How to Keep Spiders Out of Your Patio Storage Box

Spiders like to inhabit dark, enclosed areas, such as outside storage containers.

Outside storage boxes are used to hold many things; however, spiders are probably not the type of item you had in mind. Spiders often make their homes in storage containers because they provide the sort of dark and enclosed habitat that these eight-legged creatures typically desire. Opening a storage container only to find a mess of spiders crawling out is the stuff of horror movies. To prevent this frightening scenario from happening to you, employ tactics that keep the arachnids away from your outside storage containers.

Things You'll Need

• Dryer sheet
• Broom handle
• Chestnuts
• Mint and lavender sprigs
• Lemon, mint, lavender, citronella, mineral, rosemary and wintergreen oils
• Water
• Liquid dish soap
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Remove any spider webs you see inside the storage containers on a regular basis. An easy way to do so is to attach a dryer sheet to the end of a broom handle and wipe out the webs. Removing the webs destroys the spiders' homes and often causes them to seek other shelter.

2. Place chestnuts inside the storage boxes. Spiders tend to detest the scent of chestnuts and avoid setting up shop near them.

3. Place a few drops of lemon oil inside the storage container. Spiders tend to avoid the citrus scent.

4. Keep sprigs of mint and lavender inside the containers. These fragrant herbs typically keep spiders away. Replace the sprigs every two or three days to keep the scent strong. If you cannot keep up with that sort of maintenance, apply a few drops of mint or lavender oil inside the storage containers, instead.

5. Create a repellent solution by combining equal parts mineral, rosemary and wintergreen oils. Apply a few drops of the liquid inside the container boxes to keep the spiders away.

6. Mix together five drops of citronella oil with 1 quart of water and 1 tsp. of liquid dish detergent. Place the solution in a squirt bottle and spray it inside the storage containers. The strong scents of the lemon and the citronella should keep the eight-legged creatures away.

References

• Green Eco Services: Controlling Your Spiders Naturally
• Pest Exterminator: Organic Spider Control--Extermination the 'Nice' Way