How to Make Spider Repellent Spray Using Peppermint Oil | Simple DIY Recipe

For the full breakdown, see our best Spider Spray With Peppermint Oil guide.

Peppermint oil spider spray works as a natural deterrent because spiders avoid the strong scent. It won’t kill them, and it’s not a guaranteed extermination method, but many homeowners find it useful for spot-treating entry points. The mixture takes about two minutes to prepare with ingredients you likely already own.

The key to success is reapplication. The scent fades quickly, so most sources suggest spraying weekly, or every few days if spiders return sooner. Here’s everything you need to know about mixing, applying, and using this DIY spray effectively.

The Basic Peppermint Oil Spider Spray Recipe

The simplest formula is about 5 drops of peppermint essential oil in a 16-ounce spray bottle filled with water, plus a small shot of dish soap. The soap matters more than it seems: essential oils don’t mix well with water on their own, so the dish soap acts as a dispersing agent to help the oil spread evenly through the mixture.

You can also make a stronger version using 10–15 drops per ounce of water with a dispersing agent, shaking well before each spray. Either way, the process looks like this:

1. Fill a 16-ounce spray bottle with water.
2. Add 5–15 drops of peppermint essential oil, depending on how strong you want the scent.
3. Add a small squirt of dish soap — about a teaspoon works well.
4. Cap the bottle and shake it thoroughly.
5. Spray along doors, windows, baseboards, corners, cracks, and crevices.

Using distilled or filtered water can help prevent nozzle clogging over time, since tap water sometimes leaves mineral deposits that gum up the sprayer.

Strengths, Limits, and Safety Considerations

Peppermint oil repels by odor rather than by poisoning, so it works best as a deterrent for spot treatment. You’ll likely see the best results if you spray around the outside perimeter of your home as well as the dark corners where spiders tend to hide. Healthline’s guide to peppermint oil as a spider repellent notes that the scent is the active mechanism, which is why regular reapplication is non-negotiable.

There are a few real safety considerations to keep in mind. Avoid heavy application on fabrics, bedding, and finished surfaces unless you know they tolerate essential oils — some sources mention light misting of such items, but it’s not a universal recommendation, and oils can stain or leave residue. Ask yourself whether your countertops or window sills can handle repeated oil exposure before you commit to spraying them routinely.

For a fuller home-prevention version, some sources blend 15–20 drops of peppermint oil with 1 cup of distilled water and 1 teaspoon of dish soap in a 16-ounce bottle. Homes & Gardens writes that this dilution offers a more concentrated barrier for challenging areas.

How to Apply It for the Best Results

Application is where most people go wrong. Spraying once and forgetting about it won’t help, since the scent dissipates within days. Instead, build the spray into a weekly routine, or shift to every few days if you notice spiders returning earlier. Focus your spraying on the places spiders actually enter and hide:

• Door frames and window sills
• Baseboards and floor edges
• Corners, both floor and ceiling
• Cracks, crevices, and small gaps in walls
• The outside perimeter of the home, especially near the foundation

Shake the bottle before every use, because the oil and water will separate as it sits. Re-spray after cleaning, heavy rain, or any time you notice the scent has faded.

If you’d rather buy a ready-made product than mix your own, our tested roundup of the best spider spray with peppermint oil compares the top commercial options side by side.

Does It Really Work?

Peppermint oil is a legitimate deterrent, but it’s important to be honest about what it can and can’t do. It won’t solve a serious infestation on its own, and it won’t kill spiders on contact. What it does well is create a scent barrier that makes your home less attractive to spiders looking for a place to settle. Fresh Skin’s guide to peppermint oil as a natural spider repellent describes the approach as a preventive measure rather than a cure.

For best results, pair the spray with basic housekeeping: seal cracks in walls and foundations, keep windows and doors screened, and reduce clutter where spiders like to hide. The spray handles the repelling; the cleaning and sealing handle the root cause.