Spiders and I do not mix. At all. What’s with the eight-legged guys deciding to almost cause me an accident because they love to dangle in front of my nose while I'm driving the car? Sheesh. Even if I spot one in our home, it will keep me on my toes until it is found and safely put outside—so much for having our lazy cats to save the day.
Well, if you are not a fan of spiders, now’s the time to go to your local grocery or health food store and pick up some peppermint oil. Spiders absolutely hate peppermint. With the colder months blowing in, spiders and other creepy crawlers want your home to be their home. Not anymore. Peppermint oil is the perfect, non-toxic and natural way to keep spiders out of your place (or car) for good.
All you have to do is fill up a spray bottle with water, and add about 20-25 drops of peppermint oil to it. Feel free to add more peppermint drops until you get a strong, minty mixture. Shake up your bottle, and spray around the cracks, crevices, vents, doorways, and any other problem areas you may have.
You can even saturate cotton balls with peppermint oil, place them in shallow dishes, and set your peppermint balls around the corners of your home. Whether you combine both methods or not, it is best to re-spray or replace the cotton balls when the peppermint aroma is faint or no longer detected.
There’s no need to stop at just your home. Take your spray to the mailbox and car. Mr. Eight Legs will get the hint and find a new place to rent.
Besides spiders, if you’re having a mouse problem, peppermint oil is the perfect home deterrent for them too.
Photo by: Yogendra Joshi | Flickr
