This 3 ingredient homemade spider deterrent spray and option for spider killer will keep spiders out of your home, and will leave a pleasant smell behind too! Leave the chemical filled store bought bug sprays where they are and make this non-toxic version with essential oils instead! Bonus...these free printable labels are included too!
Once of the most popular posts that I've shared here on the blog is my Homemade Peppermint Ant Deterrent, and I've been asked to share a recipe for spider deterrent too. I have always been terrified of spiders, but also in complete awe of them. I don't want them in my home, but I love seeing a big, beautifully woven spider web outside. I also know the value of spiders, like they eat most other creepy crawly insects, but I still don't want them in my house...they are more than welcome to feast on mosquitoes outside! To keep spiders out of my home, I use a homemade spider deterrent. Since using it, I haven't seen or had to kill any spiders. This stuff is just THAT amazing. If you need to kill spiders, I'm also sharing the recipe for homemade spider killer below...all you need to do is add vinegar to the deterrent recipe to kill them. I don't love the smell of vinegar, so I just leave it out...it's totally up to you! In addition to the recipes, I've created some cute labels that you can print for free to use on your homemade concoctions!
While most of these items can be purchased at your local grocery store, I like to provide Amazon links to the products as well, just in case you’d like to purchase them there. If you click any of the affiliate links to Amazon in this post and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.
DIY Spider Deterrent Recipe
- 1 tablespoon of dish liquid ( Purchase HERE )
- 15-20 drops of cinnamon essential oil ( Purchase HERE )
- 1 ½ cups of water
- glass spray bottle ( Purchase HERE ) or plastic spray bottle ( Purchase HERE )
DIY Spider Killer Recipe
- 1 tablespoon of dish liquid ( Purchase HERE )
- 15 -20 drops of cinnamon essential oil ( Purchase HERE )
- 1 ½ cups of water
- ⅓ cup of white vinegar ( Purchase HERE )
- glass spray bottle ( Purchase HERE ) or plastic spray bottle ( Purchase HERE )
How to Use Homemade Spider Deterrent and Killer
Once you've made your spider deterrent or killer spray, make sure you store it away from children and pets. To use, shake well before each use and spray near doorways, windows, in closets, cabinets and anywhere spiders may be. I even spray it in our garage. Just make sure you spray it away from animals and kiddos until it has the chance to dry. Do not touch the spray the spray and then your eyes...cinnamon oil and eyes do not mix ;)
Free Printable Spider Deterrent Labels
You can print these free Spider Deterrent Labels HERE! I typically just print them on plain printer paper and use scotch tape on the sides to adhere them to my spray bottles. I even made some for some of my neighbors and my family! If you like, you can print them on sticker paper too!
You can find hundreds of easy cleaning tips and recipes HERE on my Cleaning Page!
Julie Wood says
Why of why are you advocating KILLING spiders????? They eat all the unwanted insects in our homes and gardens. They are very important to the natural world.
Maybe produce an article about how to catch them and put them outside alive instead of killing them.
The way the world is being destroyed by humans should show that we need to care about all living beings and not kill them.
Jessica says
Did you actually read the post? I literally said that I don't use the spider killer, but that is what some readers are looking for. That is the choice for each individual. You can't actually believe that most humans are going to catch and release spiders even though that would be nice. It's just not realistic. Thanks for your passionate opinion though.
Jess
Ginger Johnson says
My thing is, I dont want to kill them but if knowone is around to lure it on to something and out the door. I have problems doing that. Done it once in my life and it's not pretty.
rosemarie von Boomhower says
I am scared to death of spiders. What I do is catch them with a kleenex and throw it outside. That way I am not killing them just relocating them. I don't like to kill anything. It breaks my heart when I have to kill ants. There's no way I can avoid that.
ME says
That's nice for a spider or two, or maybe even three. But there are thousands around my upright swimming pool and they must DIE. Population control is wrong for people, but spiders, not so much. Enjoy life while you can😁
Jessica says
Oh goodness...I'd flip out for sure!
Robert B Swinney says
I completely agree. I try not to kill spiders it doe happen when they startle me then I feel bad.. if they cacth me in a good mood I entrap them in a cup and take them outside . I also which will sound funny but I talk to bees wasp n other bugs and simply tell them to move on. Most of the time they do.. people would be surprised that if you treat a creature with sum respect that they will respond usually in a positive manner. Just don't be afraid. Wasp are very responsive in that way . Dont believe me try telling it to beat it next time instead of swing sumthing at it. I just tell them hey buddy find sumwhere else not hear . They normally do just that. Works with most all pest that I have found except one humans. Just saying lol .
Ginger Johnson says
All I want is just to keep the bad ones out of my house and the webs away from my doorway so I don't walk into it, walking out. They give me the creeps bad, but we all know they are a good thing. But a brown recluse sorry he may have to die
Ginger Johnson says
Webb's or is it? Not sure lol. Menopausal lol
Kristie says
Lmao! I totally get this. Although, I think you had it right the first time. Second guessing and being too critical of ourselves is part of menopause that is kept top secret. Thanks for bringing me laughter today, Ginger!! 😁
SpiderKllr says
Large grass spiders kill Brown Recluse. If you see a grass spider, let him/her live:-) Black widows and recluse have no use around adults/children.
Charlie says
Every night I get bit by little black spiders in my sleep. I've hunted and squished them put white sticky traps out bombed the house sprayed vinegar and still after I fall asleep they crawl into my bed and I wake up with huge welts on my ankles and legs .
I've even spent $40.00 on electronic sonic wall plug ins. These are very toxic poison spiders not daddy long legs or cute in any way.
I saw on nova that everyone eats three spiders a year. They just crawl into your mouth when you sleep and we just swallow them.
The only reason I am writing this is at 3:30 am I was bit again and took to the internet looking for a solution and saw your statement .So to answer your question why want to kill spiders ? THEY ARE NOT EATING BUGS THEY ARE EATING ME .
Rosemarie von Boomhower says
I can tell you how to keep spiders away. Like you I am deathly afraid of spiders. Just put some lemon juice in a spray bottle and squirt in corner of rooms or wherever you think they might be coming in and they will not cross that line of lemon juice. Your not going to kill them but like I said they will not cross that line. They hate lemons.
Jessica says
I love this tip! Thanks for sharing, Rosemarie!
Jackie Perkins says
Brown recluse spider bites are very dangerous. There is a difference between poisonous spiders and outside garden spiders. Spiders are hard to get rid of because they do not clean themselves, therefore it is difficult to kill with a spray. My daughter lives in a house that we feel is infested with them. They keep showing up and the landlord has had the house sprayed several times.
I am passing this recipe on to her. Thank you for posting this recipe.
Jessica says
Oh my! I hope it helps with her spider problem!!
Andrea says
Thank you for posting this.
I have scars from where I have been bitten by spiders so I'm grateful for anything that will a) deter them and b) get rid of them if they were not deterred.
Jessica says
Oh goodness! So happy to be able to help!
Karen says
Can you spray this on your landscape like bushes
Rebecca Payne says
Thank you for sharing. My sister can use these tips.
Debbie says
Will powdered cinnamon work?
Toni Ferioli says
I love the recipes, I used them last year and it does work. I don’t have cinnamon oil and I was wondering if powder cinnamon would work?
justin y says
I use a handheld torch and give em the ol' vampire treatment, the flames roll into cracks and crevices and erase webs and spiders, black widows are common so so common here, I don't need to test DYI recipes that may work. I see the results and that's all I want. I work daily with fire and have learned how to safely use it around every material at home, from cotton shirts to glass windows.
Patrick says
Dishsoap (preferably clear with few chemicals) and some cheap mouthwash mix in a spray bottle and top up with water makes a good non-toxic insecticide and deterrent.