How To Get Rid Of Ants: 8 Home Remedies That Do The Trick
Say goodbye to those pesky intruders! Ants invading your humble abode can be a real buzzkill. Not only do they drive you up the wall, but these tiny troublemakers can wreak havoc and cause some serious damage. It’s definitely not the clean and hygienic home you had in mind. And watch out! Some ant varieties, like the feisty Fire and Harvester ants, won’t hesitate to give you a tiny bite. Meanwhile, the mischievous Carpenter ants have a knack for remodelling your building materials. Oh, and let’s not forget about the food contamination-those sneaky ants carry bacteria that can turn your mealtime into a messy ordeal. With a whopping 12,000 different ant species out there, it’s time to show them who’s boss, especially during the summer takeover. Fear not, for we have some marvellous home remedies up our sleeves to bid those pesky ants farewell. Get ready to evict those unwelcome guests and say hello to an ant-free zone. Here’s the scoop on how you can make your house a ‘no-ants-allowed’ sanctuary. Let the battle begin!
Here’s How To Get Rid Of Ants At Home:
1. Chalk
One of the home remedies to get rid of ants is to use chalk. Chalk contains calcium carbonate, which helps in keeping ants away. Spray some powdered chalk in the areas that are the entry points of ants or draw a line of chalk at the entrance. In order to keep ants out of your house, draw chalk lines so that these bugs don’t enter. While it is not clear why this line stops the ants from coming inside, it is surely effective. Make sure you make the line in a way that is out of reach of any child in the house.
2. Lemons
Squeeze a lemon or place lemon peels in places from where the ants enter. You can also wash your floors with water that has a little lemon juice added to it. Ants apparently don’t like the smell of lemon juice so they will keep away. Anything sour and bitter may keep the ants away, but any sugar is the ants’ best friend. So ensure you do not keep anything sweet that may attract the ants in some way or the other. Keep your kitchen slab absolutely clean and place the peels right there.
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How to get rid of ants: Squeeze a lemon in places from where the ants enter. Image: iStock
3. Oranges
Oranges are the same as lemons; they keep the ants away from visiting your house. Make a paste of one cup of warm water and a few orange peels, which will help in getting rid of ants. Spread this paste around the entry points of ants and wipe it afterwards. You can also place orange peels on the kitchen slab or wherever you think these ants may enter. It acts as a natural deterrent for ants that may not only keep them but also keep them away. So, bring the orange rinds to some use and ensure no ants visit your house anymore.
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How to get rid of ants: Oranges keep the ants away from visiting your house. Image: iStock
4. Pepper
Ants are pretty fond of sugar but they hate pepper. Sprinkle pepper at the areas from where ants enter your house. This will help to get rid of ants. Cayenne pepper or black pepper are hated by ants. You can also make a solution of pepper and water and spray it near the entrant areas. The pepper wouldn’t kill the ants but definitely deter them from returning to your house. Make sure you clean the area where you want to spray the pepper solution.
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How to get rid of ants: Ants are pretty fond of sugar but they hate pepper. Image: iStock
5. Salt
Spreading salt near nooks and corners where ants enter the house will help keep ants away. Table salt is one of the best and cheapest ways to get rid of ants naturally. Use ordinary table salt, not health-boosting rock salt. All you need to do is to boil water and add a large amount of salt to it, stirring it until dissolves. Pour into a spray bottle and spray where you think ants tend to enter from.
How to get rid of ants: Spread salt near corners where ants enter the house. Image: iStock
6. White Vinegar
Ants can’t bear the smell of white vinegar. Prepare a solution of equal amounts of water and white vinegar. Add a few drops of essential oil to it and shake well. Store this solution and sprinkle it at the points from where the ants enter. Repeat this once daily. Again, this solution may not kill the ants, but definitely keep them away from entering the no-entering zone. Spray it around your windowsills, doorways and other places where you usually see ants coming.
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How to get rid of ants: Ants can’t bear the smell of white vinegar. Image: iStock
7. Cinnamon
Put cinnamon and cloves on the entrance of the house and the areas from where you think the ants can enter. This is a good method to also keep your house smelling fresh and earthy. Cinnamon is often regarded as an effective DIY ant control option. It is believed that cinnamon acts as a natural repellent as ants can’t stand the strong smell. For more effective results, you can add some essential oil to the cinnamon powder, so that it busts with a stronger smell, keeping the ants away.
How to get rid of ants: Put cinnamon and cloves on the entrance of the house. Image: iStock
8. Peppermint
Peppermint is an insect repellent, which can help you get rid of ants. Ants don’t like the smell of peppermint and are likely to avoid areas that contain traces of it. Peppermint has a strong fragrance that cannot be tolerated by the ants, which keeps them away from entering the home. Prepare a mixture of 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and a cup of water and sprinkle it wherever you find ants. Repeat this twice a day. You can even sprinkle dried peppermint instead of the liquid mixture.
How to get rid of ants: Peppermint can help you get rid of ants. Image: iStock
Try these easily available home remedies and say goodbye to ants.
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