Keep Out Spiders & Mice With This Tea Trick

If mice and spiders are treating your home like high school kids throwing a party while their parents are out, you might be able to shut down their festivities with a relaxing cup of peppermint tea. This potent and aromatic herbal beverage works to repel mice and spiders because of its strong scent. Mice really can't stand the strong smell of peppermint, because the menthol scent masks their sense of smell, which means they're forced to rely on their not-so-great eyesight. It's a similar situation for spiders, who also use their sense of smell to detect friend, foe, or food.

First, you need to figure out how everyone is sneaking in. Mice will set up camp wherever they can squeeze in, even in the tiniest nooks. You can expect that spiders do the same, just on a more minute level. Once you've pinpointed all those entry points, cracks, or hideouts, it's time to get to work. Just brew up some peppermint tea, and when it's done, toss those used tea bags all around your place, especially where you think those pesky critters like to hang out. It could take a couple of days, but it should, in theory, be noticeably rodent and arachnid-free. To protect your floors from potential staining, you may want to set your tea bags on a disposable surface like a paper plate.