As the news websites kindly remind us, the dreaded Spider season has begun. This may sound as a joke to some, but for all people suffering from arachnophobia, this is really bad news. And people who hate spiders might be right to do so after all. Although there are not ‘killer spiders’ in Britain, there are a few kinds of spiders, whose poison is strong enough to cause redness, skin irritation, allergic reaction, pain and swelling. If you don’t like how this sounds, or simply – prefer to live in a spider-free home, check our cleaning tips and eco-friendly tricks on how to get rid of these insects this autumn.

5 Green DIY Spider Repellents for Your Home

Although there are many commercially sold anti-bug sprays and compounds, they often contain dangerous toxic ingredients. It is true they will kill all spiders and other bugs in your home, but they can also harm your health, and can be dangerous for your pets. Luckily, you can chase spiders away, using common household ingredients, which are safe for you and friendly to the environment.

Citrus fruits

Spiders hate citrus fruits! You can easily prepare green repellent by squeezing half a lemon and mixing it with water. Pour this liquid in spray bottle and spray around the house. Spiders usually nest in wall crack, corners of the walls, and the hidden, dark places – behind cabinets and wardrobes, heavy pieces of furniture, corners of walls and ceilings, cracks in wooden flooring.

Another way to get rid of spiders is to sun dry citrus fruits peels and grind them in food processor. Sprinkle this powder around the house once every week and the spiders will soon disappear. You can use grapefruit, orange, lemon or lime peels, or the mix of all of them.

Read also: 6 surprising uses of grapefruit for cleaning your home.

Essential oils

Almost all bugs and insects hate strong aromatic smells. Pour warm water into a pray bottle, add 10 drops of essential oil and shake well. Use this spray around the house. Don’t miss corners or the rooms, behind the wardrobes, cabinets and other heavy furniture, cracks in the walls, and the space under your windows, as these are the spaces that spiders prefer to hide in and nest.

You can also use undiluted essential oils, and just sprinkle a few drops in all corners of the house. However, we don’t recommend this method, if you can’t stand strong smells. The oils that are proven to be the most effective to repellent spiders are:

  • tea tree oil
  • lavender oil
  • eucalyptus
  • peppermint oil
  • citronella oil

The best thing is that you can use essential oils for many other cleaning purposes – for example to prepare your own eco-friendly laundry detergents!

Spices & Herbs

If you don’t like the strong smell of essential oil, you can use common spices and herbs to stop the spider infestation in your home. Herbs, spices and cooking powders such as salt, baking soda, turmeric, or dried mint can be directly sprinkled in areas where spiders hide.

You can also grind cloves, or black pepper to a fine powder and sprinkle all cracks, corners and hidden places in your house. Just take in mind, that both spices are quite strong, and the fine powder can irritate your eyes and airways as you distribute it. Always wear a mask and safety goggles when sprinkling black pepper of cloves powder against spiders.

Vinegar Spray

Vinegar is used in many homemade cleaners, however not many people know, that vinegar is an excellent bugs and spiders repellent. Prepare a solution of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water, and spray around your home. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar you can add a few drops of strong essential oil to mask it. However, before using this recipes, check which are the 8 things you should never clean with vinegar.

Rolling Tobacco

Spiders are repelled by the strong tobacco smell and you can use this against them! Take strong pipe or rolling tobacco and mix it with warm water and flour until you have thick dough. Form small balls with your hands and place them in different spots around your house – this is one of the most efficient ways to chase away spiders.

Another way to use tobacco is to prepare a spray, by adding a few pinches of it to a bottle of hot water. Shake well and wait a few minutes to let the infusion work out. Drain the liquid, separating it from the tobacco, pour in spray bottle and use around the house. Just take in mind that this liquid can colourate light surfaces and walls.

No matter which method you choose, you should remember than getting rid of spiders is also a matter of cleanliness. Clean the carpets and upholstery and vacuum regularly around the house and in the drawers, wardrobes and cabinets to remove eggs and cobwebs. Don’t hesitate to contact professional home cleaners in your area to give you a hand with deep cleaning of rugs, furniture and wooden floors.