How to Make a DIY Spider Repellent At Home

Spiders can be unwelcome guests in your home, and while they often help control other pests, it’s understandable if you’d rather keep them out of your living spaces.

A homemade spider repellent is a simple and natural way to deter spiders without resorting to harsh chemicals. Here’s how you can make a vinegar-based spider repellent, with tips on how you can use other ingredients to enhance its effectiveness.

What You’ll Need

To make this super simple DIY spider repellent at home, all you’ll need is 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of spray, and a glass spray bottle.

You can also add about 10 to 15 drops of peppermint oil or citrus oil, 2-3 crushed garlic cloves, a teaspoon of castile soap, or a handful of crushed tomato leaves—these ingredients are optional but can help boost the effectiveness of your cleaner.

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How to Make a DIY Spider Repellent At Home

1. Prepare the Vinegar Solution: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Vinegar is a popular choice because its strong smell is believed to deter spiders. This forms the base of your spider repellent and is effective on its own but can be combined with the following ingredients for extra cleaning power.
2. Add Essential Oils (Optional): To increase the repellent’s effectiveness, consider adding 10-15 drops of peppermint oil or citrus oil to the mixture. Both oils are known for their strong scents, which spiders find unpleasant.
3. Incorporate Garlic (optional): Crush 2-3 garlic cloves and add them to the bottle. Garlic’s pungent odor can make your repellent even more unappealing to spiders.
4. Add Castile Soap (optional): For a slightly soapy solution that sticks better to surfaces, add 1 teaspoon of Castile soap. This can help the solution adhere to walls, baseboards, and other areas where spiders might enter.
5. Include Tomato Leaves (optional): If you have access to fresh tomato leaves, crush a handful and add them to the mixture. Tomato leaves contain compounds that some believe may help repel spiders.
6. Shake and Spray: Shake the bottle well to mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Spray the solution around window sills, doorways, baseboards, and any other areas where spiders are likely to enter your home.

Other Spider Repellents

Both Timothy Wong, technical director of M&M Environmental. and Michael Potter, former professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky, suggest other methods of repelling or exterminating spiders from your home. 

• Routine Cleaning: Thorough house cleaning is the best way to eliminate spiders and discourage their return Potter says. A vacuum cleaner or broom effectively removes spiders, webs, and egg sacs on contact. “Destruction of egg sacs is crucial since each can contain hundreds of young spiders,” he said.
• Get Rid of Other Bugs: Consider installing yellow or sodium vapor light bulbs at outside entrances, Potter suggests. “These lights are less attractive than conventional bulbs to night-flying insects, which in turn, attract spiders.”
• Seal Cracks and Windows: Ensure you’ve got tight window screens and all cracks around the house are sealed so spiders can’t walk right into your home. 
• Clear Out Clutter: Spiders love quiet undisturbed areas to set up home, reducing clutter in these areas will discourage spiders from moving in. This is also true for things like stacks of firewood or heaps of debris near your house. 
• Commercial Insecticide: Insecticides can be used as a barrier spray, Potter says. Applied monthly or bi-monthly during warmer months to the exterior of the house, it can keep spiders from coming inside. 

When to Call a Professional

While homemade repellents can be a great first line of defense, they might not always be enough.

“Call for help if you’re dealing with a large number of spiders, as a professional can help you identify where they’re coming from and why,” Wong says.

Additionally, if you’re dealing with venomous species like black widows or brown recluses, it’s best to consult with a professional exterminator to ensure your safety.

In the end, making your own spider repellent at home can be a simple and natural way to occasionally keep spiders at bay. Still, if you find your repellent isn’t doing the trick, follow the experts’ advice to keep spiders away with routine cleaning and occasionally using a commercial insecticide as a barrier.

Remember, though, that while these homemade solutions can help, they might not always be sufficient for more significant infestations, and professional help may be needed in those cases.