Ants are everywhere. You see them in your backyard, on your patio, and even wandering into the house. They’re drawn to our food and water, so it’s no wonder we have them coming after us in droves!
While ants aren’t always harmful creatures, they can be a nuisance when they invade our homes or property.
If you’re tired of dealing with ants around the house and garden, here’s how to get rid of them naturally:
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Getting rid of ants outside your home and garden can be challenging. |
| Using natural methods can help you effectively control ant infestations without using harmful chemicals. |
| Some of the natural remedies include essential oils, vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. |
| Preventing ants from entering your home can be achieved by sealing any cracks or gaps, keeping your home clean and free of food particles, and storing food in airtight containers. |
| Identifying an ant infestation early can help you take necessary steps before it gets out of control. |
| Getting rid of an ant infestation can take several weeks or even months depending on the severity of the problem. |
Keep Your Property Ant-Free
The best way to keep ants out of your home is to keep them out of your yard and away from the foundation in the first place.
When it comes to keeping these critters at bay, there are plenty of things you can do that don’t require expensive or toxic chemicals.
Here are a few simple tips for keeping ants at bay:
Keep your property clean, especially in the kitchen. The kitchen is where ants get most excited about, so if this is where they’re coming into contact with you and your family members often (and it probably is), make sure that all food remains sealed up in containers and do not leave food sitting out on countertops for long periods of time.
Take any garbage outside regularly (especially before bedtime) so there’s nothing left behind for those pesky little insects to feed on overnight!
Remove any debris from around doors and windowsills so that no cracks provide entry points for unwelcome guests such as ants or termites who may be looking for new places roost
Taking care of ant infestation outside of your home can be a challenge. Our expert guide on how to get rid of ants outside permanently provides simple and effective solutions to keep your home and surroundings free from these pesky insects.
Use Natural Products
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice and water solution (1:10 lemon to water)
Peppermint oil, tea tree oil and other natural insecticides. These are all safe for your family and pets as well as the environment.
You can use them directly on ants or spray them in areas where you see ant activity. They will kill ants naturally, so be careful not to get any on yourself or your family members when applying them.
If you have pets that go outside frequently, it’s best not to use these products outdoors because they may end up eating the dead ants on the ground which could make them sick.
Olive oil – This one might seem a bit strange but olive oil has been shown in some studies to be effective at repelling ants from coming back into an area again after they’ve sprayed themselves with it!
It also works great when used along with diatomaceous earth around doorways where ants often enter homes through cracks between foundations or concrete slabs below doors (as long as there aren’t children around).
Clean Up Dirty Dishes Immediately
Ants are attracted to food, so it’s a good idea to clean your kitchen and dining room as often as possible. Wash dishes in hot, soapy water (with an extra rinse) and air-dry them rather than leaving them in the sink overnight.
Fire ants can create trouble with their potent stings and make your surroundings unsafe for your family and pets. Make sure to check our simple guide on how to get rid of fire ants to know effective ways to get rid of them
Remove Food Spills From Surfaces
Ants need food to survive. If you have a sweet tooth and eat lots of candy, cookies, or other snacks at your desk while working, that may be one of the reasons why you have ants in your home.
It’s important to remove food spills from surfaces as soon as possible after eating. This is especially true for sticky foods like peanut butter or honey because ants love these substances.
If you’re not sure where the ants are coming from, clean up dirty dishes immediately so that no crumbs are left out overnight.
If any pet food was left out overnight–particularly dog food–remove it right away and put it in a sealed container until your dog gets hungry again (this will prevent more ants).
| Surfaces |
|---|
| Tables |
| Countertops |
| Floors |
| Kitchen appliances |
| Cabinets and drawers |
| Shelves |
Dispose Of The Garbage Regularly
You should also be sure to discard your trash regularly. Do not leave it out overnight or in the rain or sun, and dispose of any food remains promptly.
If you have outdoor pets, make sure they do not leave food lying around (or anywhere else) that ants can find.
Keeping ants at bay can be challenging, but with our easy to follow methods, you can keep your house and surroundings free from ants. Check out our informative guide on how to keep ants away that really work and say goodbye to ants.
Set Up A Drink Station For Your Pets
You can also set up a drink station for your pets by putting out water or food for them. The ants will be too busy hanging around the bowl to bother you! However, make sure you clean the bowl regularly so it doesn’t get too dirty. Otherwise, your pet might not want to use it anymore.
Don’t Leave Pet Food Outside Overnight
The second thing you can do to get rid of ants outside is to avoid leaving pet food outside overnight. When you leave pet food out, ants will come and eat it, especially if there is rain or other weather that makes the food wet.
Ants love pet food because it has protein in it, which they need to survive. Unfortunately for your pets, they also love eating ant-infested food!
The result? Your pets get sick and you have even more pests (ants) coming around looking for more of that tasty treat called “your dog’s dinner”!
Make sure that all food at home stays indoors until all animals have had their fill and then clean up after them so no remains are left behind for the ants to enjoy next time around.
Use Natural Repellents To Deter Ants
Lemon juice is a natural repellent for ants. The acidity of the juice will cause ants to loose their footing and fall over, which will discourage them from entering your home.
Peppermint oil is another effective ant deterrent. It has a strong scent that insects don’t like, so they’ll steer clear of the area if they detect it in their path.
Vinegar is another great choice because its acidic properties are naturally repellent to many insects, including ants.
| Natural Repellents |
|---|
| Essential oils |
| Vinegar |
| Lemon juice |
| Baking soda |
| Coffee grounds |
| Cucumber peels |
| Chili powder |
Create A Habitat For Birds And Other Predators
If you want to get rid of ants outside your house, you can use some simple steps to create a habitat for birds and other predators.
Of course, this won’t work if there are no birds in the area. But if there are trees or flowers attracting them, they should be able to find their way into your yard.
Place a birdbath near where you see ants or near any areas from which they appear to come outdoors.
A birdbath will make it easier for birds to find water – which is crucial for survival during the summer months – when they’re searching for food sources like ants or other insects that inhabit the same areas as them!
Plant flowering plants like daylilies and marigolds around your home’s perimeter because these also attract bees (another natural predator of ants).
Put out ant traps in high traffic areas where people might accidentally bring over an ant colony on their shoes after walking through it at another location (like a park).
Not only do these traps help keep pests away but they also kill them without harming children and pets who may accidentally ingest residual chemicals left behind after using such products containing toxic ingredients like pesticides or herbicides (after all, these chemicals can still be harmful even after being washed off).
Ants infesting your home can be a major inconvenience, and you’ll want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Our easy and effective solution on how to get rid of ants in the house guide provides simple ways to get rid of these pesky insects
Get Rid Of Any Remaining Ants By Hand
If you still see ants outside your home, you can try to get rid of them by hand.
Spray the ants with soapy water from a spray bottle. Soap will kill ant pheromones and make it difficult for them to find their way back home.
Vacuum up any remaining ants and be sure to empty the vacuum cleaner bag outside frequently so that you do not transfer any of the pests back inside your house or apartment building.
Use a shop vac or dust pan to remove as many ants as possible from hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways before you take steps toward getting rid of them in other ways (like spraying).
Otherwise, if these surfaces are covered with insects for too long, they may escape into cracks or holes in the material where they will be harder to eliminate later on during treatment efforts.
If possible—and especially if there is no rain forecasted within 24 hours—use a wet paper towel instead of soap because this method allows water droplets from dew on plants/trees etcetera outside housing units nearby which harbor these critters overnight due to natural elements like wind gusts causing moisture into interior areas without fail!
Carpenter ants can cause significant damage to your home, and using chemicals to get rid of them may not be your first choice. Our complete guide on how to get rid of carpenter ants naturally provides you simple and natural ways to eliminate these destructive ants without using chemicals.
Conclusion
The best way to get rid of ants is by using natural products and cleaning up your property regularly.
If you still have some left over after that, then use repellents or set up traps. If none of those things work for you, then there’s always hand removal!
Further reading
How to get rid of ants naturally: Pest control techniques: Learn a variety of natural ways to get rid of ants in your home and garden without using any harmful chemicals.
How to Kill Ants: A Science-Based Guide: This science-based article provides a comprehensive guide on how to get rid of ants in your home and garden effectively.
How to get rid of ants: Learn how to keep ants out of your home and garden with this informative guide that provides natural home remedies and products to control ant infestations.
FAQs
What are some natural ways of getting rid of ants?
There are many natural ways to get rid of ants, including using essential oils, vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. You can also try using natural ant repellents such as coffee grounds, cucumber peels, and chili powder.
Can ants cause damage to a home?
Yes, some species of ants, such as carpenter ants, can cause significant damage to a home. These ants can burrow through wood to create nests and colonies, causing structural damage to your home.
How can I prevent ants from entering my home?
Some ways to prevent ants from entering your home include keeping your home clean and free of food particles, sealing any cracks or gaps in your home’s exterior, and storing food in airtight containers.
How do I know if I have an ant infestation?
Common signs of an ant infestation include visible ant trails, small piles of debris or dirt near entry points, and the sighting of large numbers of ants in your home or garden.
How long does it take to get rid of an ant infestation?
The length of time it takes to get rid of an ant infestation depends on the severity of the infestation and the methods used to get rid of the ants. In some cases, it may take several weeks or even months to completely eliminate an ant infestation.
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!
