Spiders and scorpions are annoying intrusive arachnids that should be outdoors. They settle in houses and make them dirtier by building cobwebs and nests; some of these are even dangerous due to the potential poisonous bites and painful stings. It goes without saying that they certainly cannot be considered welcome guests in the house. With a little effort and regular cleaning, you can keep them away from your home by spraying repellents and using other natural remedies.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Spray and Powder Repellent Products
Step 1. Purchase essential oils of your liking
Although essential oils have a rather pleasant scent to people, they prove to be able to ward off spiders and scorpions. The smell is in fact too strong for their delicate senses and can prevent them from creeping into your property.
- Some of the most effective essential oils are: mint, tea tree, neem and citrus.
- Some people recommend lavender, but the results are mixed; it is perhaps more appropriate to focus on purchasing the ones listed above.
Step 2. Make a spray product
Make a repellent for these arachnids yourself using products you already have at home. Get a clean spray bottle in which to mix 5-7 drops of some essential oil (you can use mint, lavender, tea tree or citrus) with a little water.
- Spray the mixture throughout your home, focusing especially on those areas where spiders and scorpions prefer to hole up - under furniture, in corners, around lighting fixtures, and other unfrequented spaces.
- To make the solution even more effective, you can add a teaspoon of white vinegar or environmentally friendly dish soap.
Step 3. Use diatomaceous earth
It is an inexpensive powdered product made from fossil residues of diatoms, a type of seaweed; acts as a repellent for these arachnids and some insects, absorbing all the humidity of the surrounding area, including that of spiders and scorpions; in this way they dehydrate and die.
- It is sufficient to spread some of it in the areas where you notice the presence of arachnids: under furniture, in the cellar and around the windowsills.
- Make sure you've purchased food grade diatomaceous earth to make sure it's not harmful to people.
Part 2 of 3: Cleaning the Surfaces
Step 1. Clean the surfaces
Put a few drops of eco-friendly dish soap on kitchen paper or a sponge and scrub the surfaces around the house. Pay particular attention to hard-to-reach areas, such as the tops of cabinets, ceiling fans, behind fire screens or shelves.
Alternatively, you can use a few drops of vinegar or essential oil to clean the furniture and hunt for spiders and scorpions
Step 2. Purchase an eco-friendly dish soap
It has been used for a long time to combat the invasion of such arachnids. By constantly keeping your furniture clean with this product, you can protect your home from spiders and scorpions.
- Although regular detergent contains some nasty chemicals that it would not be wise to spread throughout the house, there are some more "ecological" versions based on natural substances.
- When choosing dish soaps of this type, make sure they do not contain aggressive and potentially toxic preservatives. Read the label for paraben-free products, such as methylisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone, or phenoxyethanol.
Step 3. Use vinegar
The strong smell of this liquid is very effective in warding off scorpions and spiders. Its low pH acts as a repellent and causes arachnids not to frequent the areas where it has been applied. Pour a few drops onto a sheet of kitchen paper or a sponge and use it to scrub the countertops and surfaces around the house.
For best results, you should use white, apple or malt vinegar
Step 4. Focus on the barriers outside
When using sprays or cleaning products, apply them especially on areas that represent an access point from outside to the house. In this way it treats the skirting boards, window sills and window frames of all the doors that communicate with the outside.
These are the points through which spiders and scorpions enter the dwelling; consequently, if you make them unpleasant, you can keep the arachnids away
Part 3 of 3: Eliminate the Contributing Factors to the Infestation
Step 1. Dust the house regularly
Scorpions and spiders thrive in dusty corners, especially in unused areas where dirt accumulates. One of the best ways to prevent this "invasion" is to punctually dust the household surfaces; Proceed with a thorough dusting at least once a week and schedule a thorough cleaning once a month.
- You can also use long-handled dusters to treat hard-to-reach areas.
- Don't overlook the top of the wall cabinets, the ceiling fan blades, the baseboards and remember to remove all the cobwebs that form in the corners of the ceiling and on the vents.
Step 2. Use the vacuum cleaner
Pass it around the house at least once a week; by doing so, you prevent floors from getting dirty and arachnids from hiding. Thoroughly clean floors without neglecting any areas, including room corners and stairs.
- If you don't have carpet, you can sweep or mop the flooring.
- Remember to move the furniture to treat the surfaces under it. Spiders and scorpions love these dusty areas under living room sofas and coffee tables.
Step 3. Organize the spaces
Arachnids love to hide in places where they are not disturbed, such as uncrowded areas in the home. The most common places you can find spiders and scorpions are the ones you use to store items, such as the top shelf of the bathroom cabinet, the base of the cabinet, or that kitchen drawer that you use for all the unnecessary junk. Try to organize these spaces so that they are less cluttered, offering few comfortable hiding places for spiders and scorpions.
- Use the plastic boxes with sealable caps to store and organize the various items in the closet.
- Throw away things you don't use, such as empty perfume or lotion bottles, old cosmetic products, or kitchen utensils. in this way, you minimize clutter and create more functional spaces.
Step 4. Seal each crack
You must limit the access available as much as possible to prevent scorpions and spiders from entering the house; this means plugging all the exposed cracks that offer a way of entry. Use silicone and a special gun to close any cracks you see in the walls, both inside and outside the house.
- You can buy silicone in hardware stores.
- Make sure the product penetrates the entire crack.
- Wait until it is perfectly dry before touching it; typically, it takes 24 hours.
Step 5. Use wood shavings
Scorpions naturally hate the smell of cedar oil; a perfect remedy to prevent them from entering your garden and home is to sprinkle this wood on your property.
- You can purchase the shavings at a home improvement or garden center.
- Spread them in the garden, in the flower beds near the house, around the paths and along the perimeter of the fence.
Step 6. Eliminate the debris around the house
Another main factor that attracts arachnids is a messy garden with lots of places to hide. Once invaded the outer space, spiders and scorpions do not take long to enter the house; by keeping the yard areas clean and tidy you can prevent infestation.
