Spiders are web-weaving wonders, and unfortunately for us, they like to show off their artwork by displaying it in inconvenient spots, like doorways. But here’s a strange yet effective trick to keep them at arm’s length: hot sauce. It all comes down to the zesty, spicy nature of hot sauce ingredients. Spiders have a super-sensitive nose that allows them to seek out prey and also a potential mate, so they tend to steer clear of areas with potent smells because it confuses their sniffers. The capsaicin found in peppers releases an odor that spiders find particularly nasty, so that robust scent acts like a natural roadblock that keeps them from setting up camp and weaving their sticky webs of doom.
Creating a spider-repellent hot sauce mixture is a breeze. All you need are mashed spicy peppers, a few drops of your preferred hot sauce (like Tabasco), powdered cayenne, water, and a squirt of dish soap. Begin by blending the mashed peppers with hot sauce or cayenne, dilute the mixture with water, and add a dash of dish soap. The dish soap is essential because it makes the solution stick to surfaces. Once you have your concoction ready, just transfer it to a spray bottle and get ready to go to town.
Use your spray with care
If you want to add your own personal touch to the basic hot sauce recipe, go ahead and play around with it to match your taste and needs. For instance, if you’re after a milder or more potent spider-repellent mixture, just tweak the amount of hot sauce or peppers in the mix. Or, to level it up, add more strong scents like garlic or onion. Keep in mind that consistency is the name of the game, so be sure to reapply your spicy solution every so often, especially in the areas where spiders tend to make themselves a bit too comfortable.
There are a couple of safety precautions that you’ll want to remember. Hot sauce can not only burn your tongue, but also your skin and eyes, so to be on the safe side, always wear protective gloves. Also take into consideration where you’re spraying the solution, since it can possibly leave stains. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, do a little test in a small, hidden spot before going all out with your new favorite spider repellent. Be sure that you spray in areas that are free from young prying hands and four-legged taste-testers.
