One of the most common reasons that homeowners contact a pest control company is because they want to get rid of spiders. There are a lot of scary or unwanted pests, but spiders are the ones that seem to trigger the most fear and most discomfort for people that want to keep bugs out of their property.

But not everyone wants a pest control company right away, often because they want to try to protect themselves from pests without using “chemicals.” So they may turn to other types of products. Some of the ones that people turn to most are spider repellents. Examples of these include, but are not limited to:

• • Peppermint Oil
  • Eucalyptus Oil
  • Tea Tree Oil
  • Cinnamon
  • Vinegar
  • Cloves
  • Garlic

These natural spider repellents are considered by many to be some of the most effective natural ways to keep spiders out of your property. But do they work?

Questionable Data, Questionable Value

Unfortunately, these oils and natural minerals are not very effective at repelling spiders. There is mixed information about whether or not they repel pests at all.

Now, it is true that spiders will often avoid peppermint oil and other, similar products. But this isn’t because they are afraid of the oil. It is because they tend to avoid all strong smells. One could theoretically place any strong smelling item in a spider’s path and there is a chance they will avoid it.

But just because they avoid these strong smells does not mean that they “work.” Not all spiders even avoid smells, but the spiders that do avoid the smells, but they aren’t *afraid* of them, so if they’re determined to get into your home they will likely just find an open path where the smell isn’t that strong.

Still, the biggest issue with these natural spider repellents isn’t that they don’t work. It’s that they are impractical. Even the strongest smelling scent is typically gone after a day or two, after which the smell will no longer be present and the spiders can just walk over. Unless you plan to place peppermint oil in the spider’s path every day, it is not a very effective long term option.

Similarly, it is unrealistic to place peppermint oil over enough of your property to stop spiders everywhere and, if you were able to do that, your entire home would have a profoundly strong peppermint smell that could also damage wood and flooring. Switch peppermint with an even less pleasant smell, like vinegar, and it’s clear why using it as a repellent is not an effective strategy.

Pest Control Using Natural Elements

One thing that many people do not know is that most pest control actually uses natural elements. The vast majority of pest control uses extract from flowers to kill pests – extract that has no effect on people or pets. It is not an “instant kill” chemical like it has been in the past. There are situations where this type of chemical may be needed, but a considerable amount of pest control is already made out of naturally occurring compounds.

Find out more about this pest control or get started by contacting ExtermPRO today. We serve throughout Northern Virginia, including Gainesville, Fairfax, Centreville, Haymarket, Warrenton, Bristow, and beyond.