Natural Spider Repellent

Repel pesky household spiders with a few simple and natural ingredients, creating a nontoxic and safe natural spider repellent. This recipe will not only help to keep spiders out of the home, but many other creepy crawlers that try to enter.

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Tired of having spiders and bugs crawling around in your home? Me too! Luckily, we don’t need to call pest control, or have commercial grade insecticides sprayed in and around our home in order to rid our home of pests. Simple and natural ingredients will do the trick!

Click here if you are interested in learning about the health risks for your family and pets when using indoor insecticides. (COMING SOON)

Natural Spider Repellent is Affective Against:

• Many common household spiders, brown recluses, daddy long legs, hobo spiders, false widow spiders, and sac spiders (to name a few).
• Ants
• Mosquitos
• Cockroaches
• House Flies & Fruit Flies
• Gnats
• Silverfish & Earwigs

Less Effective Against:

• Orb weavers, wolf spiders, jumping spiders, huntsman spiders and tarantulas
• Ticks
• Fleas or Lice
• Beetles
• Centipedes & Millipedes

Spider Repellent Ingredients

*Cut recipe in half if you are using an 8 ounce spray bottle

• 2 cups Distilled White Vinegar (you can use water if vinegar is unavailable)
• 2 teaspoons Dish Soap OR 2 tablespoons Castile Soap (helps mix oils with water)
• 20-30 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
• 20-30 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil (brown recluse dislike this)
• 20 drops Tea Tree Oil (antimicrobial and repellent)
• Optional: 10 drops Lavender or Lemon Oil
• Spray Bottle (16 oz)

Ingredient	Function	Targets/Notes
Peppermint Essential Oil	Primary repellent; strong scent overwhelms spider and insect senses	Repels spiders (brown recluse, house, cellar), ants, mosquitoes, flies, roaches
Cedarwood Essential Oil	Disrupts insect hormones; scent deters spiders and many insects	Especially effective on brown recluses, moths, beetles, fleas
Tea Tree Oil	Acts as a solvent and carrier; vinegar also disrupts ant/spider scent trails,	Deters spiders, flies, lice, ants; sanitizes treated areas
Lavender/Lemon Oil (optional)	Enhances smell; also has insect-repelling properties	Lemon repels flies & mosquitoes; lavender calms & deters moths, fleas
Castile Soap	Natural emulsifier (mixes oils and water); breaks down bugs’ waxy coating	Helps essential oils blend + mildly insecticidal for soft-bodied pests
White Vinegar (or Water)	Acts as a solvent and carrier; vinegar also disrupts ant/spider scent trails, disinfects surfaces	Vinegar boosts repellent effect for ants, spiders, and some beetles
Distilled Water (if used instead of vinegar)	Gentle, neutral base for dilution	Use for milder version (safer for fabrics and sensitive pets)

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in the small to medium sized bowl or directly into the spray bottle.
2. Mix ingredients well in the bowl, and pour into the spray bottle using a funnel. Stir ingredients until thoroughly combined if combining directly into the spray bottle.
3. Shake well before each use.
4. Spray along doorways, trim, window sills, baseboards, in corners, closets, under furniture, garage, attic, basements, and around doors.
5. Use weekly for best results.

Tips & Reminders

Spider Repellent NOT Killer

This recipe is NOT a spider killer, but repellent. Use sticky traps to help catch spiders and insects that are currently in the home.

Storage

Labeled the spray bottle to help ensure it is used properly. Keep away from direct sunlight and out of children’s reach.

Surface Safety

Test on an inconspicuous spot first, be aware that vinegar or oils can damage wood, paint, or fabrics. Ensure slick surfaces such as flour and baseboards aren’t too saturated.

Safety for Children

Peppermint and tea tree oils are safe when diluted but should not be applied to children’s skin directly, especially the face and infants.

Avoid spraying directly on toys or bedding. You can spray around a child’s bed on the floor (be careful if the floor is hardwood).

If using around babies under 1 year, or in the nursury, consider omitting tea tree and lemon oil, which can be more irritating.

Always let surfaces dry completely before allowing kids to crawl, sit, or play in treated areas.

Safety for Pets

Pet Type	Concerns	Precautions
Cats	Highly sensitive to tea tree, citrus, and peppermint oils	Use in well-ventilated areas, never spray directly on or near cat bedding/toys.
Dogs	More tolerant, but still sensitive to strong oils	Allow treated areas to dry before access; avoid spraying where they lick/chew.
Birds	Very sensitive to airborne oils	Do not use essential oils near birds or birdcages.