Ants can be pesky little pests, but they’re not deadly or anything. It’s not like you’ll die if an ant bites you. Still, it’s easy to see why people hate these bugs and want to get rid of them as fast as possible.
Fortunately for us, there are a lot of ways to kill ants in the house without using harsh chemicals or dangerous traps that might harm pets or children.
But before we get into those methods (and there are many!), let’s go over some basic facts about ants so that we know what we’re dealing with here:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Ant infestations can be frustrating, but there are numerous effective ways to get rid of them permanently using natural and safe methods. |
| Carpenter ants can cause costly damages to your home, so it’s essential to identify and eliminate them as soon as possible. |
| To prevent ants from coming in your house, keep your home clean, and seal cracks and gaps in walls, doors, and windows. |
| Some of the natural remedies for getting rid of ants include peppermint, vinegar, lemon juice, and borax mixed with sugar and water. |
| Identifying the type of ants in your home based on their body color, size, shape, and behavior can help determine the most efficient way to get rid of them. |
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a common ingredient in garden-variety insect repellants, but it can also be used to make your own homemade ant killer. It’s best to use peppermint oil in combination with another repellent, like citronella or lemon eucalyptus.
The steps for how to use peppermint oil for ants are as follows:
Fill a spray bottle with water and add 10 drops of peppermint oil. Shake well before each use; the mixture will stay effective for several weeks after mixing it up.
Spray directly onto ant nests or trails that lead up toward areas where you see them crawling around (they won’t like the taste!).
It might take a few hours before any noticeable results are seen—depending on how bad infestation is and what type of ant they are—but they should leave within 24 hours after coming into contact with this natural deterrent!
Are ants taking over your lawn or garden? Discover effective and hassle-free ways to eliminate them permanently with our guide on how to get rid of ants outside and enjoy a beautiful outdoors once again.
Lemon Juice
If you have ants in your home, you may have tried using a mixture of vinegar and water to get rid of them.
While this is a good solution, lemon juice can work just as well. The acidity from lemon juice can be harmful to ants and their eggs, which makes it an effective way to keep them at bay.
To use lemon juice for ant control:
Mix about two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice into one quart of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it wherever you’ve seen an ant colony recently—this will help prevent new colonies from forming later on.
If you want to kill existing colonies with lemon juice alone (rather than just keeping new ones from forming), then make sure to pour some liquid dish soap into your spray bottle before adding the water and lemons!
This will allow you to kill the ants directly rather than just making them uncomfortable enough not want to stay around anymore—and who wouldn’t want that?
Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural ant repellent
Vinegar is also a natural disinfectant, so it can be used to clean your kitchen. You might have heard this tip before, but adding vinegar to the rinse cycle of your dishwasher will help keep it smelling fresh between washings.
Vinegar can kill ants on contact by drowning them in the liquid—and if you combine it with baking soda and lemon juice, you’re making your own homemade ant killer spray!
Worried about ants crawling on your kitchen countertops? Try our pro tips and tricks for getting rid of ants in the kitchen and make your cooking experience safe and hygienic
Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamon oil is a great natural way to keep ants at bay. It’s safe for pets and children, and can be used in the kitchen and bathroom. Cinnamon oil is simple to use, but it’s also effective at killing ants on contact.
Boiling Water And Soap Solution
To get rid of ants in the house, you can use a boiling water and soap solution. This will kill ants quickly and prevent them from returning to your home.
To make this solution:
- Mix 1 part water with 1 part dish soap.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
Spray this solution on any place you see ants, including cracks in walls or corners of rooms where they may be coming from outside into your house! The solution should kill all of them instantly (although some might just die slowly).
If there are still some live ones left after spraying or if you want to make sure there aren’t any left at all wipe up what’s left using paper towels; it should easily pick up all dead ants without damaging anything else nearby!
Baking Soda And Sugar Solution
Baking soda is a great household item for getting rid of ants. Mix 1 part baking soda with 1 part sugar and sprinkle it around the baseboards and along window sills.
Ants love the taste of this mixture, so they will eat it and carry it back to the nest. The borax in the mixture kills ants on contact, so this method can be very effective at eliminating a colony of ants.
Don’t let sugar ants spoil your food and mood. Instead, follow our expert advice on getting rid of sugar ants and enjoy a sweet victory over these pesky insects.
Borax Solution
The easiest and most effective way to eliminate ants from your home is to mix borax powder with sugar and water.
This mixture can be placed in small dishes or trays near the areas where ants are commonly seen, such as around garbage cans, in bathrooms or kitchens. Borax kills ants on contact and will not contaminate food items or surfaces when mixed properly.
If you have a large infestation of ants, pour boiling water over their nests leaving them completely destroyed.
You can also use dish soap mixed with borax to create a liquid that will kill all types of insects including pests that live indoors or outdoors such as fire ants, roaches and bedbugs.
The foaming action helps keep the insecticide on top of surfaces where insects may venture upon it while cleaning up after cooking meals at home too!
Coffee Ground & Ants Storm Water Barrier Solution
To make this solution, you will need:
- 1 cup of coffee grounds
- 1 gallon of water
Follow these steps to create the solution and use it to protect your house from ants:
Place the coffee grounds in a large bowl and pour the water over them. Let them sit for at least 24 hours so that the water becomes infused with caffeine.
Use a funnel to transfer this solution into a spray bottle or other container that is capable of holding up against rainwater (you want something made out of plastic or glass).
Shake well before each use; we recommend spraying every two weeks throughout spring and summer months, when ants are most active outdoors in North America (though you can also use this solution year-round).
Are you tired of seeing ants marching into your house uninvited? Find out how to effectively stop them with our tips on preventing ants from coming in the house and keep your home bug-free
Grits And Cornmeal Solution
Mix 1 teaspoon of grits or cornmeal with a little water in a bowl. Pour the mixture into the kitchen and set the bowl on a counter. Ants will be attracted to this substance, as it smells like food, but will drown when they climb into the water.
Apple Cider Vinegar-Based Solution
Vinegar is another great solution for getting rid of ants in your home. Fill a spray bottle with apple cider vinegar and spray the ants as soon as you see them. Repeat if necessary, but be sure to give the affected area time to dry before using it again.
Apple cider vinegar can be toxic to pets and children, so keep it out of reach and don’t use it directly on living things that may ingest it accidentally or otherwise.
Borax Trap
Borax is a natural mineral that has been used for many years as a cleaning agent. It’s a white powder that is odorless and tasteless, and it can be found in most grocery stores in the laundry aisle. It’s also easy to make your own borax traps using materials you have around the house.
To make your borax trap, take the lid off of a tuna can or small cup. Pour some boric acid into the container so that it covers about 2/3rds of the bottom surface area.
Place this trap anywhere you see ants coming in or near where they are entering your home—you should see results within 48 hours!
No one wants ants taking over their home. Take the proactive approach and learn how to keep ants out of your house with our straightforward and simple methods
Conclusion
If you are looking for a natural way to get rid of ants in your house, then these solutions will help you with that. If you are planning to have a party, make sure to take care of the problem before it happens and avoid having any problems.
Further Reading
Smith’s Pest Management: How to Get Rid of Ants – Learn effective ways to eliminate ants using natural and safe methods.
Country Living: How to Get Rid of Ants – Discover practical tips and tricks to prevent ants from setting up camp in your home.
Healthline: How to Kill Ants and Get Rid of Them for Good – Understanding the type of ants and effective ways to eliminate them permanently with convenient home-based remedies.
FAQs
Can ants cause damage to my property?
Ants do not necessarily cause property damage but some species of ants can be a nuisance to have in the house. Carpenter ants, for instance, can destroy wood, causing costly damages to your home.
How can I prevent ants from coming into my house?
One way to prevent ants is by keeping food in airtight containers, cleaning spills, and sweeping floors consistently. Sealing cracks and gaps in walls, doors, and windows will also help to keep ants out.
Are there any natural remedies to get rid of ants?
Yes, there are several natural remedies to get rid of ants such as using peppermint, vinegar, and lemon juice, among others. Borax mixed with sugar and water is also known to be an effective way to get rid of ants.
Why do ants invade my house in the first place?
Ants are attracted to food, water, and shelter. If ants find these conditions in your home, they will likely try to establish their colony inside.
How can I determine the type of ants in my house?
You can identify the type of ants in your home by their body color, size, shape, and behavior. Ants can also be classified as sweet-eating or protein-eating, which can be helpful in determining the most effective way to get rid of them.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
