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Natural Spider Repellent Hacks to Protect Your House

A spider inside a house
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Protecting your home from spiders is a top priority for many homeowners. Not only can spiders be a nuisance, but some species can pose potential dangers to your family and pets as well. While pest control companies offer effective solutions, many people prefer to use natural spider repellents as a safer alternative. By harnessing the power of natural ingredients, you can keep these eight-legged pests at bay without the need for toxic chemicals.

Do a Deep Clean

Someone cleaning a table
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Maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment is a key step in keeping spiders out of your home. Spiders are drawn to messy spaces where they can easily find hiding spots. By regularly cleaning and tidying up your living spaces, you make it less appealing for these arachnids to settle in.

Keeping up with regular cleaning will help keep new spiders from setting up shop. Every few months, you should do a deep clean to clear out all the spots that arachnids might be hiding.

HOMEXCEL Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Clean every inch of your home with these useful cleaning cloths.

Get Something Made of Cedar

A bottle of cedar oil surrounded by cedar chips
Madeleine Steinbach/Shutterstock.com

Cedarwood is known for its natural ability to repel various pests, including spiders. Incorporating cedar items into your home decor can be a stylish way to discourage spiders from taking up residence.

Cedar blocks or sachets placed in closets, drawers, and other storage areas can release a pleasant aroma while keeping spiders away. Cedar mulch around the exterior of your home can also create a barrier that deters spiders from entering.

Suwimut Cedar Sachets Bags

Place these around your home to deter spiders naturally.

Spray Citrus

A bowl of citrus fruit
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The zesty scent of citrus isn’t just refreshing for humans—it’s a powerful spider repellent too. Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits contain natural compounds that spiders dislike.

Create your own citrus spider repellent spray by mixing the juice of a few citrus fruits with water in a spray bottle. This mixture can be applied to surfaces around your home to keep spiders from making themselves at home.

Now Essential Oils: Citrus Blend

Essentials oils mixed with water can also be used as a repellent.

Clean With Vinegar

A person sprays something on a table
Troyan/Shutterstock.com

Vinegar is a versatile household ingredient that can serve as an effective spider repellent. Mix equal parts of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and use it to clean surfaces like countertops, baseboards, and window sills. Not only does vinegar help repel spiders, but it also eliminates the pheromone trails that they use to navigate, disrupting their ability to find their way around.

Lucy's Family Owned Natural Distilled White Vinegar

Have this on hand for various cleaning projects.

Apply Peppermint Oil

A small jar of peppermint oil
Tatevosian Yana/Shutterstock.com

One effective natural spider repellent hack is to apply peppermint oil around your home. This essential oil has a strong scent that spiders find displeasing, making it an excellent deterrent.

To utilize peppermint oil, you can create a simple spider repellent spray. Fill a spray bottle with water and add 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil. Shake the bottle gently to mix the ingredients. Then, spray this mixture in areas where spiders are likely to hide, like window frames, doorways, and crevices.

You can also use cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil as a DIY spider repellent. Place these cotton balls in trouble spots, like the corners of rooms or near window sills. The strong smell of peppermint will keep spiders away from these areas.

Essentially KateS Peppermint Essential Oil

A great value for the amount of oil you get.

Sprinkle Cinnamon

A bowl of cinnamon and cinnamon sticks
Annmell_sun/Shutterstock.com

Cinnamon is great for many uses, including being a natural spider repellent. Sprinkle ground cinnamon in corners, cracks, and crevices where spiders are likely to enter.

The strong scent of cinnamon will discourage spiders from crossing these treated areas, sparing you from their unwelcome presence. You can create a DIY spider repellent by missing cinnamon powder with water, or boil cinnamon sticks in water for a similar effect.

McCormick Ground Cinnamon

You'll find many, many uses for this spice.

Grow Spider-Repelling Plants

Several houseplants near a windowsill
Grumpy Cow Studios/Shutterstock.com

Nature provides its own solutions to pest problems, and growing certain plants can work wonders as a spider repellent. Plants like lavender, eucalyptus, and mint emit fragrances that spiders don’t like. Strategically placing these plants near entrances and windows can help keep spiders from making their way inside.

Naunauya Dried Lavender Flowers and Eucalyptus

Hang these around your home for spider protection and aesthetic appeal.


In the ongoing battle to keep your home spider-free, natural repellents offer an eco-friendly and safe alternative to chemical solutions. By using specific ingredients around your house, you can create an environment that spiders will leave alone.

Anne Taylor Anne Taylor
Anne Taylor is a writer with a BA in Journalism and a passion for storytelling. Her work has been published on a variety of websites including Mental Floss and Well + Good, and she recently published her first novel, What it Takes to Lose. When she's not writing, Anne loves to travel (19 countries and counting), spend time outside, and play with her dog, Pepper. Read Full Bio »
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