quote:
Originally posted by BillyK
Posted - Apr 23 2014 : 07:58:59
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A few years ago I took a weekend trip up the Hudson with a fellow BoaterEd friend. I remember there were a lot of spiders on the docks. This morning my girlfriend who is very afraid of spiders read that peppermint oil chases them away. Have you guys heard of this or tried it.
Thanks,
Billy K.
Lots of remedies out there. Here's one set. Peppermint is mentioned elsewhere as well.
Do-It-Yourself Pest ControlEffective Home Remedies for Killing Spiders
Spiders are a common household pest. While they do not cause the amount of damage other pests like termites or carpenter bees can, spiders induce a sense of terror in homeowners virtually unmatched by most other bugs. However, before dousing your home in insecticides, homeowners should give some of these home remedies a try.
Many spiders have a natural aversion to several different kinds of oils. These include Cinnamon Oil, Citronella Oil, Citrus Oil, Lavender Oil, Pennyroyal Oil, Peppermint Oil, Rose Oil, and Tea Tree Oil. Place any of these oils on a cotton ball or small piece of cloth and put these in areas of the home where spiders have been seen. However, homeowners should be careful, as certain of these oils, such as pennyroyal, maybe be harmful to humans and pets.
Sprinkle borax, a powder toxic to pests, on the floor and around areas where spider populations have been a problem.
Homeowners can also sprinkle baking soda around areas highly trafficked by spiders, as well.
Place slices of Osage Oranges, also known as hedgeballs or mock oranges, in areas highly trafficked by spiders. Osage Oranges may deter some spiders.
Some homeowners have also found that placing chestnuts around exterior walls inside the house, as well as on the windowsills, works to repel certain spiders.
Kerosene also works to repel spiders. Place a small amount on window screens, window sills, and doorways. Once the kerosene evaporates, it is no longer flammable, but until that occurs, keep flame and heat away from treated doors and windows.
Eucalyptus leaves can work to simultaneously repel spiders and make a house smell good. Place these leaves under furniture, in closets, in drawers, and other dark places.
Buy a package of pipe or chewing tobacco. Place it into a gallon of boiling water, and let it cool. Strain the tobacco out. Then, combine a cup of the tobacco-water with ½ cup of lemon dish soap and place the concoction in a spray bottle and fire away.
Another tobacco-related spider repellant involves placing a package of tobacco in a quart of water, and leaving the mixture outside in the sun. This steeped liquid can also be placed in a spray bottle, without the soap, and sprayed directly on the spiders.
Homeowners need to be careful about employing certain home remedies and make sure to use ones that are not going to be harmful for you, your family, or your pets. However, many are quite effective, and some more than others depending on individual factors, like climate. Homeowners should try several of these tactics to fight spider infestations.
Hopefully Harlen chimes in. He know of a spray used in barns.
