QUICK SUMMARY
Homemade spider spray is a simple, natural way to help keep spiders out of your home without relying on harsh chemical repellents.
This DIY spider repellent uses water, grain alcohol, and essential oils with strong aromas that spiders dislike, including peppermint, cedarwood, citronella, citrus, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree.
The goal is not to destroy every spider. Spiders are part of God’s creation and help control other insects. The goal is to make your home less inviting so they stay outside where they belong.
Spiders may be helpful outdoors, but that does not mean they need to move into your home.
This homemade spider spray gives you a simple, natural way to repel spiders with essential oils instead of harsh chemicals.
Clean first, spray weekly at the beginning, refresh as needed, and combine it with natural prevention habits around your home and garden.
Table of Contents
Does Homemade Spider Spray Work?
Yes, homemade spider spray can help repel spiders when it is made with strong-smelling essential oils and used consistently around common spider entry points.
Spiders rely heavily on scent and vibration as they move through their environment. Strong aromatic oils like peppermint, cedarwood, citronella, cinnamon, eucalyptus, citrus, lavender, and tea tree can make doorways, windows, corners, cabinets, and baseboards less inviting.
This is important: homemade spider spray is a repellent, not a poison.
It works best when you also remove webs, clean corners, seal entry points, reduce clutter, and spray regularly enough that the scent stays fresh.
An Important Word About Spiders
Before we talk about keeping spiders away, let’s remember that these little critters are God’s creation too.
Our goal is not to kill off all the spiders. Our goal is to keep them out of the house.
Spiders are helpful and necessary in the food chain. They eat other insects and serve as food for birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Spider silk has even been used in gun sights, range finders, bombsights, surveying transits and levels, astronomical telescopes, and optical reticules. (1)
You may be thinking, “That’s great, but I still don’t want them in my house!”
Fair enough.
That’s where this homemade spider spray comes in. It helps create a natural scent barrier so spiders are encouraged to live somewhere else.
Best Essential Oils to Repel Spiders
Essential oils are the active ingredients in this homemade spider spray. Their strong aromas help make the sprayed areas unpleasant for spiders while leaving your home smelling fresh and clean.
| Peppermint essential oil | Strong, minty, and one of the most popular oils for spider repellent sprays. |
| Cedarwood essential oil | Woodsy and grounding; great for closets, baseboards, and storage areas. |
| Citronella essential oil | Fresh, lemony, and well known for bug-repelling outdoor blends. |
| Citrus essential oils | Lemon and grapefruit are bright, clean-smelling oils that spiders dislike. |
| Cinnamon essential oil | Spicy and strong; useful in very small amounts in pest-repelling blends. |
| Eucalyptus essential oil | Sharp, clean, and refreshing; blends well with peppermint and tea tree. |
| Lavender essential oil | Gentler and pleasant for people, while still useful in insect-repelling blends. |
| Tea tree essential oil | Fresh, medicinal, and excellent for natural home cleaning blends. |
Mix and match the oils to create a scent your family enjoys.
A great basic blend is peppermint, cedarwood, and lavender. For a brighter scent, try citronella, lemon, and eucalyptus.
Homemade Spider Spray Ingredients
If you’re used to chemical-laden insect repellents, you might be surprised by the simplicity of this recipe.
You only need a few ingredients.
Purified or Distilled Water
When possible, use purified or distilled water. Distilled water helps keep homemade sprays fresher and cleaner, especially if you plan to store the bottle for more than a few days.
Grain Alcohol
Alcohol is important because it helps preserve the mixture and helps disperse the essential oils.
Essential oils and water do not mix well on their own, so the alcohol helps the spray work more evenly. Use high-proof grain alcohol when possible.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are the key spider-repelling ingredient.
Spiders get hit with strong scents they don’t enjoy, and your family gets a fresh natural home spray without synthetic fragrance or harsh bug chemicals.
Some of the best options include:
- Peppermint essential oil
- Cedarwood essential oil
- Citronella essential oil
- Citrus essential oils, such as lemon or grapefruit
- Cinnamon essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Tea tree essential oil
How to Make Homemade Spider Spray
This homemade spider spray is as simple as adding your ingredients to a spray bottle, shaking, and spraying the places spiders like to hide.
Spider Spray With Essential Oils to Repel Spiders
Quantity
Ingredients
- 4 ounces 190-proof grain alcohol (OR the highest-proof alcohol you can get)
- 40 drops essential oils*
- 3 ounces purified OR distilled water
- 1 tablespoon organic white distilled vinegar (might affect fabrics, optional)
Supplies
- 8-ounce Glass spray bottle
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients in the spray bottle.
- Before using the spray, clean out any webs and egg sacs the spiders already made. Spray around windows, doors, crevices, under cabinets, and anywhere you see insect activity.
Step One: Mix All Ingredients
Since this DIY includes essential oils, steer clear of plastic when possible.
Place the essential oils, water, alcohol, and vinegar if using in a glass spray bottle. Shake gently to mix.
Tip: Shake before each use because natural ingredients may separate.
Step Two: Clear Spider Webs First
Before spraying, clear out visible signs of spiders. This includes webs, egg sacs, and dusty corners where spiders may be hiding.
This helps your homemade spider spray work better because you are not just spraying over an existing spider hangout. You are cleaning the area and then creating a fresh scent barrier.
Step Three: Spray Spider-Prone Areas
Spray anywhere spiders like to lurk, including door frames, window frames, baseboards, cabinets, closets, garages, basements, and ceiling corners.
Enjoy your spider-free home!
Where to Spray for Spiders
Homemade spider spray works best when you focus on the places spiders use to enter, hide, and build webs.
Spray these areas weekly at first:
- Door frames
- Window frames
- Baseboards
- Closet corners
- Garage corners
- Basement entry points
- Cabinets
- Pantry corners
- Under sinks
- Around trash cans
- Ceiling corners
- Behind furniture that is not moved often
Once spiders decide your home is not a comfortable place to settle, you may be able to spray once or twice a month for maintenance.
If you spray outdoors, remember that rain will wash away the scent, so you’ll need to reapply.
How to Keep Spiders Out Naturally
The best spider prevention plan combines homemade spider spray with simple home and garden habits.
1. Remove Outdoor Spider Refuges
Check around your house and garden to see if you have accidentally created cozy bug and spider shelters.
Common examples include:
- Firewood piles
- Stacked flowerpots
- Unused bricks
- Recycling bins that need to be emptied
- Leaf piles
- Garden debris
- Clutter near doors or foundation walls
Move these items away from the house whenever possible.
2. Use Cedar Mulch
Evaluate your flower beds to see where spiders and bugs are most active.
Cedar mulch can help repel many types of bugs and may make garden beds near the home less inviting.
3. Sprinkle Cinnamon Around the Foundation
Spiders and ants dislike strong spicy scents.
Try sprinkling cinnamon around the foundation of your house, especially near entry points.
4. Plant Spider-Repelling Herbs
Plant herbs that repel spiders near doors, windows, and patios.
Good options include:
- Mint
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Lemon verbena
- Lemongrass
- Lemon balm
As you may have guessed, anything “lemon” is a great choice for a spider-repelling garden.
Bonus: These herbs smell wonderful to humans. Everyone wins!
5. Use Diatomaceous Earth Carefully
Add a thin layer of diatomaceous earth in areas with a lot of spider and insect activity.
Use it in places where you will not be walking or working frequently. If you have a raised foundation, try dusting a layer of diatomaceous earth on the ground under your home.
6. Refresh the Scent Barrier
Our homemade spider spray works by hitting spiders with strong scents they can’t stand.
Spray weekly at first to keep the scent fresh and pungent. After spiders relocate, you can usually maintain results by spraying once or twice a month.
7. Keep Other Bugs Away
Spiders often come inside because there is food for them.
If your home attracts ants, flies, mosquitoes, or other insects, spiders may follow. Natural pest control helps reduce the food supply.
If you have trouble with ants or wasps in your garden, check out this recipe for Ant & Wasp Killer.
Looking for a bug spray to use on your family’s skin? This essential oil bug repellent is the recipe for you.
And this homemade bug repellent floor cleaner will make your house unattractive to many types of bugs.
Homemade Spider Spray FAQs
What is the best homemade spider spray?
The best homemade spider spray uses distilled water, high-proof grain alcohol, and strong essential oils such as peppermint, cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, cinnamon, or lemon.
Does peppermint oil repel spiders?
Peppermint essential oil is one of the most popular oils for repelling spiders because it has a strong minty aroma spiders dislike. It works best when used consistently around entry points and spider-prone areas.
What essential oils repel spiders?
Essential oils commonly used to repel spiders include peppermint, cedarwood, citronella, lemon, grapefruit, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree.
Is homemade spider spray safe for kids?
This recipe is a natural alternative to chemical spider sprays, but essential oils should still be used wisely around children. Spray surfaces rather than skin, avoid faces and hands, and allow sprayed areas to dry before babies or toddlers touch them.
Is homemade spider spray safe for pets?
Use caution with pets, especially cats, because animals can be sensitive to essential oils. Spray areas pets cannot lick, keep animals away while spraying, and allow surfaces to dry fully before they return.
Can I spray this directly on spiders?
This recipe is designed as a repellent, not a spider killer. The goal is to make your home smell unpleasant to spiders so they move elsewhere.
Where should I spray spider repellent?
Spray door frames, window frames, baseboards, ceiling corners, closets, garages, basements, under sinks, cabinets, and other places spiders like to hide.
How often should I use homemade spider spray?
Spray weekly at first to keep the scent strong. Once spider activity decreases, spray once or twice a month for maintenance. Reapply after cleaning or outdoor rain.
Can I use vinegar in homemade spider spray?
Yes, vinegar is often used in natural pest sprays, but it has a strong smell. Use it only if you like the scent or need extra cleaning power.
Why do I need alcohol in spider spray?
Alcohol helps preserve the spray and helps disperse essential oils through the water. Without alcohol, the oils may separate more quickly and the spray may not last as long.
Can I use tap water?
Purified or distilled water is best because it helps keep homemade sprays fresher. Tap water can be used in a pinch, but the spray may not store as well.
Can I store this spray in plastic?
Glass is best because essential oils can degrade plastic over time. Use a glass spray bottle whenever possible.
Does homemade spider spray kill spiders?
No, this homemade spider spray is meant to repel spiders, not kill them. It helps create a scent barrier that encourages spiders to stay away.
Can I spray this outside?
Yes, you can spray around outdoor entry points, porches, patios, and foundation areas. Rain will wash the scent away, so outdoor areas need more frequent reapplication.
What smells do spiders hate?
Spiders are commonly repelled by strong aromas such as peppermint, citrus, cinnamon, cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, citronella, and tea tree.
How do I keep spiders out of my house naturally?
Remove webs, clean corners, seal cracks, reduce clutter, move woodpiles away from the house, plant spider-repelling herbs, use cedar mulch, and apply homemade spider spray regularly.
Does cinnamon repel spiders?
Cinnamon has a strong spicy scent that many pests dislike. Sprinkle cinnamon around the foundation or use cinnamon essential oil carefully in spider-repelling blends.
What plants keep spiders away?
Plants that may help repel spiders include mint, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon verbena, lemongrass, and lemon balm.
Why do spiders come inside?
Spiders come inside looking for shelter, warmth, moisture, and food. If your home has other insects, spiders may follow because they have something to eat.
Can I use this spray in bedrooms?
Yes, but spray lightly around windows, baseboards, and corners rather than bedding or pillows. Allow the area to dry and ventilate the room.
Can I use this spray in the kitchen?
Yes, spray around windows, baseboards, under sinks, and pantry corners. Avoid spraying directly on food, dishes, cutting boards, or food-prep surfaces.
Will this spray stain surfaces?
Always spot test first. Essential oils and cinnamon oil especially may stain or affect delicate surfaces, painted areas, wood finishes, or fabrics.
