So, spiders. I hate em’. BAD.
I know, I know. They serve a very good purpose on this great big mother earth, but I’d prefer them to stay WAAAY out of sight. And most definitely out of my house. You want to know what’s awesome about this natural spider spray? While regular pest control kills spiders once they enter your home, this stuff keeps them far, far away to begin with. Cue the happy dance!!
The only thing better than how great it works, is how incredibly simple it is to make. Like I’m embarrassed to even call it a recipe, simple. Add in the major cost savings over conventional pest control, and this natural spider spray is a no-brainer.
Ingredients for Natural Spider Spray
15-20 drops peppermint essential oil
Water to fill 16 oz spray bottle
16 oz spray bottle
Directions for Making Natural Spider Spray
Fill spray bottle of choice with water and add the peppermint essential oil. Give it a good shake and wahlah! You have the easiest, most effective natural spider spray around. Spray around exterior and interior doors windows, and foundations weekly to keep pests out. Take a deep breath and revel in how awesome your home smells. Shake before each use to re-mix the oil and water.
I recommend using a glass spray bottle for this spray because sometimes when essential oils are placed in plastic containers, the oils can break down the plastic, causing the container to collapse.
This natural spider spray works because spiders HATE peppermint. Their taste buds are in their feet and for whatever reason, they’ll do anything to refrain from walking on it.
Quick little story to illustrate how awesome this stuff is: Once upon a time we lived in a home that also could have been named Arachnid Four Seasons. I was killing at least 4 spiders a day even after having exterior pest control and interior organic pest control do their thang. This is what one of my five interior spider traps looked like 4 weeks after spraying inside and out.
Does that make you want to hurl or what??
Meanwhile, I heard that spiders and other pests (like mice) hate peppermint, so I whipped up my some of this stuff in about 10 seconds and immediately sprayed around my windows and doors. That was 9 months ago and I literally have not killed a spider sense. No exaggeration.
My friend lives in a basement apartment of a home that sits on a mountainside. This spider oasis is 10 steps from her front door.
She uses this natural spider spray weekly and her home is completely spider free! Check out how cobweb free her door is!
Before she moved in it was covered in webs and lots of creepy crawly things in the corners.
Water: Free
Peppermint Oil: $1.40Total Cost (assuming you have a spray bottle): $1.40 per batch.
I use 2-3 bottles per month during peak spider season and spray maybe once per month during the winter. So, during the months of most use I am spending $4.20 on pest control. I don’t know about you, but that sure beats any local pest control companies around here!
Ingredients
- 15-20 drops peppermint essential oil
- Water to fill 16 oz spray bottle
- 16 oz spray bottle
Instructions
Notes
I recommend using a glass spray bottle for this spray because sometimes when essential oils are placed in plastic containers, the oils can break down the plastic, causing the container to collapse. This natural spider spray works because spiders HATE peppermint. Their taste buds are in their feet and for whatever reason, they'll do anything to refrain from walking on it.
Have I sold you yet? I can keep going, but I’ll spare you. Just make this and you won’t regret it.
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Havan says
On-Guard essential oil works well too. Especially for hobo spiders.
Janet says
Do you know what other essential oil would work just as good as peppermint, as I have 2 cats and don’t want them to be harmed. I don’t have a lot but I am tired of paying $100 a quarter for pest control that doesn’t always work.
Paula Vogel says
Karrie and other readers, Some spiders are so beneficial. Some gardeners would love to have the orb weaver spiders. Yes they are long legged and large body. They make a web that is very symetrical. They do not bite people. I have had one every year out side my kitchen window. They stay in their web all years. Sometime they will not have anything to eat and become very dehydrated. I will get a cricket or a big grasshopper and pull off the back legs and put it in the outside of the circle of the web. The spider will quickly come out and begin wrapping in the web around the grasshopper. I think it ate its dinner at night. It repaired its delicate web to the same pattern. When reading or hearing gardeners speak about keeping the insects control, many times I hear them wish they had the orb weavers. Paula PS—I hate snakes!!!
Alexis says
Does this apply for all spiders?
Rosemary short says
Does this spider spray kill brown recluse as well?
Meagan says
What was the trap you made with the spiders on them? How many sprays should I spray and where around Windows corners or just what it opens?
Josefina says
How many drops from oil?
Carolyn says
scroll up to the top of this page…the recipe is there
Claudette Coetzee says
Yes Tammie I had the same problem. It didn’t work. It only chased them away from one place to another. …………..
Evon Jenkinson says
I love leaving doors & windows open but I get the odd moth that loves woolen clothes. Has anyone tried peppermint oil amongst sweaters? Would be interested in your findings. I am trying to avoid carcinogenic products like napthaline which I know is a deterrent.
Tammie Proue says
This doesn’t work! I tried it with peppermint and while the spider seemed irritated and tried to run from it, it is still in the same web above our patio door and it’s huge! I’m going to try adding the tea tree oil to the mix and see what happens. Stay tuned….
Pam says
Can you use fresh peppermint instead of the oil and if so how?
Kim says
I have to question the effectiveness of this. I’ve been using this “spider spray” in the interior of my house for about two weeks, spraying about twice a week. Every time I have sprayed, I’ve seen/killed a spider in the house within a couple days. I haven’t sprayed it outside, as I sprayed a conventional pest control on the outside. Do I need to spray it outside too? Or are my spiders just immune to peppermint? :-/
StL Lori says
Same with me. I think the spray gets them out of their hiding spots and they are searching for less offensive places to go. Keep it up though, I do think it works, you just need to rid your home of the ones already there.
Kim says
Well, crap…ordered some peppermint oil on Amazon yesterday…was all geared up to do some spraying tomorrow when it comes in…I don’t have spiders that bad, but even one us enough yo give me a serious case of heeby jeebies…we just moved into an older house…basement mostly finished except for the laundry area…kinda creepy…and the outside entranceway that my son uses to get to the downstairs where his room is..but I don’t want to spray and activate a stampede of spiders from their hidey holes…can deal on an individual basis but multiples?! but that does hake sense…keeps new ones from coming in…but will make ones already living inside look for a new place…better keep my flip flop handy for spider thwacking
Stacy says
I have lived in my apt condo for 6 years and my lovely balcony has been naked collecting dust lol all this time due to my fear of spiders. I’m in Toronto Canada so we are slowly starting to warm up. Saw our first spider out there 2 nights ago when we experienced somewhat of a one hit heat wave. I used your recipe and sprayed to my hearts content today. Thanks for the details! I will check in and update in the coming weeks. If all goes well, I will finally purchase some outdoor furniture for the summer.
Jamie @ Medium Sized Family says
Our weather suddenly turned cool, and now every time I turn around there is a giant wolf spider crawling across my floors. I can’t take it any more! Thanks for this idea, I will give it a try!
debbie says
Is it safe around pets?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I would be cautious around animals especially cats because peppermint is hard on their nervous systems.
Tammy says
I use it at my house and I have a cat, small dog, lizard and hamster. Never had a problem. I also go around my rental properties in between tenants. So the next tenant will be spider free when they move in! I go around my baseboards in my basement and also go around the outside of my home. I rarely have to go around my whole house anymore. But.if I start to see them I get my spray out and go to town. I have very few spider webs at my house.
Angel says
Can you tell us what the process for the interior traps ( like your picture) please please please ? Getting ready to make a batch to spray outside , but want to do this inside too ( just in case )!!!
J.C. says
Does this miracle spray work on other bugs, in particular cockroaches? It sounds great!
Mende says
You can put bay leaves in you cabinets and in the corners of your house to keep cockroaches away.
Leorah says
Get some fresh bay leaves. Light some small charcoal cubes on the gas and place them in an aluminum baking cup. Place this in a baking railings (so that your table surface is protected). Put the bay leaf on the charcoal and let it burn. ….not only is the fragrance pleasant but cockroaches hate it!
Leorah says
Sorry…baking ramikins …..
Karen says
I thought essential oils were a lot more expensive than this. Does it matter what brand of essential oil you use? And where do you get it for only $1.40? I would love to try this.
Happy.MoneySaver says
Karen,
You only use a small portion of the essential oils so the price is pro-rated to only what you use. If you want more information on essential oils email me at karrie at happymoneysaver.com!
Michelle says
The peppermint cost about $12 but 20 drops are about $1.40.
Brenda says
I buy my Peppermint oil from Pure Formula, it runs about $2.79 for a 2 oz. bottle. I’ve bought mine from them for years. And it works very well.
Sheri says
There are different grades
of oils so prices will vary. Look for the ways they’re processed and if they’re extracted from the first skimming
Cjp says
Is this safe for carpeted rooms ? I like in th basement suite of my parents house and I am horribly afraid of spiders . I’ve had to sleep in my nephews bed the past two nights due to the amount of spiders but my whole suite is carpeted !
Chris says
I absolutely DETEST spiders. How perfect that I just got a large bottle of peppermint essential oil from amazon review trader. I’m going to make this (and spray it everywhere!) as soon as I get home. Thanks for this info!!
Lydia @ Thrifty Frugal Mom says
I love how simple and natural this is! I absolutely HATE spiders and although we don’t have many, and thankfully the ones we do have are the tiny kind, I still dislike having them around.
Happy.MoneySaver says
I know–I hate spiders too!
Margaret says
Do you know if it works for scorpions? They’re arachnids, also. We occasionally get a scorpion in our house, and I’m always afraid our cat will get hold of one.
SONDRA says
Food grade diatamacious earth will kill scorpions, once they step in it or eat it. Get one of those ulta violet lights to look for and kill them.
Pet says
Cats and chickens are prone to scorpions venom
Ashley S says
Does this work on more than just spiders?
Victoria Walentowski says
I’m glad I saw this because I’m deadly allergic to spiders, so this would be a true life saver.
Kim Marie says
Victoria,
First, I’m so very sorry to hear about the allergy from which you suffer!
I’ve literally been looking for 2 Years for someone posting about having a spider (bite) allergy. I was bitten 40x over 6 wks and every system in my body damaged & continues to deteriorate as reactions escalate.
The Response from my body is so severe now that after being bitten by “harmless” spiders twice last month I had 2 heart attacks ~ one after each bite ~ either ZERO history of heart or circulation issues prior…
Idk protocol for trying to reach a public poster privately (perhaps whomever moderates here can lmk if you’re interested in a less public chat?)
I feel isolated & helpless. Would appreciate so much knowing anything you’ve learned about this.
Many thanks in advance.
Kim