There’s something charming about living in an old house — the creaky floors, original woodwork, and history hidden behind every wall. But there’s also something less charming about it: the occasional unwanted guest .

In my case, that guest was spiders .

My 1880s-era home already had the atmosphere of a horror movie set — complete with rattling windows, shadowy corners, and enough dust to qualify as a historical layer. So when I started finding spiders perched on lampshades, tucked into bookshelves, and lounging on my windowsills each morning, I felt like I’d been cast in the sequel: “Spider Nightmares: This Time It’s Personal.”

I tried everything — vacuuming, sealing cracks, even whispering motivational speeches to them asking them to leave politely.

Then came the hack that changed everything: Vicks VapoRub .

Yes, really.

That menthol-scented jar of cold-season relief? Turns out it’s also one of the most surprisingly effective spider-repelling tools you probably already have in your medicine cabinet.

Let me tell you how this strange but true remedy worked for me — and why science (and millions of satisfied users) says it might work for you too.