Overview
- New guidance highlights tea tree oil on cotton balls as a seasonal deterrent, with tips to place them on windowsills, room corners and even beneath Christmas trees.
- Pest-Stop cites higher insect numbers this year and warns that real or stored artificial trees can harbor spiders or egg sacs that may become active indoors.
- Sentinel Pest advises soaking cotton balls in essential oils and positioning them in corners, closets and behind furniture to keep a consistent scent in target areas.
- Gardening Know How suggests four to five drops each of peppermint and lavender oil per cotton ball, set on small dishes near doorways and cabinets, then refreshed every two to three days.
- Experts explain that spiders detect chemicals through their feet and avoid strong plant oils or citrus, while cautioning to keep oils out of reach of pets and children and noting spiders’ useful role in controlling other pests.