How to Make Spider Repellent Spray | DIY Essential Oil Mix

DIY spider repellent sprays rely on essential oils that spiders find unpleasant. The evidence behind them is mixed, but two peer-reviewed studies found real deterrent effects from several oils. The right recipe, applied to the right places, can help keep spiders out of your home — though you’ll need to reapply it regularly.

The Simplest Recipe That Works

The most common DIY formula uses peppermint oil, which one peer-reviewed study found deterred spider settlement. To make it: fill a 16-ounce spray bottle with water, add about 5 drops of peppermint oil, and squirt in a small amount of dish soap. The soap acts as an emulsifier, helping the oil mix with water instead of floating on top.

Shake the bottle well before every use.

Peppermint oil can irritate skin, so dilute it properly and ventilate the room while spraying. Keep pets away from treated areas until the spray dries completely — concentrated essential oils can harm cats and dogs.

What the Research Actually Shows

A peer-reviewed study on spider deterrents found that catnip, cedarwood, cinnamon, citronella, and clove oils significantly deterred spider activity. Another study on mint oil and spiders reported promising results, but a different paper testing lemon oil found no effect on the spiders it examined.

That’s why the evidence is mixed. Some oils clearly work in laboratory conditions; others don’t. And results in a lab don’t always translate to your kitchen. For many homeowners, essential-oil sprays are a cheap first attempt rather than a guaranteed fix.

Where to Spray and How Often

Spray the areas where spiders travel and hide: door frames, window sills, baseboards, cracks and gaps, crawl spaces, closets, and dark corners. Treat the whole perimeter of a room, not just one entry point — spiders find their way in through many routes.

Plan to reapply frequently.

If you have asthma, allergies, or a known sensitivity to fragrances, avoid spraying indoors or test the spray in a small area first. The oils are concentrated and the irritation warnings apply to people as much as pets.

When to Skip DIY and Use a Real Insecticide

For stronger, longer-lasting control, university extension guidance favors residual pyrethroid sprays. Purdue Extension recommends these for home exteriors and undisturbed indoor areas like attics or garages.

Common DIY mistakes include using undiluted oil straight from the bottle, assuming every “natural” oil is harmless, expecting one treatment to last, and spraying just one room when spiders enter from the foundation, eaves, or vents. Treat the likely pathways broadly, and pair any DIY spray with routine cleaning — webs and egg sacs removed by hand go further than any repellent.

For a persistent spider problem, a tested commercial spray often beats a homemade mix. Our roundup of the best spider-killing sprays covers products that actually kill on contact and leave longer-lasting protection.