Most spiders are harmless to humans but can be a nuisance. Often observed during colder months, spiders like to move inside the house from the outdoors to find warmth. As the insects build their webs and reproduce, they can be a hassle when trying to maintain cleanliness and hygiene at home. That’s why many would prefer to keep the eight-legged crawlies at bay. The following natural ways to get rid of spiders can help.

1. Vacuum the living space
Before using any homemade spider sprays or remedies, it is important to vacuum the house thoroughly, from top to bottom. This means cleaning the floors as well as the ceiling.

2. Seal cracks and gaps
Most pests, including some types of spiders, are small enough to pass through cracks in the walls.

3. Weatherstrip windows and doors
Weatherstripping involves using a narrow piece of foam, felt, rubber, or vinyl to seal any air gaps in windows and doors. This helps windows and doors act as complete barriers that do not let air and moisture enter the house. Further, with weatherstripping, no insects or spiders can get in or out. Weatherstripping can be done around any moveable objects that form a barrier between the indoors and outdoors. These include AC units as well. In addition to keeping spiders at bay, this method also helps to improve the energy efficiency of a home.

4. Use essential oils
Essential oils that have quite strong scents can deter spiders. A few such natural deterrents are peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lavender, and rose oils. They can used as ingredients for a homemade spider spray. All one has to do is add about 15 to 20 drops of the preferred essential oil to a spray bottle and then fill the bottle with water. Then, one can spray the solution all over the house. To get the best results, one should prepare this solution and spray it around the house multiple times.

5. Try vinegar and coconut oil
Vinegar is one of the most versatile ingredients to have in the kitchen. It can not only be added to food but can also work as a home remedy to get rid of spiders. One should mix water and white vinegar in equal parts in a spray bottle and spritz the solution wherever one notices spiders around the house. Alternatively, one can combine coconut oil with vinegar to prevent future spider infestation. One should mix coconut oil with vinegar and then use it the same way as the vinegar-water spray. However, one should clean the spider webs before spraying the solution.

6. Use a saline solution
Another natural remedy is saline solution. In fact, it is considered to be a natural poison for spiders. To make this solution, one can mix an ounce or one-eighth of a cup of salt with a gallon of warm water, pour the solution into a spray bottle, and pray it directly on spiders. This solution can also be used on cobwebs and spinner nests.

7. Place chestnuts around the house
While most foods attract spiders, chestnuts can surprisingly help keep the crawlies away. The nuts have a distinct smell that spiders despise. So, hiding a few chestnuts in places where spiders are commonly seen can help. One can place chestnuts in the basements, attics, windowsills, and doors. A good thing about this natural remedy is that the chestnuts do not leave any residue, unlike most homemade sprays.

One can find many repellents in stores that can help with spider removal. Many of these products can quickly solve the pest problem in the house. But their effectiveness comes at the cost of health risks. This is because many store-bought pest sprays contain harsh chemicals that are toxic to not only humans but also pets. Besides, there is the risk of the spray coming in contact with areas of the house where food is prepared and eaten. So, the right precautions must be taken when using potent pest-repellent sprays. Alternatively, the abovementioned natural and non-toxic options can be considered to tackle spiders.