How To Repel Brown Recluse Spiders With A Fragrant Oil They Can't Stand

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Over the years, you've probably heard of multiple folk remedies for keeping pests at bay. From protecting hydrangeas from deer to keeping snakes out of your attic, fragrant oils have an especially strong reputation. Separating fact from fiction can be harder than you might think, especially when it comes to peppermint oil, since there's a lot of anecdotal evidence out there about its amazing benefits. While some of it isn't backed by research, if you're wondering how to repel brown recluse spiders (Loxosceles reclusa), the science is in. Peppermint oil isn't just something these spiders don't like — direct contact can actually kill them.

Essential oils, especially strong ones like peppermint oil, have been used and researched extensively for pest control. Scientists have discovered that spiders smell and taste with their legs, so instead of just catching a whiff, spiders walking through peppermint oil are potentially getting a much more unpleasant experience. Plus, when entomologists studied what happens when brown recluse spiders come into contact with various essential oils, they found that direct contact with peppermint oil killed them, per the Kansas Entomological Society. Wintergreen oil was also shown to be effective, with lavender oil also demonstrating benefits.

While it doesn't have the same effect on humans, peppermint oil and other essential oils with concentrated natural compounds like menthol and menthone attack the nervous systems of insects, but researchers are still trying to figure out why it works on spiders. In any case, peppermint oil may smell nice to you, but for a brown recluse, it's a repellent at best and deadly at worst. 

Using peppermint oil in your home to eliminate brown recluse spiders is a lot easier than you think. The goal is to get the essential oil compounds on surfaces where spiders' legs will come in contact with them. Since the Kansas Entomological Society study never showed a mortality rate above 20% from inhalation, fumigation isn't as effective, so you're not trying to achieve a minty-fresh room. 

A homemade spray is the most effective delivery method. It can be made in a 16-ounce spray bottle of water, using a squirt of dish soap and about five drops of an oil such as Majestic Pure Peppermint Essential Oil, which is available on Amazon for under $10 at the time of writing. 

While keeping in mind that many essential oils are toxic to pets — including peppermint, wintergreen, and lavender – some of the most important target zones to spray for brown recluse spiders are the more uninhabited areas of your home, such as closets, basements, and attics. (It's also worth adding door sweeps to keep spiders out of your home altogether.) Reapply the peppermint oil spray frequently, since essential oils evaporate quickly. Once a week is fine at first, but spray every few days if you keep seeing them. If you continue to have problems after that, it might be time for assistance from a pest control expert.