Here’s a shocking fact: a spider can fit through a gap as thin as a credit card. That’s not an exaggeration—nature made them into liquid nonsense. Walk around your house like a paranoid detective. Check weather stripping on doors. Look for cracks in the foundation. If you see a sliver of light under your front door, that’s a spider’s welcome mat.
Grab some silicone caulk and go to town. It’s $5 at the hardware store and cheaper than therapy for arachnophobia. My neighbor sealed a hairline crack last summer and found three dead spiders stuck halfway through. They literally got caught in the act.
Peppermint: The Smell of War
Spiders hate peppermint. Not in a cute, “ew, toothpaste” way—in a “this is chemical warfare” way. Mix ten drops of peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle. Blast every windowsill, baseboard, and corner like you’re dousing a kitchen fire. Do not spray it on your cat. Your cat will look at you with pure disdain and probably vomit on your shoes.
I once sprayed under my couch, and a spider literally ran out, stopped, and gave me a look that said, “_Fine, but I’m telling my lawyer._” It works. The smell fades, so reapply every few days. Your house will smell like a Christmas candy factory, which is way better than smelling like SpiderCon.
14 Great Ways to Keep Spiders Out of Your Home Naturally