How to Use Lavender Oil for Spiders

Every home has them, and some people are more comfortable with their presence than others.

They try their best to keep out of your way, but if you spot each other, it usually becomes a game of who has the fastest reactions. Of course, we’re talking about spiders, the pesky little things that always know when to pop up when you least expect.

Although they’re usually quite easy to kill, not everyone has the heart or nerves to squish them on the wall or inside a tissue. Using a natural alternative such as lavender oil for spiders offers a good alternative, and we explain how effective it can be, along with a few other helpful suggestions you can try.

Does lavender oil kill spiders?

Whilst lavender essential oil is a popular choice for treating bug bites and for warding off insects, it is not very good at killing spiders. However, in many cases repelling spiders should be enough to keep them from returning and setting up home in unwanted spaces.

Does lavender repel spiders?

Although lavender oil does not kill spiders (which is probably for the best as there is very rarely a reason to kill them), it can be effective at repelling them.

Making your own homemade spider spray is simple enough (read our step-by-step instructions below), so you can simply spritz the oil in areas where they are most likely to settle.

What other essential oils repel spiders?

Lavender isn’t the only oil you can use to repel spiders. If you would prefer to smell something different, you could try one of the below:

1. Peppermint oil could ward away certain types of spider

In a 2018 study, researchers found that peppermint oil was successful at repelling three different types of spiders. It worked particularly well on the first two species, whilst the third species was less sensitive to the scent. However, if you or anyone else living in your home has a peppermint allergy, a G6PD deficiency, or if you are on certain medications, you should avoid using it.

2. Spritz a citrus oil to scare away spiders

Lemon, lime and orange can prove to be very effective at repelling spiders. They all have a strong, unique scent that is not very spider-friendly, so if you want to keep these 8-legged pests away from your home, follow the instructions in the next section below and use any citrus oil instead of lavender.

3. Tell spiders they aren’t welcome with a bit of tea tree oil

Tea Tree Essential Oil has a distinct scent that spiders can struggle to adjust to. But whilst it's not good news for them, it’s a bonus for you and your home, as spraying it in popular spider haunts should keep them away and web-free. Traditional medicine practitioners also use tea tree oil to ward away head lice, so if you ever need a natural remedy to cure the condition, this is the ideal oil for that too.

4. Mark your territory with the strong scent of clove bud oil

Clove Bud Essential Oil is strong in scent and potency, and spraying it in places where spiders are most likely to pop up can give you a reliable secret weapon against arachnids. It’s also pretty effective at killing off a variety of unwanted guests in your home, thanks to its high concentration of eugenol.

5. Cedarwood oil could help to keep your home spider-free

Cedarwood essential oil contains a ketone that can be helpful in reminding spiders, moths, woodworms and mosquitos that this is your home and not theirs. Cedar can be present in furniture, panelling or plants, but if you don’t have anything like that, then using the oil could be a good idea.

How to make your own homemade lavender oil spider spray

If you want to make your own lavender essential oil spider spray, follow the steps below. You can also replace the lavender with any other essential oil of your choice:

1. Use 10-15 drops of lavender oil per 30ml of water and blend together in a glass spray bottle.
2. Add a disbursing agent, such as polysorbate, to the mixture. This will help the oil to emulsify more effectively in the water.
3. Ensure the cap is firmly in place and shake the bottle.
4. Spritz the spray in areas where spiders are most likely to visit and settle. This includes corners (floor and ceiling), closets, crawl spaces and door thresholds.

Diffuse lavender oil to repel spiders

An alternative to spraying lavender oil around your home could be to diffuse it. How to disperse the scent will depend on the type of diffuser you have.

Some are electrical and vibrate silent waves to emit the scent, others rely on candles to release the aroma, whilst traditional diffusers transmit the fragrance through reed or bamboo sticks.

As with the homemade spray, place the diffuser close by to areas where spiders are most likely to be present, and it will hopefully be enough to encourage them to look for a more welcoming space to settle.

Although there hasn’t been a lot of scientific research into the effectiveness of lavender essential oil at repelling spiders, you’ll find plenty of people believe it offers results that are better than, or just as effective as, commercial bug sprays. And, if lavender isn’t your favourite scent, you can try tea tree, cedarwood, clove bud or citrus oils to remind those spiders who’s boss in your home. Making your own DIY bug spray is easy, and it can also offer a host of natural health benefits, depending on the oil you decide to spritz.