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You may have heard that a common ingredient in peppermint oil, menthol, can help keep spiders away. Or maybe you've seen products with the word "peppermint" on them and wondered if they work to keep spiders out of your home. It turns out peppermint does repel spiders. But it's only one part of an overall strategy for spider control! Will peppermint oil really get rid of spiders? There are many theories about why spiders react to minty plants. The most popular theory is that spiders respond to the smell of peppermint by sensing danger and fleeing before being exposed. There is good evidence that this works as I use it every summer when the spiders start to multiply. In a study led by DR Andreas Fischer, (Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough and Simon Fraser University), peppermint oil was found to be somewhat effective in repelling two species, the Steatoda Grossa, or false widow family, and Latrodectus Geometricus, the brown widow. A peppermint oil spray is a safe, natural and effective way to control spiders in your home. The peppermint solution can be mixed with some water in a spray bottle and sprayed wherever there might be an infestation of spiders. False widow There are a lot of different peppermint sprays you can buy, and some are better than others. I've tried a few in recent years, but one that I personally recommend and can vouch for to be very effective is this product by Eco Defense. I've found it to be good for spiders and other insects such as ants and also for mice. Click here to check the price and get this solution at Amazon. #ad Why do spiders hate the smell of essential oils? Spiders are arachnids and most species of spiders have eight legs. They also possess a pair of small, pedipalps near their mouth called chelicerae that they use for their food or to help them feel around. Spiders can smell peppermint oil from far away when you spray it in the area where they live. How to make your own natural spider repellent spray You can make up your own spray bottle of spider repellent with peppermint oil. You will need a few drops of essential oil, white vinegar and water in an empty spray bottle you can buy at any drug store or grocery store. Fill the bottle halfway up with white vinegar to make it smell more like the plants that spiders don't like Add 20-30 drops of peppermint oil Fill the remainder of the bottle with water and shake it up to mix everything together The spray should be a light green color. If spiders bother you or your family, you can use this recipe to make some spider repellent for each room in your house that's infested by spiders. What mixture of peppermint and water should you use? It is best to have a mixture ratio of 40% peppermint oil and 60% water. Peppermint smells better when diluted with an equal amount of water, so it's easier to spray around your home without being too strong. A higher ratio is effective for repelling them away from a specific area or object. Place peppermint cotton balls around the house You can also use cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil to keep spiders away from your house. Just place them around the perimeter of your property, and they'll be gone within weeks! If you want a more natural approach, grab some cotton balls or fabric squares (cut into small pieces), put on gloves and drop one piece at each corner of your room. It can also be used on your sheets and pillowcases for a more pleasant sleep. Put mint plants in problem areas If you have specific areas of your home where you are finding spiders and their webs, then you can try to plant some mint. It takes a while for plants to grow and start producing leaves, so this won't solve the problem overnight, but if you have time and patience then it's worth trying out. You can place them around doors and windows, as spiders usually dislike these types of plants. Mint does not produce very large or strong leaves, so don't think that placing them outdoors in your garden will solve the problem. You can also create a small pot with mint and place it on windowsills where you have seen spiders before so it might not be able to provide as much protection from spiders. However, if you have a lot of mint plants in your garden then this can help keep them out from the inside too. Where can I buy it? I have tried 2 different peppermint diffuser sprays to get rid of spiders and this one I found at Amazon work really well also. You can check the price by clicking here. #ad Is using peppermint oil safe for pets and children? Peppermint spider repellents are a natural product that contains a compound called menthol. Menthol is used in many products such as toothpaste and mouthwash, but it can also be irritating to the skin. It’s advised that anyone with sensitive skin buy peppermint oil diluted before applying it on their body or using it around animals or children who may lick substances off of themselves. Are there any side effects of peppermint essential oil? When using peppermint to get rid of spiders, there are some mild side effects. The most common include skin irritation, stomach discomfort or nausea. These reactions only happen when large doses of essential oils are consumed, which is unlikely to be the case if you’re simply spraying it around your home. Conclusion The spider-repelling power of peppermint oil is a phenomenon that has been debated at length by experts and amateurs alike. For now, the jury's still out on whether or not it works to keep spiders away; but if you're looking for an alternative way to do your own pest control and protect your home from these pesky creatures, giving this natural repellent spray a try might be worth your while. Click here to order yours today from Amazon - we promise they'll arrive before those creepy crawlers do! #ad FAQs Can you deter spiders with peppermint candles? The answer to this question is, yes. Peppermint oil is a natural way to keep spiders away because they can sense the scent and avoid your home. It's not just about mint scents though; tea tree oil, citrus oils like lemon or orange work as well! Citrus smells give off strong odors that help keep spiders away from the home. They're also less toxic to pets and children as mint is so it's a much safer option for those sensitive areas. You might want to check our my other post on how to get rid of spiders in the basement. Infographic acknowledgement - http://naturerestores.blogspot.co.uk Sources and research - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29309619/#affiliation-3 http://spiders.ucr.edu/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/6/spider-sense-fast-facts-on-extreme-arachnids/ https://blogs.cornell.edu/spiders/tarantulas-terrible-or-terrific/ Related posts - Does peppermint oil repel cockroaches? Can bed bugs make you sick? Does windex kill spiders ?