Spiders are living nightmares. They would be overrated as a source of fright. Jungle spiders can be dangerous, but most indoor spiders are harmless.
Fortunately, getting rid of this panic is quite easy. A rumor on the internet suggests walnuts keep spiders away. But the truth is not as clear as it may seem.
Do walnuts keep spiders away?
Some natural ingredients, such as walnuts, are effective at keeping spiders away. Walnuts contain anti-spider chemicals such as Juglone, Linolenic acid, and Tannins. Unfortunately, no scientific studies were conducted on it. According to some users, walnuts work very well against spiders.
Table of Contents
A spider will typically smell something when it touches. The walnuts in the corner of the house cannot prevent all spiders from entering the room. However, walnuts are not completely useless.
The reason is that spiders tend to gather in certain places of the house. Putting walnuts in these locations will help control spiders. There are types of walnuts that repel spiders but not all of them.
Whole walnuts:
Whole walnuts are a good example of walnut with repellent properties. Walnuts are green in color when raw; they turn brown once they are ripe. The chemical composition of freshly peeled walnuts keeps spiders away from them.
Black walnuts:
Black walnuts are very popular and it helps to keep spiders away. Walnuts of this variety contain a lot of tannins. However, it is not reasonable to expect that every species of spider will flee at the sight of walnuts.
Since there are many examples of spiders living in walnut trees, this is not surprising. Spiders that live indoors tend not to tolerate walnut trees. Usually, spider species stay away from walnuts, such as the Wolf Spider, Black Widow, and Brown Recluse.
Walnuts in a shell:
Whole walnuts in a shell mean the shell has not yet been peeled off or broken. The chemical in walnut husks makes them very effective against spiders. Many people believe that walnuts with shells are more effective at repelling spiders.
However, this is not a scientifically proven method yet. Users’ experiences are what determine the results.
And walnuts are not the only ways to prevent spiders from entering the home. It can be an alternative and a helpful way to eliminate spiders. Maintaining a clean home is the best strategy to discourage spiders.
Why do spiders not like walnuts?
Biological bodies are similar to chemical reactors. Numerous people are allergic to nuts. Taking a simple perspective, you might say that spiders are allergic to walnuts.
Juglone Toxin in walnuts:
The element Juglone Toxin is found in walnuts. These toxins are dangerous to animals. The taste of walnuts is pungent and different from the taste of normal nuts. Juglone Toxin is primarily responsible for this.
Spiders are not tolerant of Juglone Toxin. Consequently, the spider will try to avoid the walnut if it is possible.
Linolenic Acid:
Spiders may not have excellent eyesight, but they have excellent senses of smell. However, they cannot smell anything in the air. Setter smells things when he touches them. There is a very high level of linolenic acid in walnuts.
A typical nut contains far less linolenic acid than common species. Consequently, many spiders are avoidant of this acid. So walnuts where there are no spiders.
The smell won’t deter spiders from coming near walnuts. Rather the intensity of Acetic Acid keeps the spider away. Because it can cause serious damage to the spider’s body.
Tannins:
Turns, a type of toxins found in walnut shells, are responsible for walnut toxicity. As soon as the component comes into contact with air, it turns into poisonous gas. Walnuts also contain oils filled with tannins.
Both of which are toxic. The tannins in walnut are produced when they come into contact with air in a room with a walnut shell. This causes the spider to avoid space.
What kind of walnuts keeps spiders away?
Numerous types of walnuts are available in the market, but only a few are effective against spiders. The black walnut, also called Juglans Nigar, is very effective in repelling spiders. It contains a toxic element called Juglone.
English walnuts are common nuts. They are quite effective against spiders, as well. Linolenic Acid Tannins are abundant in these nuts of the English variety.
Additionally, butternut, walnuts, and walnuts from the Juglans Sigillata family repel spiders from your home.
Several varieties of walnuts have very low levels of phenols and linolenic acid. These varieties will not help keep spiders away. Amongst these nuts are Kashmiri nuts and other types of roasted nuts.
Likewise, walnuts that have been stored for a long time have a lower level of chemicals. You can get rid of spiders effectively if you use fresh walnuts, which are high in Linolenic Acid and Tannins. To get the best results, you can substitute walnuts.
How to use walnuts to get rid of spiders?
Before chasing spiders out of the house, you should know where these spiders come from. Spiders that are typically found inside the house do not come from outside. They are born inside the house and this is where they breed.
Clean spider-infested areas:
There are certain places in the house where spiders hide. These are in the storage, garage, EVDS, and dustbin. Make sure these areas are clean before using walnuts. It may be necessary to use any type of cleaning chemical.
The place looks filthy that is perfect for spiders. Make sure you clean your room regularly.
Disposing of spider eggs:
Spiders reproduce through ordinary eggs. Spiders will be born again from there if eggs are left after cleaning. Therefore, notice if there are any eggs after cleaning. A vacuum cleaner is the best way to thoroughly get rid of eggs.
Picking nuts properly:
You should make use of walnut species that are effective at repelling spiders, like black walnuts. It is better to use unripe and raw walnuts to repel spiders.
Unfortunately, these walnuts are not widely available. Use a relatively short old walnut in that case. Avoid using roasted walnuts.
Prepare walnuts:
Break the walnuts in the middle. Make a maximum of two pieces of a walnut. Extra pieces will reduce the effectiveness.
Place the walnuts in the specified place:
The spider will not disappear by spreading walnuts all over the house. That’s why you have to keep walnuts in certain places where spiders live. Place two walnuts in the dustbin, garage, attic, storage, washroom, and isolated area.
Know what you’re doing:
Walnuts do not keep spiders from entering from the outside. It is impossible to repel them with walnuts. They will never enter the space where walnuts are kept. To get the best results, place it where spiders are most likely to be found.
What nuts scare spiders?
Some nuts can repel spiders. These also work almost like walnuts.
Horse Chestnut:
Horse Chestnuts are highly poisonous and not suitable for human consumption to eat the nuts of this species. In addition to humans, no animal may consume these nuts. Almonds of this poisonous species can be a good antidote to spider repellent.
In many areas, it is also known as conkers. A few pieces of Horse Chestnut is enough to repel spiders. There is scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of Horse Chestnut.
Sweet Chestnut:
This species of chestnut is not very poisonous. It may be safe for humans, but not so for spiders. There will be no spiders in the area for a few days when you put a few pieces of sweet chestnut in there.
Wild Almonds:
Wild Almonds are a very popular species of nut. It contains a small amount of toxic amygdalin. A very small amount of toxicity is not harmful to humans, but it can keep spiders away like walnuts.
If you intend to use nuts to repel spiders, however, you should know that it is not always guaranteed to work. Because not everyone got positive results from the use of nuts.
An alternative:
Vinegar can be a powerful alternative to nuts when it comes to preventing spider activity. It is not possible to spread nuts throughout a room.
So, if you leave nuts in certain places and wipe all the other places with a mixture of vinegar and water, you will get permanent relief from spiders for a long time.
Final Thought
Walnuts contain a type of toxin called Juglone, which can keep spiders away. The spider avoids the place in the house where the walnuts are stored. Black walnut with its shell is a great deterrent to spiders. Walnuts, however, are not a guaranteed method of repelling spiders.