5 Plants That Help Keep Spiders Out Of Your House

Most spiders are harmless. Some are even useful. But useful or not, most people would rather not find one above the bathroom mirror at 7 in the morning. Chemical sprays work, but they smell awful and need reapplying constantly. A simpler alternative is already sitting on most kitchen windowsills.

Plants That Help Keep Spiders Out of Your House

Basil

Spiders navigate largely through smell. Basil's aromatic oils are strong enough to put them off entirely, which is why a pot near a window or doorway does more than you'd expect. For problem areas, skirting boards, corners, behind furniture, crush a few leaves into water, pour it into a spray bottle, and apply directly. It works, costs nothing, and smells far better than anything from a can.

Lavender

Lavender's smell is something spiders genuinely cannot stand, ironic, given how many people burn lavender candles specifically to unwind. A pot in the bedroom or sitting room is all it takes. Dried sachets in wardrobes and drawers do the same job without any upkeep. Bonus, moths hate it too, so it pulls its weight on more than one front.

Mint

Here's something most people don't know about spiders, they don't wander randomly. They follow scent trails to navigate. Mint throws that system into chaos, and they simply don't bother settling in spaces where it's present. Before you rush out and buy some though, plant it loose in soil and it'll take over everything around it. Keep it in a pot. Kitchen counter, windowsill, wherever suits. Steep a handful of leaves in water overnight, strain it into a spray bottle, and you've got something worth using around door frames and entry points, no chemicals, no cost.

Eucalyptus

Walk into a room with eucalyptus and you know about it immediately, that sharp, almost medicinal hit is hard to miss. Spiders feel the same way, and so do mosquitoes. A small pot or even a couple of stems dropped into a vase is genuinely sufficient. Fresh not available? Dried leaves tucked into a sachet do the same thing. It's not subtle, but it doesn't overpower a room either, just sits there doing its job quietly.

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Rosemary

Stick it on a sunny windowsill, water it now and then, and it gets on with things. The woody, pine-like smell it gives off is what spiders dislike, so the more of it you have around, the better. Dry a few sprigs and leave them near skirting boards or entry points for wider coverage. And unlike most things on this list, it doubles up in the kitchen so, even if the spider situation resolves itself, you've still got something worth keeping.

None of this is a magic fix. These plants make your home less appealing to spiders, that's it. But pair them with regular hoovering, less clutter lying around, and sealed gaps near windows and doors, and the difference becomes noticeable.

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