The Best Natural Way To Keep Spiders Out Of Patio Storage Boxes
If you are looking for an easy way to keep spiders out of storage boxes without using pesticides or other harmful chemicals, try this inexpensive, natural solution.
I have a lot of outdoor seating areas, which means a lot of outdoor furniture with outdoor cushions.
And those cushions need to be stored somewhere when they are not out on the furniture.
I keep a lot of them in outdoor patio storage boxes. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
You can get them in all kinds of shapes and sizes.
And since they are located close to the furniture, the boxes are convenient for taking the cushions out and putting them away.
The Problem With Outdoor Storage Boxes
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The problem is that those storage boxes are outdoors and they aren’t really critter proof.
So I am always finding unwanted surprises (like spiders) in them.
Besides the spiders, there are often other critters, too.
Occasionally, I have seen a snakeskin. (That really freaks me out! I don’t want to find out the hard way that the snake is still in there hiding among the cushions.)
And sometimes the cushions have holes chewed in them by mice.
Or mud wasps have built nests on them, which leaves a stain even after you knock the nest off.
All of that means I end up having to wash the cushions almost every time I take them out of the box. Which is definitely more work than I want to do!
How To Keep Spiders Out Of Your Boxes
Last fall when I put the cushions away for the winter, I decided to find something that would prevent the spiders (and other critters) from getting into the boxes with my cushions.
I like to keep my garden organic so I didn’t want to use pesticides or chemicals.
And I wasn’t sure there was a solution that would actually work.
But when I took the cushions out of storage (after being in there all winter), I can say with confidence that it did!
So what’s the secret you ask?
Natural flea and tick spray with peppermint oil*!
I had originally bought it for my pets, but after reading that peppermint oil is supposed to deter spiders, I thought I would give it a try in my storage boxes, too. And it worked!
Note: You can probably make a DIY version of this yourself by mixing peppermint oil* with some water, but I haven’t tried it so I can’t personally vouch for it.
How To Apply It
Spray the peppermint oil solution around the inside of the box, paying extra attention to the areas where the critters can get in. I didn’t attempt to coat everything since that would take a lot of spraying!
If you have any big gaps, soak some cotton balls in the spray solution and stick them in the holes.
I also sprayed the cushions lightly before putting them in the box. If you’re worried about marking the fabric, you might want to test a small patch before doing the whole cushion.
Then just pop them in the box and close the lid. And you’re done!
The Optional Extra Protection
If you want some extra protection, try putting the cushions in a storage bag*.
I did this for some of my cushions and it does keep the dust off and make it easier to move the cushions around.
The cushion storage bags are available in different sizes so you can get one that matches the size of your cushions.
Then place the whole bag inside the box that has been sprayed with the peppermint oil solution.
However, I’m not sure that the bags were really necessary for spider control.
None of the cushions or boxes (whether they were in bags or not) showed any evidence of critter activity.
The End Result
This is the picture of the cushions when I put them away in the fall.
And this is the picture just before I took them in the spring.
After 6 months being left completely alone, they look exactly the same.
No cobwebs, snake skins, mouse holes, or any other kind of critters to be seen!
The cushions didn’t need to be washed before I put them out on the furniture. As you can see, the same can’t be said for the chairs 🙂
My fear of unpacking cushions has been exterminated…bad pun intended 🙂
And the best part is that this solution does not use harsh chemicals or pesticides that are bad for your pets, kids or the environment.
After having such good luck with it in storage boxes, I tried spraying it around the entrance and edges of the shed. It worked just as well there.
Have comments or questions on the best natural way to keep spiders out of patio storage boxes? Tell us in the section below.
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This post was originally published on June 2, 2017 but was updated with new content on June 1, 2023.
Thanks for this suggestion! I’ve had the same problem….old cocoon residue, spider webs, and the mice…oh, yes, the mice. So cute, but the damage they do….yikes. I’ll definitely give this a try as I packed things up for the winter!
You’re welcome, Wende. It really worked well for me last winter 🙂
Question for ya…..do you need to reapply the spray periodically and if so, how often? Thanks!
Hi Christine…yes, it wears off after a while. I re-spray once in the fall, again in the spring and then once more about half way through the summer.
Did you try it in your storage shed and if so, did it work? I just built my shed and started moving items in it, but I’m afraid if spiders move in, the items will be left there forever.
Hi Michelle…I did use the spray in my shed, and it does work. I spray around the doors and where the walls meet the floor and ceiling twice a year – in the spring and in the fall. There is still the odd spider web here and there but it’s definitely much better than without spraying.