The Best Way to Get Rid of Spider Mites on Houseplants

I didn’t notice spider mites at first. My plant’s leaves just looked a little dull, then speckled, then some started to dry up and fall off. The real clue? Tiny webbing between the stems and leaf edges—like an invisible thread.

That’s when I knew I had spider mites, and I had to act fast.

If your houseplant looks dusty, webby, or speckled with yellow spots, you may be dealing with spider mites. Here’s the best way I’ve found to get rid of them and keep them from coming back.

1. Rinse and Wipe Down the Plant

Spider mites are small but not invincible. The first step is to blast off as many as you can.

What I do:

1. I take the plant to the sink or shower and gently spray the leaves—top and bottom—with lukewarm water.
2. Then I use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down each leaf, especially underneath.
3. This knocks out a big portion of the mites and webbing right away.

2. Use a Soapy Water Spray

Just like with aphids, soapy water works wonders on spider mites. It suffocates and kills them without harming most plants.

How to mix it:

1. 1–2 teaspoons of mild liquid dish soap in 1 quart of water
2. Mix and pour into a spray bottle

What I do

I spray every leaf, both sides, and repeat every 2–3 days for at least a week. If the infestation is heavy, I spray daily until I see no more signs.

3. Neem Oil for Ongoing Protection

Neem oil not only kills spider mites—it also prevents them from coming back by disrupting their life cycle.

How to use it:

1. Mix according to the label (usually 2 teaspoons neem oil + 1 teaspoon mild soap in 1 quart water)
2. Spray thoroughly, especially the undersides of leaves
3. Apply every 7–10 days as a preventative

What I do

After the initial soap treatments, I follow up with neem oil weekly. It keeps new infestations away and adds a bit of shine to the leaves.

4. Boost Humidity and Isolate the Plant

Spider mites love dry air. Raising the humidity makes your plant less appealing to them.

What I do:

1. I group plants or place a tray of water nearby to raise humidity
2. I isolate the affected plant from others during treatment
3. I also wipe down the surface where the pot sits (they can crawl off and hide)

Spider mites are sneaky but totally beatable with the right steps. Once I added rinsing, soapy water, neem oil, and better humidity into my routine, I stopped losing plants to them.

If you catch them early and stay consistent, your plant can bounce back fast. Just remember—check under the leaves.