How to Keep Spiders Away With Lavender
Lavender is a safe, natural way to give spiders the boot without exposing your kids to the dangerous chemicals contained in pesticides. It won’t kill the spiders but they don’t like to walk across areas with strong scents including lavender, citrus and peppermint. Since spiders taste with their feet they are thrown off by powerful fragrances and will normally avoid sprayed areas at all costs.
Step 1
Fill a 16-ounce spray bottle nearly full of warm water. Leave enough room to add lavender oil and dish soap, plus a bit of space so that you can shake it up.
Step 2
Add between 5 and 7 drops of essential lavender oil to the water in the spray bottle.
Step 3
Measure 3 to 5 tablespoons of dish soap into the spray bottle to help the oil droplets break up and spread through the water more evenly.
- Lavender is a safe, natural way to give spiders the boot without exposing your kids to the dangerous chemicals contained in pesticides.
- Measure 3 to 5 tablespoons of dish soap into the spray bottle to help the oil droplets break up and spread through the water more evenly.
Step 4
Replace the top on the spray bottle and shake well.
Step 5
Spray the mixture anywhere spiders are a problem. The lavender will form a barrier and repel the eight-legged intruders. Spray areas such as around windows and doors, at the base of walls and from ceiling to floor in corners.
Tip
Get rid of as many spider homes as you can by cleaning before you spray. Vacuum up all webs, including cobwebs, and be sure to get into the corners and along any cracks in the walls.
Tip
Remove the spiders already living in your house so that you have fewer pests to contend with. Use a hair dryer to blow air into places where you think spiders may be lurking. They don’t like the powerful force of the wind blowing in their space and they will come out of hiding to escape it. Be prepared to vacuum the spiders up as soon as they appear.
Tip
Lavender is not the only natural spider repellent. Try other essential oils in your home for maximum effect. Good oils to try include citrus oils, especially lemon, but orange and lime will also work.
Tip
Peppermint not only repels spiders, it is also known to discourage mice if it’s placed on a cotton ball and put into places where mice might be lurking. Even though peppermint is safe, keep the cotton balls away from young kids since the cotton can present a choking hazard.
Tip
If you are troubled by other pests, don’t be afraid to try your natural repellent on bugs other than spiders. Lavender also repels fleas and moths.
Warning
Buy only real essential oils and not anything that is man-made. The synthetic stuff does not have the same effect on spiders as the real thing, so you won’t get any benefit from using artificial products.
Warning
Lavender oil can be greasy, so be careful where you spray it. Test it on hidden areas before using it where it might stain paint, drapes or furniture.
