When it comes to household pests, ants are probably the worst. You know they’re there, and they don’t go away easily. They come in small numbers but quickly multiply into a major concern.
You can do all you can to protect your home from ants, but sometimes it may still be hard to keep them away. Here are some tips on how to keep ants away:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Use natural remedies like vinegar and cinnamon to keep ants away. |
| Keep your home clean, dry, and free of food scraps to prevent ants from entering. |
| Identify the type of ant you’re dealing with to get rid of an infestation. |
| Seal off any entry points to prevent ants from coming into your home. |
| Regular pest control checks are recommended to keep your home free from ants. |
Mint Leaves
Mint leaves are a natural deterrent to ants. If you have an ant problem, try placing dried mint leaves in places where they’re likely to cross paths with the pests—such as on your countertops and in cupboards where food is stored.
Mint leaves can also be used as a deterrent for spiders, mice, cockroaches and wasps. However, if you’re going to use the leaves this way, be sure that you don’t put them near any pets or children since mint leaves can be toxic if ingested by humans or animals.
If you’d rather not use mint leaves directly against pests, there are other ways in which these fragrant little plants can help keep away unwanted insects (or at least prevent them from entering your home).
You can make an all-natural insect repellent by mixing oil with peppermint essential oil (available at many health food stores) before rubbing it into clothing or skin—this will keep flies away from your kids’ soccer games!
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Cinnamon
In addition to being a natural insect repellent, cinnamon is also a great way to keep ants away. If you’re looking for an all-natural way (without the use of harsh chemicals) that’s effective and long-lasting, cinnamon is your best bet. It’s also one of the oldest methods used in traditional medicine.
Cinnamon is an ant killer because it contains high levels of cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamaldehyde, which are toxic to insects.
Chalk
Chalk is another natural ant repellent. Ants do not like the taste of chalk, so if you sprinkle it along their trails, they will avoid that area. Chalk is cheap and easy to find at most hardware stores or online retailers.
Coffee Granules
Coffee granules are a great way to keep ants away. They’re safe for kids and pets, and they’re natural. You can use them in the garden, on your patio or in your kitchen if you want to be able to enjoy coffee without having it swarmed by ants.
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Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural deterrent, and it can be used as an ant spray.
Mix about 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on ants or their trails. For best results, keep spraying until the ants are gone.
Vinegar can also be effective if you set up a mason jar filled with cider vinegar in areas where you see ants coming in through cracks or holes in your wall. Ants will naturally gravitate toward this liquid and get trapped inside the jar!
White Pepper
If you’re itching to try something new, white pepper is a natural insect repellent. The spice has been shown to deter ants, cockroaches and other pests that may be attracted to your home. It works by releasing an unpleasant odor when it comes in contact with these insects.
White peppercorns are also effective against fleas. Simply sprinkle the ground pepper directly onto the carpet where you think fleas are hiding, then vacuum up any remaining residue after about 24 hours (or less if possible).
As an added bonus, if you decide against using white peppercorns for your pest control needs and opt instead for cayenne pepper (which is more commonly used), know that both spices have similar effects on ants as well
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Lemon Juice
Lemon juice. This is a natural ant killer that is safe to use around pets and children, so you can use it in a variety of ways. You can spray lemon juice into cracks, crevices and along baseboards where ants are known to travel.
You can also place slices of lemon or orange on the countertops near any suspect areas for them to come across as bait.
Baking soda and cinnamon mixture. The combination of baking soda and cinnamon will draw ants away from your home without harming them or leaving behind any harmful residue that could harm your family pets or plants later on down the line after the ant problem has been taken care of completely using this method!
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is one of the most effective natural insect repellents. Its active ingredient, capsaicin, has been shown to effectively ward off insects from entering your home.
This inexpensive and easy-to-find spice can be used inside your home or around the perimeter of it to keep ants away.
For best results: Sprinkle cayenne pepper on surfaces where you’ve seen ants congregating or where they are likely to cross over (like windowsills) as well as on doorways and window frames if you’re leaving them open during summer months.
To extend its lifespan and make it last longer in humid weather conditions, mix cayenne pepper with a bit of flour before sprinkling it around—this helps to keep the cayenne powder from clumping up during humid conditions like rainstorms
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Cucumber Peels
Cucumber peels are a great natural remedy to keep ants away. Cucumbers are high in water content, which means they’ll easily go rotten.
The peel of this fruit is the best part for repelling ants. It’s got a strong smell that repels them, which is why you should cut your cucumber in half before using it as bait for ants!
Lay down some sliced cucumber peels in areas where you see ants walking around or coming into contact with food or garbage.
Leave these pieces overnight and come back to check on them in the morning; if there are no signs of ant activity, cover up any food items with plastic wrap or containers and change out the cucumbers every few days until you no longer see any signs of an infestation!
Listerine Mouthwash
Listerine is a great ant repellent because of its strong minty smell. It also has a very low pH, which can kill ants on contact. To use it as an ant repellent, simply add a capful of listerine to a spray bottle.
Spray the area where you’ve seen ants and let it sit for 5–10 minutes before wiping away with paper towels or rags repeat as necessary!
Baby Powder
If you have an ant problem and are looking for a safe, natural way to get rid of them, try sprinkling some baby powder near the ant trail. Baby powder will repel the ants and keep them away.
Baby powder is made from talc, which is a mineral that comes out of the ground in clay deposits. Baby powder has been around since at least 1894 when Johnson & Johnson first started selling it as a dry shampoo product for babies.
The company later realized that if they added fragrance to their talc-based baby powder, people would like it even more! And so they did just that—and now we all know this scent as “just like baby’s bottom.”
Baby powders are made using talcum or cornstarch mixed with scents such as lavender or vanilla.
Some contain aluminum chloride hexahydrate (an ingredient found in deodorants), but most don’t include any ingredients that could hurt your children or pets if ingested accidentally while playing outside or inside your home or office building where there are no ants present yet—which means you don’t need to worry about running into any problems while applying this method yourself either!
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Conclusion
It’s important to remember that not all of these methods will work for every home. You may have to try a few different ones before you find one that works best for your situation.
However, if you have an ant problem in your kitchen or bathroom and want them gone as soon as possible then we recommend using a combination of different treatments like those listed above until they do go away!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to learn more about keeping ants away:
Tips to Keep Ants Away the Natural Way: This blog post provides some natural ways to keep ants away, including using vinegar and cinnamon.
How to Kill Ants: Get Rid of Ants in Your Home (Without Toxic Chemicals): This article provides tips on how to get rid of ants without using harmful chemicals.
6 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Ants: This blog post offers some natural methods for getting rid of ants, such as using lemon juice and borax.
FAQs
How do I keep ants away from my kitchen?
To keep ants away from your kitchen, make sure you clean up any spills or crumbs immediately, store food in airtight containers, and seal off any entry points. You can also use natural repellents such as peppermint, cinnamon, or vinegar.
How do I get rid of an ant infestation?
To get rid of an ant infestation, you should identify the type of ant you are dealing with, locate and eliminate the ant nest, clean up any areas where ants have been and use bait traps or repellents.
What attracts ants to the home?
Ants are attracted to food, moisture and shelter. Keeping your house clean and dry, and storing food properly can prevent ants from coming into your home.
Are there any natural ways to repel ants?
Yes, there are many natural ways to repel ants, such as using essential oils, citrus fruits, and vinegar. By using natural remedies, you avoid harsh chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and your health.
How can I prevent ants from entering my home?
To prevent ants from entering your home, seal any cracks or gaps around doors and windows, keep your home clean and free of food scraps, and use natural ant repellents like essential oils or vinegar. Regular pest control checks are also recommended to keep your home free from ants.
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!
