UK households are being urged to place bowls of cinnamon powder on windowsills to naturally deter spiders from entering homes. While peak spider season is months away, spider activity can spike during summer as warmer weather draws them out in search of food. An increase in household pests like flies and ants provides abundant prey, and rising temperatures can cause eggs laid in previous seasons to hatch, leading to more indoor sightings.
Why Cinnamon Works as a Deterrent
Spiders find their way through any openings, such as windows, doors, cracks, and gaps, and can also be brought in on plants or clothing. With windows and doors often open during warmer months, spiders easily venture inside. Cinnamon offers a natural defence: spiders are sensitive to strong smells, and cinnamon's potent scent contains cinnamaldehyde, which irritates the sensitive hairs on spiders' legs, deterring them from entering areas where the scent is present.
How to Use Cinnamon Powder
Placing a bowl of ground cinnamon on windowsills can help keep spiders out, as windows are a key entry point. It is best to put ground cinnamon in a bowl or inside a sachet rather than sprinkling it directly, as it contains rich brown oils and tannins that can stain, especially if wet from rain or condensation.
According to This Is My Garden, “Ground cinnamon is an easy and inexpensive way to ward off spiders. And it can be used in several basic ways to keep spiders out of almost anywhere. One of the easiest ways to use ground cinnamon is to sprinkle it along the areas where spiders are likely to enter your home. This includes window sills, doorways, and around cracks or gaps in walls or floors. The strong scent from the ground cinnamon will act as a barrier.”
Alternative Cinnamon Methods
Households can also use natural cinnamon sticks or cinnamon oil to create a homemade repellent spray. Mix around 10 to 15 drops of cinnamon oil with water in a spray bottle and spritz around entry points like windowsills, window frames, and doorways. Another option is to soak cotton wool balls in cinnamon oil and place them along windowsills.
Knockout Pest Control advised: “Do you know where the high-traffic areas of your home are when it comes to spiders? If so, sprinkle some cinnamon here to deter spiders from continuing to enter your home. Spiders won’t cross a line or sprinkle of this spice, so be sure to keep some close by at all times.”
