Looking to rid your house, apartment, or property of spiders?
Whether you are arachnophobic or just plain disgusted by the sight of these eight legged creatures, then you’ve come to the right place!
In this Pest Strategies guide you can expect to learn:
- Our #1 overall best natural spider repellent
- Other top spider repellents that may work better for you
- Differences between the chemical solutions and natural spider repellents
- How using essential oils can keep spiders away from your home
Continue reading to learn about how natural spider repellents work and how they can benefit your home.
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Mighty Mint Insect & Pest Control
- Targets spiders and other pests
- Great smell
- Enough concentrate for a gallon of repellent
Mighty Mint Insect & Pest Control utilizes essential oils to repel creepy spiders and effectively keeps other pests at bay.
Peppermint essential oils is among the best solutions to help homeowners get rid of spiders without the use of harmful chemicals.
You can effectively eliminate the presence of spiders throughout your home while keeping your living space smelling fresh and welcoming as well.
Top Natural Spider Repellents Reviewed
Short on time? Take a look below for the top 4 in our list. Otherwise, check out our buying guide
1. Mighty Mint Insect & Pest Control (Our Top Choice)
2. Harris Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade (Our Second Pick)
3. Ceda Wood Moth Balls
4. Wondercide Indoor Pest Control
1. Mighty Mint Insect & Pest Control
Mighty Mint Insect & Pest Control is highly concentrated peppermint oil specifically designed to act as repellents against spiders.
While there are a handful of essential oils that repel spiders, peppermint oil has been shown to be the most effective essential oil that keeps spiders away from living spaces without harmful chemicals.
What’s even better about using peppermint oil as spider deterrent is that it doesn’t cause harm to pets, children, plants, and everyone else in the family. However, its strong scent doesn’t appeal to everyone.
The Good:
- Completely safe and effective to use
- Can be done with a single or combined formula
- Refreshing and aromatic scent
The Bad:
- Can leave stains on carpets and upholstery
- Strong smell doesn’t appeal to everyone
Features:
- Great smell
- Targets spiders and other pests
- Enough concentrate for a gallon of repellent
2. Harris Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade
Harris Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade, made from the naturally occurring sedimentary rock, has been the second if not the best option considered by a lot of homeowners in getting rid of spiders.
The DE’s high porosity and abrasive texture makes the mineral very effective in eliminating spiders.
When sprinkled on areas frequented by spiders, the DE powder sticks to the exoskeleton of the arachnids. This deprives the spiders of the moisture needed to maintain the integrity of their protective layer which eventually leads to a fatal dehydration.
The Good:
- Can be used on a wide variety of insect infestations
- Low toxicity
- Easy to apply
The Bad:
- Spiders need to come into direct contact with the powder
- Needs some time for powder’s efficiency to kick in
- Powder needs to remain dry to be effective
- Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory problems
Features:
- No additives or fillers
- Effectively repels spiders and other pests
- Duster included for easy application
3. Ceda Wood Moth Balls
These Ceda Wood Moth Balls by Cedar Space repel spiders and other insects while keeping your home smelling forest-fresh.
These cedar wood moth balls are long lasting. You can leave them in the nooks and crannies of your home without a second thought.
Other convenient, spider repelling cedar products by Cedar Space include cedar satchels, rings, and blocks.
The Good:
- Comes in a variety of forms
- Has a natural scent
- Long lasting
- Safe for kids and pets
The Bad:
- Shorter lifespan if kept in the sun
Features:
- Enjoyable, natural scent
- Safe for use around kids and pets
- Good for small, dark spaces
4. Wondercide Indoor Pest Control
Wondercide Indoor Pest Control repellent combines cedar wood, mint, and sesame oils for a pleasant smelling and effective spider repellent.
This spray can be safely used in your kitchen, bathroom, and around the home without any toxic side effects. Just be sure to spray regularly, or the effects will wear off sooner than later.
The Good:
- Works both as a repellant and kills on contact
- Combines the power of several essential oils
- Efficient and effective
The Bad:
- Only kills spiders when directly sprayedTop 4 Best Natural Spider Repellents
Features:
- Contains several essential oils
- Non-toxic
- Kills pests on contact
Chemical vs Natural Spider Repellents
Whether they are rappelling from the ceiling down to your bed or minding their own business in your garden, spiders are often a source of hair raising shrieks and screams.
Spider control is pretty much the same with eradicating other household pests. However, homeowners are faced with the dilemma of whether to go for a chemical based repellent or a natural one.
Note: If looking for a spray or solution to kill spiders rather than repel them, then you can follow this guide on the top spider killing sprays.
Chemical Spider Repellents
As what their name implies, chemical spider repellents have synthetic formulations and do not occur naturally.
Because of the hazardous elements that are present in their varying formulas, chemical spider repellents are significantly dangerous to use around children and pets.
Most of these chemical based solutions are also considered harmful on plants, and other friendly living things that may wander into your garden or backyard.
On the other hand, chemical formulas are very much effective in keeping spiders at bay. They work spot on and need not be reapplied for longer periods of time provided that all safety precautions are carefully considered and application instructions are strictly followed.
Some of the most popular chemicals used as spider repellents are:
- Prallethrin
- Bifenthrin
- Imiprothrin
- Pyrethrin
- Deltamethrin
Natural Spider Repellents
Natural spider repellents are the perfect alternative for those who don’t want to lay their hands on hazardous chemicals.
These are naturally occurring solutions that are safe to use around children, pets, plants, and other friendly creatures. In some cases however, natural repellents also come with a couple of safety warnings.
Natural repellents are almost as equally effective as their chemical based counterparts. However, organic solutions don’t last as long which means that they need to be reapplied more often.
Can Essential Oils Help to Repel Spiders?
Herbs and essentials oils are by far the longest used natural repellents against eight legged arachnids. On the other hand, it has also been the most overlooked alternative in getting rid of spiders inside your home.
But do essential oils really work as natural spider repellents?
Believe it or not, herbs and essential oils have been used for centuries and have been proven effective for countless times. In fact, these oils work not just on spiders but on a spectrum of insect pests as well.
As a repellent, essential oils give off a strong scent that seems unbearable to spiders. In short, spiders hate the lingering smell of essential oils.
How to make DIY spider repellent spray
Making your own essential oil spider repellent spider spray is simple and easy.
First, you’ll have to choose a specific type of essential oil that you think best suits your senses. You can also use a combination of two or more essential oils. Commonly used essential oils used as spider repellents are:
- Citronella
- Cinnamon
- Cedar
- Citrus
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Tea Tree
After selecting your oils, follow these steps to make an essential oil spider repellent:
- In a 14 oz spray bottle, add 12 oz of distilled water
- Add about ten drops of essential oil
- Add a quarter of a teaspoon dish soap into the mix
- Shake everything up and spray away!
However, extra caution must be considered while using your DIY spider repellent spray since essential oils can stain clothes and can even trigger skin irritations to some people.
Will Using Diatomaceous Earth Help Repel Spiders?
Diatomaceous earth is basically a rock made of fossilized remains of organisms known as diatoms.
These are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in aquatic habitats. These silica creating alga often live in colonies with populations reaching to trillions.
As a sedimentary rock, diatomaceous earth is mainly composed of silica which can be around 80% to 90% of the entire element as well as alumina (2%-4%), and iron oxide (0.5%-2%).
Physical Characteristics
Diatomaceous earth comes in powder form with particles ranging from less than 3 micrometers to 1 millimeter.
The DE powder is white in color and often has high abrasive property. The texture is comparable to that of pumice powder and has low density.
Basically, there is a wide spectrum of uses of diatomaceous earth including:
- Body detoxification
- Water purification
- Bone health enhancement
Pest Control
DE (diatomaceous earth) powder has been long used as a natural solution in controlling various types of household pests especially insects.
High abrasive property of the DE powder inflicts serious damage on the insect’s exoskeleton. This deprives the insect its ability to retain moisture in its body and killing it in the process due to dehydration.
In getting rid of spiders inside your home, simply sprinkle an ample amount of DE powder in areas frequented by these arachnids.
You can also directly apply the powder onto the spider. The idea is to expose the arachnid to the DE powder in order to initiate the dehydration process.
