Who needs spider deterrent? That’s a crazy question. Who wants to cuddle up with spiders?!
The most terrifying thing about fall in So Cal are all the spiders. Not the fake plastic ones that come out with the Halloween decor. The REAL ones that seem to get busy building giant webs outside my front door, and seeking shelter in my home, as soon as the weather starts to cool off.
We have some very scary spiders around here, including black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders. While I’ve had a service come and spray chemicals in my yard to chase away poisonous spiders, it doesn’t seem to deter the less scary ones that lurk in our closets and show up on the ceiling, usually right above your bed, and noticed just as you are falling asleep. Yikes!
Here’s a guy that was hanging out by the light switch last week.
My husband is very superstitious about killing spiders in the house and insists on capturing them and relocating them every time. I freak out because that often ends poorly when he drops the critter and it vanishes, leaving me wondering where it might show up again, and vowing to sleep with my mouth shut.
Fortunately for me AND the spiders, I recently was sent a product by EarthKind that promises to deter the spiders naturally – without harsh poisons or chemicals and with no need to relocate or kill them. They will just stay away. These clever Stay Away Spider deterrent packets use natural oils and scents that are very inhospitable to spiders but that smell just fine to humans. Stuff like rosemary.
Spiders be gone!
I’m placing these in my closet and under my bed and everyplace else I’ve recently seen a spider in my home.
Here’s some additional tips you can use to keep the crawly ones away. Lights on and music blasting? You betcha!
KEEPING SPIDERS AT BAY:
- Spiders don’t have a favorite song. Spiders don’t have good eyesight, so they rely on vibrations they feel in their web to detect an insect that could be their next meal. Turn music on in an area where you’ve spotted spiders and the vi- brations will interfere with their ability to pick the perfect time to feast. They’ll quickly leave in search of a quieter spot.
- Shine a bright light on spiders. Spiders would prefer to be left alone. That’s why they hang out in dark places. Notice an area of your home where spiders are weaving their webs? Leave the lights on and they’ll be looking for a new hideaway.
- Remove spider webs. To make your home less attractive to spiders, wash old webs off outside areas with a garden hose — particularly under roof eaves. To prevent spiders from spinning new ones, use a spray made of half a cup of water, half a cup of vinegar, two tablespoons of liquid dish soap and twenty drops of thyme oil. The scented mixture prevents them from attaching their silk to sprayed surfaces.
- Block their entryways. Get out a magnifying glass and look for tiny cracks in your home. Seal any openings you finnd with caulk, screening or weather stripping. Spiders will be on their way to a more inviting household.
- Nuts drive spiders nuts. Place a few chestnuts on window- sills and along baseboards in your home. The scent repels them. One whiff and they’ll be looking for a new place to weave their webs. (Avoid leaving horse chestnuts around the house. They can be toxic to humans if eaten raw.)
- Invest in a natural spider repellent, like Stay Away® Spiders 🕷. Made with Citronella, Lemongrass and Rosemary, Stay Away® Spiders disrupts a spider’s sophisticated senses, keeping them out of treated areas with a scent pleasant to people, but offensive to spiders. Use one pouch anywhere webs or spiders are noticed, such as basements, closets and attics, increasing the number of pouches until desired results are obtained.
I have always been a fan of deterrents over poisons. These sound awesome! I can’t wait to give it a try.