Banish Spiders From Your Bedroom With This Woodsy Scent

Has anyone ever told you the "fun fact" that we swallow an average of eight spiders in our sleep every year? According to Brittanica, that's actually just a myth, and it's very unlikely that we swallow even one spider in our sleep. Still, the idea is enough to make many of us shiver. It's hard to get a good night's rest when you're worried about spiders crawling in your sheets or around your pillow. If you're experiencing a spider infestation in your home, you might wonder why spiders are drawn to your bedroom and how you can keep them out. Many people know that cedar essential oil is great for making your home smell like a fresh and cozy cabin, but not everyone realizes that it can also help with your spider problem. One whiff of this clean, woodsy scent and spiders will steer clear of your bedroom for good!

If this simple solution surprises you, you may be wondering what it is about cedarwood that is scary enough to make spiders quake in their eight-legged boots. Here's why spiders can't stand cedarwood essential oil, how you can use it to banish them from your bedroom, and other ways to implement this natural spider-repellant. 

Cedarwood essential oil is the concentrated compound that gives cedars and junipers their intense, woodsy, and fresh scent. The most commonly available cedarwood essential oil actually comes from juniper trees, specifically Juniperus virginiana, or Virginian juniper. The wood of cedar is naturally acidic, and cedarwood essential oil amplifies its power and scent. Most spiders will avoid the scent of cedarwood oil it because it is harmful to their respiratory organs.

Cedar oil is harmful to spiders' respiratory organs. When they catch a whiff of cedar oil, spiders and other insects will close off their airway pores in an attempt to stop the oil from making its way into their bodies. If they stay in the room long enough, they'll essentially suffocate themselves and die. Additionally, cedar oil can disrupt the spider's pheromones and mess with their senses. If the spiders actually come into contact with the oil, it can even dehydrate or burn them with its strong acidic properties. 

There are several ways you can use cedarwood oil in your bedroom to repel spiders — plus enjoy its other benefits. One of the easiest methods is to add a few drops of cedarwood essential oil to an essential oil diffuser. If you'd like, you can balance the scent with a few drops of another oil, such as lavender, lemon, rose, orange, or another bright, lighthearted scent. As the diffuser emits the cedarwood around your room, it'll provide a clean, soothing scent that also deters spiders from entering. 

If you don't have an essential oil diffuser, don't worry; you can also add a few drops of cedarwood essential oil to an empty spray bottle. Mix the oil with two ounces of witch hazel and four ounces of distilled water. Before you climb into bed every night, spray the mist generously over your sheets to freshen the bed and protect against spiders. Cedarwood oil is also a natural sedative, so it can help you sleep bed when sprayed before bed! Aside from cedarwood essential oil, cedar furniture is also the type of wood that will help keep your home spider-free. Add cedar sachets to your bedroom drawers and closets, or invest in cedar-lined drawers and shelves to naturally repel spiders.