Natural remedies to get rid of household spiders

I'm not afraid of spiders (not really, anyway), but I don't want them crawling around me while I sleep.  I once heard that we're always within 10 feet of a spider.  I also heard someone say that, on average, people consume 8 spiders a year while sleeping - meaning that while I'm out like a light, a creepy crawly eight-legged freak crawls its way into my mouth (NOT COOL!)

The point of the post isn't to gross you out, spiders do that well enough on their own.  The point is to give you some healthy and safe ways to keep household spiders at bay.  The funny thing about spiders is that they actually do a lot of good around the house.  It sucks, I know, but those freaky little things are in business to eat other bugs - which is a good thing I guess.

I know there are dozens of chemicals out there on store shelves that claim to do the trick.  There's also dozens more exterminators ready, willing and able to spray toxic bug sprays inside your home.  I don't know about you, but I'm really not too keen on having all that crap floating around in the air for me and my family to breath in.

So, let's get to it.  Here's a list of healthy, safe and natural ways to get rid of household spiders:

1)  Peppermint oil -

    I just started using this method after both myself and my 7 year old daughter got bit.  I have no idea what type of spider bit us, but I do know it wasn't a recluse spider (I got bit by a recluse as a child and I have two scars to prove it).  Here's what you do; get a small bottle of 100% pure peppermint oil from your local health goods store, put a few drops of oil on a cotton ball and tuck them away in favorite hiding places; like the corners of closets, under dressers and places like that.  I tucked a few into my kid's bed sheets.  You can also pour one cup of warm water into a small spray bottle along with about 2 teaspoons of peppermint oil and spray it around all the places spiders love.  Apparently it's supposed to work and I've read lots of articles that say it's the #1 natural method.

2)  Vacuum - 

    By implementing a weekly vacuuming schedule you'll keep spiders on the run.  Vacuuming destroys webs and you'll probably suck up a few spiders in the process.  Here's a little tip - suck up a peppermint scented cotton ball into the vacuum so the aroma spreads throughout the house.

3)  Horse chestnut - 

    No one really knows how or why, but spiders simply do not like horse chestnuts.  The theory is that the chestnuts give off an aroma spiders really don't like.  I checked around for some substantiation, but there doesn't appear to be anything solid.

4)  Turn off outdoor lights - 

    Light attracts bugs, right?  And spiders know where to go to catch a lot of bugs.  By turning off outdoor lights you stop attracting all manner of critter and stop leading spiders right to your front door.

5)  Spray spiders with vinegar - 

    Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is supposed to burn spiders upon contact.  You can also place small dishes of vinegar around the house - the smell of it sends spiders away.

6)  Pull vegetation away from your house - 

    When you have plants butting up against your home, you're creating perfect little hiding places for spiders.  By pulling your vegetation away you're creating a barrier of sorts.

7)  Use diatomaceous earth  - 

    I've never heard of this one, but I think it's one of the more interesting methods.  Diatomoceous earth is fossilized diatom, a water creature of some kind.  The fossils are ground into a powder that cuts up spiders as they crawl through it.  The spider looses bodily fluid, dries up and dies.  Sounds horrific, painful and slow.  It's a natural method safe for people and pets, but probably not one I'll be trying.

I hope this lest helps you.  I'm sure there are other natural methods out there, but this certainly gets you started.

And here's a shout out to the blogger that spurred this post - Thanks Jill
http://www.jillshomeremedies.blogspot.com/