September 22, 2025, 2:03 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Allegedly, you can drive spiders out of your home with an ostrich egg—completely without chemicals. This trick has been known in Turkey for a long time. myHOMEBOOK consulted a spider expert.
Crazy trick–or crazy rumor? An ostrich egg is said to drive spiders out of enclosed spaces. You can use a whole egg or just the blown-out shell. Supposedly, whole eggs work better than empty or broken shells. The advantage: It’s sustainable. This method gets rid of arachnids and likely other insects without using chemicals.
How the Trick is Supposed to Work
The ostrich egg emits a very special scent through the pores in its shell. Harmless to human noses, spiders apparently can’t stand the odor and flee. Wait, spiders can smell?
“Of course,” says Jason Dunlop. The curator for arachnids at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin further explains: “Spiders have a kind of sense of smell. However, not through a ‘nose’ like we have. The animals perceive chemical substances through certain hairs. For example, male spiders search for females through airborne scents.”
Better to Use a Closed Ostrich Egg
The trick is said to work best with a closed ostrich egg. You can place it in a bowl or on a wide candle holder. You can also hang the egg in a net from the ceiling. Adequate air circulation is important so the scent can spread well in the room. An intact ostrich egg lasts a long time and, with its porcelain-like surface, is quite an eye-catcher. Ostrich eggs only need to be dusted occasionally.
Does It Also Work with a Blown-Out Ostrich Egg or Broken Shell?
The trick also works with empty ostrich eggs. Since the 16th century, many ostrich eggshells have hung from the chandeliers in the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. The builder of the famous mosque, Mimar Sinan, placed the eggs in the center of the chandeliers to repel spiders and other insects attracted to the oil lamps and candles. A brilliant idea, as it kept the high dome clean.
Many Istanbul residents with greenhouses have adopted the trick today. Ostrich eggs are said to repel spiders and other insects there as well.
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Is the Trick Scientifically Proven?
Probably not. At least, Theo Blick from the Arachnological Society hears about the story for the first time upon inquiry from myHOMEBOOK. Jason Dunlop also says: “The story is interesting, but I didn’t know it.” The curator couldn’t find any scientific studies on it. “To me, it sounds a bit like ‘folk knowledge.'” Still, it’s worth a try!
Where Can You Actually Get Ostrich Eggs?
Ostrich eggs, which can weigh up to two kilograms, are usually offered by ostrich farms. A wide selection can be found online. The huge eggs are in high demand; they taste like chicken eggs but, unlike them, are also suitable for people allergic to chicken egg protein. Note: The content of an ostrich egg is comparable in volume to 25 chicken eggs. A full ostrich egg costs around 30 euros.