Ghosts are often portrayed as mysterious and unpredictable, but folklore tends to paint a very different picture. Across cultures and traditions, spirits are said to react in fairly consistent ways to certain objects, environments, and behaviors.
Whether you’re dealing with a place that feels off or you’re simply curious about old beliefs, here are ten things ghosts are traditionally said to avoid, and how people have used them to keep spaces feeling clear and undisturbed.
Salt
Salt shows up in spiritual traditions all over the world as a symbol of protection and purification. It’s believed to absorb unwanted energy and create boundaries that spirits don’t like crossing.
People often place small lines of salt along windowsills, doorways, or corners of rooms. Others dissolve it in water and use it to cleanse areas that feel heavy. In folklore, salt isn’t about force. It’s about setting limits.
Garlic
Garlic isn’t just linked to vampires. In many traditions, it’s believed to repel spirits as well. Its strong scent and association with protection make it a common household safeguard.
Some people hang garlic near entrances, others place cloves in specific rooms, and some simply keep it around as part of everyday life. The idea is that certain energies don’t linger where garlic is present.
Holy Symbols or Religious Items
Objects tied to faith are often thought to discourage restless spirits. Crosses, prayer beads, sacred texts, and blessed items are believed to represent authority and order, which unsettled spirits are said to avoid.
Many people keep these items near beds, doorways, or personal spaces. The belief isn’t about fear. It’s about grounding a space in meaning and intention.
Iron
Iron has a long reputation as something spirits avoid. Horseshoes above doors, iron nails, or simple iron objects placed near entrances are common in old folklore.
One explanation is that iron represents the physical world and structure, which contrasts with the nature of spirits. Whatever the reason, iron consistently appears in stories as something that blocks unwanted presence.
Light and Positive Energy
Spirits are traditionally associated with stagnant, neglected spaces. Homes filled with activity, music, conversation, and light are said to be far less appealing.
People often believe that keeping a space lived-in and active discourages lingering energies. Open curtains, regular movement, and human presence all play a role in that idea.
Burning Herbs
Burning herbs has been used for centuries as a way to cleanse spaces. Sage, cedar, rosemary, lavender, and frankincense are among the most commonly mentioned.
Different traditions associate different qualities with each herb, but the shared belief is that smoke helps clear what no longer belongs. Many people still use this practice when moving into a new home or after tense periods.
Running Water
According to folklore, spirits struggle to cross running water. Streams, rivers, and even fountains are thought to create a natural boundary.
Some traditions extend this idea indoors, suggesting that water movement keeps energy circulating. While not everyone takes it literally, water is often associated with transition and release.
Mirror Covers
Mirrors are sometimes believed to act as doorways between worlds. Because of that, covering them has been seen as a way to block access.
In some cultures, mirrors are covered after death for this exact reason. The belief is that reflective surfaces shouldn’t be left open during times of emotional or spiritual transition.
Fresh Flowers or Plants
Living plants are often linked to balance and renewal. Flowers and greenery are believed to shift the atmosphere of a room in a way spirits don’t favor.
People who follow this belief tend to keep plants near entrances or in spaces that feel heavy. Growth and movement are key themes here.
Brooms
Brooms appear in folklore as tools that clear more than dust. Sweeping is often symbolic of removing what doesn’t belong.
Some traditions suggest sweeping toward the door after unsettling events or before sleep. The act itself represents resetting a space and restoring order.
Keeping Ghosts Out of Your Space
Beliefs about ghosts come from centuries of folklore, not guesswork. Across different cultures, the same idea keeps repeating: spirits are said to avoid places that feel positive, active, and clearly claimed by the living.
According to these traditions, ghosts dislike strong boundaries like salt and iron, steady movement such as running water, and spaces filled with life, light, and human presence. Objects tied to protection, faith, or cleansing are believed to disrupt their ability to linger. So do homes that are regularly cleaned, aired out, and kept in use.
What keeps ghosts away isn’t chaos or force. It’s consistency. A home that’s occupied, cared for, and energetically maintained leaves little room for anything else to settle in. Whether you follow these beliefs fully or see them as symbolic, the message is the same: ghosts are said to avoid homes that are grounded, protected, and clearly lived in.
In the end, these practices aren’t about fear. They’re about setting boundaries and keeping your space firmly yours.
