Vicks VapoRub Is All You Need To Keep Spiders Out Of The House

If you're tired of chasing webs and capturing spiders with cups, then you're probably scouring the internet for a remedy on how to get them out of your house. While these eight-legged friends might be beneficial in a vegetable garden or out in the yard, they're nothing but a nuisance indoors. They spin their webs in dark corners, pop out when we least expect them, and make some of us shudder in fright. But if you don't want to share your apartment or house with an arachnid, you don't have to. And you don't have to buy specialty bug killers to get rid of them, either. Instead, all you will need is some Vicks VapoRub.

The very cream that soothes a bad chest cold and clears a stuffy nose can also be an effective pesticide. This pest control hack is great to try because it gives something you already have in your medicine cabinet a second job around the house. If you're worried it will expire before you use it all up — or it's been ages since you had a cold — put it to good use to banish all the creepy crawlies in your house outdoors. Here's how to do it.

The one thing you need to know about spiders is that they'll often flee from strong smells. For example, you can use vinegar and water to eliminate spiders or leave sprigs of rosemary in common entry points to keep them from coming in the first place. These potent remedies work because spiders smell and taste through their legs, so they may become extra sensitive, coming into direct content with something so heady. Because of this, Vicks VapoRub is the perfect deterrent — it uses eucalyptus and menthol to open your nasal passages, which is much too strong of a scent for an arachnid.

To use it as a spider banisher, simply rub it in corners you see spider activity and in any entry points, they might be getting through. For example, it's a good idea to rub the minty gel on window frames, doors, and near vents. You can also add a few smears on places you don't want them to visit, like your bedframe or your coffee table. Do this once a day since the smell will disappear, and you should see a decrease in the number of spiders you see. The only caveat to keep in mind is you shouldn't use this hack if you have pets. Camphor is found in Vicks, which is toxic to dogs and cats (via the Pet Poison Helpline). This can pose a problem if they lick it.