Natural Ways to Ward Off Spiders and Insects

As the seasons change, unwanted guests like spiders and insects often find their way into our homes. We have an old house which was peppered with spiders when we moved in. No other bugs, just spiders. Usually, I don’t intervene with the occasional spider (one per room is the max inhabitants for me), but this autumn they seem to be trying to get inside in droves. I go through my home and collect spiders and their webs on a telescopic microfibre duster then go shake it out in a shrub outside.

I realised this autumn that I’d much rather deter their initial entry than to have to shuttle them out to the garden each time, so I started researching natural solutions to make our house look as unattractive to them as possible. Fortunately, I learned about many natural and non-toxic approaches to keeping spiders and insects at bay. I’ll share what I learned about using essential oils and other non-toxic natural ways to ward off spiders and insects.

1. Essential Oils & Natural Repellent Spray

Essential oils are potent, aromatic compounds extracted from plants. Many of them possess insect-repelling properties. Here are some essential oils you can use to create effective natural repellents:

• Peppermint Oil: Spiders and insects despise the strong scent of peppermint oil. Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and spritz it around entry points, windowsills, and corners of your home.
• Lavender Oil: Lavender not only repels insects but also has a calming aroma. Add a few drops of lavender oil to cotton balls and place them in closets, drawers, or near windows.
• Eucalyptus Oil: Eucalyptus oil is another powerful insect repellent. Dilute it with water and spray it in areas where spiders and insects are likely to enter.
• Citronella Oil: Well-known for keeping mosquitoes at bay, citronella oil can also deter other insects. Consider using citronella candles or essential oil diffusers in your outdoor living spaces.

You can make a simple and effective repellent spray using essential oils. I use this to wipe down the window frames and door frames in my entire house. I also spray some on a telescopic duster and dab it in the top corners of each room where two walls meet the ceiling. Keep in mind, this is useful for hard surfaces where you are not preparing or serving food. It is NOT for ingestion or to use on your body. Here’s how the ‘recipe’:

• 10-15 drops of essential oil (e.g., peppermint, lavender, or eucalyptus)
• 1 cup of water
• A spray bottle

1. Mix the essential oil with the water in the spray bottle.
2. Shake well before each use.
3. Spray the mixture in areas where spiders and insects are likely to enter, such as doorways, windows, and gaps in walls.

3. Keep a Clean and Tidy Home:

Spiders and insects are attracted to food crumbs and clutter. Which, let’s admit, is an uphill battle with kids. A pile of shoes or laundry is an attractive destination to be sure. To prevent them from finding a cozy spot in your home, I try to follow these cleaning and organization tips:

• Regularly sweep and vacuum floors, especially in corners and under furniture. I recently acquired a carpet sweeper to use daily on the rugs because it gets the job done quietly, then I vacuum & mop once a week.
• Seal food in airtight containers and clean up spills promptly. We keep all our food items up on shelves and in one place. Bag clips to keep snacks closed, air-tight containers for coffee/tea and bulk snacks, and no food upstairs are a few ways I’ve found successful for us.
• Declutter your home to reduce hiding spots for insects and spiders. Yeah, this is not happening for me even though all the things I read encouraged this. I am trying to declutter, truly I am, but it’s a tough task for my sentimental brain. To offset this, I am diligent about keeping all yarn, fabric, and off-season clothing in vacuum bags or air-tight plastic boxes with homemade lavender sachets (tutorial).
• Rely on your freezer to kill them off. If you bring a pillow (as an example) in from your garage, put it in a bag and freeze it for 24 hours then defrost for 24 hours then freeze for again 24 hours. You can read about why this works in more detail here.

4. Clean & Seal Entry Points:

Clean Door & Window Frames

Clean the exterior and interior of all windows and doors at least twice a year. If you have spider eggs or moth larvae inhabiting a crevice, you need to rehome them to a far corner of your garden. I initially wipe around each window and door frame with a dry paper towel, then shake it off in a shrub.

Use Your Magic Wand

For porches, archways, porticos, verandas, or laundry hanging systems, you can cast a spell on the spiders with your own magic wand. No, really. One of the natural ways to ward off spiders and insects in your garden may be to remove spiderwebs where they’re obstructing daily life. You could walk face-first into the web, or you could swirl a magic wand around catching any webs in the process. Then a gentle tap-tap on a shrub to release any captured spider. Added bonus that anyone watching will wonder what you’re really up to. You could even put on the whole spider witch costume for it.

Seal Cracks

Inspect your home for any gaps, cracks, or openings that could serve as entry points for insects. This could be cracked paint or concrete as well as old weatherstripping. Seal these gaps with caulk or weatherstripping to keep unwanted visitors out.

5. Outdoor Prevention:

To prevent insects from coming indoors in the first place, consider these outdoor measures:

• Install screens on windows and doors to keep bugs out. This isn’t something I would opt for, but a practical choice in regions with flying bugs.
• Keep outdoor lights turned off or switch to yellow or LED bulbs (we use these), which are less attractive to insects.
• Trim vegetation and remove debris near your home, as these can provide hiding spots for insects. You can do this while still leaving plenty of vegetation and debris further from your house if you want to encourage biodiversity.

I hope it works for you. I’m seeing moderate results so far with this combination of approaches, but winter will be a true test to see what lurks in the corners.

Keeping spiders and insects out of your home doesn’t require toxic chemicals. By using essential oils, natural DIY solutions, and some basic housekeeping, you can create a bug-free environment that is safe for you, your family, and the environment. Embrace these natural ways to ward off spiders and insects, allowing you to enjoy a more pest-free and comfortable living space.