The Popular Non-Toxic Hack People Are Using To Repel Ants & Spiders (But Should You?)

Are you someone who is constantly seeking alternative, non-toxic methods to get rid of pests in and around your home? As the world embraces less harsh, chemical-heavy options for pest control, it would only make sense that the internet is full of homemade spray recipes and products that are purported to help people rid themselves of things that bite and crawl, and generally annoy! One trick involves components you can find within your kitchen, and each ingredient is people-friendly so you can feel confident using it around family members, too. By mixing cinnamon sticks, citrus peels, white vinegar, and mint leaves into a jar for a few weeks to let the solution marinate, you're creating a potential insect repellent that features four different compounds which, separately, are believed to deter ants and spiders. As always with homemade mixtures, results may vary, and it's a tricky science to keep bugs away completely, especially since different species might react to these items differently. But eco-friendly options are always worth a try, and this simple hack might become your go-to for creepy, crawly pests.

Citrus fruits and mint (menthol) both are recommended by pest control agencies as natural ant repellents, and cinnamon is not a scent they like, either. A household staple like white vinegar can help with spiders on its own, so when you combine all of these ingredients into a homemade spray, it can help make a less friendly atmosphere for these bugs. There are numerous ways to get rid of ants, but this trick might become your go-to if it works on your pests.

The key to making this mixture work is letting the ingredients become friends in the jar you mix them in. According to @ministry_from_home in the Instagram video they posted about this homemade remedy, allowing the mixture to settle for four weeks is what helps make each of the components so strong. You can keep the mixture on your countertop or in your pantry, and after a month of allowing it to settle, you want to strain the liquid into a spray bottle. 

Once you have your homemade spray, work around your house, applying it into corners, along doorsteps and windowsills, and anywhere else you notice ants and spiders getting in. You can also spray this in your kitchen pantry, bathrooms, and throughout the house, especially because it doesn't have the harsh chemicals in most bug repellent products. If you want to be extra vigilant, you can also use the mixture to clean surfaces, as white vinegar is a versatile cleaning tool.

You can reapply the spray as often as you need, but keep in mind it could work for some environments but not for others. You might find that it repels ants and not spiders, or vice versa. Home-based methods tend to be trial-and-error, but if this trick works for you, it's a great way to ditch the harsh pest control methods and keep your home bug-free.