A cleaning guru has shared a foolproof and effective method for keeping spiders at bay this spring – and you only need one natural ingredient. Chantel Mila, known as Mama Mila on TikTok, detailed a number of ways you can keep insects and spiders away from your home, without the need for serious fumigation.
One secret weapon which can be added to your cleaning routine is lavender essential oil. Chantel explained that by adding lavender oil to your windows will deter spiders from entering. There are a variety of ways you can use lavender oil.
How to deter spiders
Chantel added lavender essential oil to cotton wool balls and wipes around window frames. However, you can also add the oil to homemade cleaning sprays.
Zoflora instructed to add 15 to 20 drops of the oil to a spray bottle filled with water, and spritz around the house. However, if you don’t have any essential oils to hand, vinegar can also be used as an effective alternative.
Just make sure to avoid varnished surfaces or some fabrics as vinegar may damage them.
Seeds of Africa explained that lavender contains a non-toxic compound called linalool, which is a key ingredient to many commercial and natural insect repellents. Besides lavender oil, you can also use candles or incense to ward off spiders.
Spiders dislike strong scents, meaning that a number of essential oils will help deter them from your home. Alongside lavender, spiders will also be repelled by the likes of peppermint, tea tree, citrus, cedarwood and clove bud essential oils.
However, if you’re looking to kill spiders, lavender will not do the job, and will just work as a deterrent. Sentinel Pest Control recommended essential oils as a comprehensive way for keeping unwanted pests too, especially when they’re part of a proper cleaning routine.
It wrote: “A clean home, sealed entry points, and minimal clutter are crucial for preventing infestations. Essential oils enhance these efforts, delivering an extra punch in keeping spiders at bay and ensuring your home remains a no-go zone for these eight-legged intruders.”
