Finding out you have an ant problem at your home can be a big inconvenience. Not only are you battling the ants, but you’ve got to find the most effective solution to win that battle.
If you do not wish to expose your home to any chemicals that could prove to be toxic or harmful, then you’re probably on the search for a natural approach to ridding your home of these invasive pests.
The following are just a few simple, safe, and natural ant remedies you can make at home to get rid of the ants without the need for toxic pesticides:
People have found using Cinnamon essential oil and spraying it around the areas ants frequent is an effective method to keep them at bay. First you want to prepare a mixture of 10 drops of cinnamon to equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water. If you cannot find where the ants are coming in, spraying around doors and windows is also a safe bet. Not only is it effective, but it also leaves behind a pleasant spicy aroma.
Water and dish soap are two ingredients most people already have at their disposal. Simply boil a small pot of water, add in around 10 drops of your favorite dish soap, allow the mixture to cool, and pour into a spray bottle. When in the bottle and ready to use, spray on any visible ants or around windows and door frames for a safe eradication method.
Like water and dish soap, baking soda and powdered sugar creates an effective ant solution using products you’re already likely to have in the home. Take the mixture, place it in a shallow plastic cap (like that you’d find on a beverage bottle,) and leave where you find ants roaming most often. The sugar lures them to the cap, while the baking soda serves as a family-safe ant toxin. The ants take the sugar back to the nest and poisons the entire colony.
Vinegar and water not only kills existing ants, but keeps future ants from making their way inside. Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle, add in around 10 drops of peppermint essential oil, and spray where you see ants making their route around the home. In entryways like windows and doorways, the peppermint will also repel other pests like spiders, mice, and even roaches.
Lemon, oranges and grapefruit are surprisingly effective at ridding your home of ants. One method you can use is strategically leaving lemon and orange peels behind where you see ant activity, but this could leave you with a fruit fly problem instead if left too long. Rather than using actual peels, saturating a cotton ball or cotton pad in lemon or orange essential oil is equally effective and much easier to clean up.
Ants are well known to dislike the scents of cayenne and black pepper, which are two ingredients commonly found in spice cabinets. To deter ants, simply sprinkle black or red pepper near their entryways, or mix a healthy amount of pepper with water to form a spray. With cayenne pepper, the spray method could stain walls, trim, and flooring, so it’s best to spot test on a small hidden surface area first.
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I wouldn’t have ever thought to use some of these, especially the cinnamon essential oil.
I’ve used vinegar on cotton balls to repel ants in the kitchen.
Last summer we had a serious ant problem and we use all the above except for the cinnamon essential oil. We did not get rid of them. We had to dig them out.
Vinegar and water is what I’ve always used but I haven’t tried adding anything else to it … yet.
This is a problem for me every dang year. Thank you for these helpful tips!
I love the natural tips for getting rid of ants. We get them almost every year in the spring and summer.
I did not know baking soda and powdered sugar will get rid of all the ant piles at my Church.
I need to try these tips, I have them year round in florida :(
A timely read for me….we are currently besieged by ants….everywhere….these recommendations will be very handy…thank you
Thanks i will try this in the summer
I’m always looking for natural ways to get rid of ants! Thanks for the tips!
will have to try some of these next year
Love the natural organic way :)
I use the vinegar/water solution for most general cleaning, but one of my tools in cleaning the bathroom is a stainless steel scrub . . . goodbye soap scum! :-)
Love all these great uses for my essential oil!
I wasn’t aware essential oils were great for all these things. Thank you.
This is so helpful and seems simple.
Very interesting… will have to try this next Spring
Tried and tested apple cider vinegar spray for ant infested plants.
I think its great that you can use essential oils to keep ants away instead of using harsh and harmful chemicals.
very useful info and they do work
Wonderful information! I can’t thank you enough! 🥰
Great informative read as always
Baking soda or peppermint oil to deter these little critters
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Robert jr
December 03, 2018
Great information. I am just getting into the aroma therapy field and am enjoying every aspect of it. Glad to have found this site also