential oils of natural origin are volatile, complex compounds characterized by a strong odor and formed by plants as secondary metabolites.
Essential oils extracted from different families have shown a high repellency against arthropod species.
It should be noted that essential oils are used against spiders to scare them away, but not to kill them at all.
Generally, spiders are harmless and do not have enough strength to sink their fangs into human skin. And most bites, which are called spider bites, are caused by hypodermic diseases or bites of other insects.
And if in the case of a large infestation, it is better to use other more radical means. You can consult our article: “How to get rid of spiders in the garden“.
III. How to use essential oils to repel spiders
To fight against spiders, here are some recipes based on essential oils that everyone can use.
1. Peppermint oil against Spiders
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most effective essential oils for repelling spiders.
Spiders hate the “minty” aroma. Since the scent of peppermint oil is minty and slightly peppery, it has proven to be very effective at repelling these insects.
Peppermint oil contains menthol, menthone, isomenthone, limonene, and beta-pinene, which give it its insect-repellent property.
To make up your recipe, add 1 or 2 drops of peppermint oil to 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and 50 ml of distilled water.
Mix it all together and spray it on the corners of your room to repel spiders.
2. Spider-repellent recipe with lavender oil
Lavender oil is the most versatile essential oil. It has an irresistible fresh, sweet, and floral aroma.
However, the reason it is so effective at repelling spiders is due to its compounds of linalyl acetate, limonene, lavandulyl acetate, and cineole.
They are attributed properties that give them the right to be in the composition of insecticides.
The oil also acts as an indoor air freshener when used in minimal quantities.
Although there are no prohibitions, it is recommended to avoid exposure to children, pregnant women, and pets.
You can diffuse lavender oil with a nebulizer on every corner of the house.
3. How to use essential oils to repel spiders
Lemongrass oil, derived can be used to deter spiders from entering your home.
Here’s how to use lemongrass oil to ward them off:
# Recipe 1
- Add 15 to 20 drops of lemongrass essential oil to a spray bottle filled with 16 ounces (about 500 ml) of water.
- Add a few drops of natural liquid soap, which will help the oil mix better with the water.
- Shake well to mix the solution.
- Spray the solution in areas where you have noticed spider activity or where they may enter, such as window sills, doors, and other cracks and crevices.
- You may also spray the solution directly on the cobwebs to discourage spiders from returning.
# Recipe 2
- Place a few drops of citronella oil on cotton balls or a small piece of cloth.
- Place them in strategic places around your home where you want to repel spiders, such as near entrances, corners, or near windows.
- Regularly update the solution and applications.
The effectiveness of the lemongrass oil solution will diminish over time, so it’s essential to reapply the spray and replace the cotton balls or tissue pieces every few weeks or as needed.
4. Does eucalyptus oil repel spiders?
Eucalyptus oil is also a good natural spider repellent.
Here’s how to use eucalyptus oil to scare away spiders:
Like the previous recipe, add 15 to 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a spray bottle of water (1/2 liter).
Then add a few drops of natural liquid soap to facilitate the water-oil mixture.
Spray the resulting solution of eucalyptus oil around the house and the places where the spiders are.
The other way is to Apply eucalyptus oil on cotton balls or a cloth:
They should be placed in specific places around the house, such as near entrances, corners, or windows.
Note: As with any essential oil, always test the eucalyptus oil solution on a small, inconspicuous area before applying liberally, as it may damage some surfaces or materials.
IV. Precautions of use of essential oils against spiders
Caution is crucial when using essential oils. You cannot simply spray or diffuse essential oils to repel spiders at will.
Essential oils are highly concentrated liquids. Therefore, they are not completely harmless to you, your children, or your pets.
Precautions to take include:
- Never use undiluted essential oils.
- Never congest the room with an intense aroma.
- Take a few steps before spraying the oil, such as removing children and pets.
- It is recommended to use gloves and a mask to avoid poisoning, especially for people with asthma problems.
- Spray from a certain distance for safety.
- Open the windows after a certain period of time to ventilate and renew the air in the house.
If you are cleaning your garage, be sure to note the type of spider it is.
Research the types of spiders, especially in and around your living environment, as not all spiders need to be removed.
You should know that some are very beneficial to the home because they are very effective hunters of much more harmful insects.
So having a few harmless spiders in your garage or attic is not really something to complain about.
It is rather advised by some specialists who consider them as a kind of guardian of the house.
Useful Links:
New research suggests the spiders could colonize the entire East Coast
Myth: Spider “infestations” should be controlled with pesticides.
Using spiders as environmentally-friendly pest control