Blog / House

13 Jun 2018

Natural Solutions for Ants

Ants are primarily attracted to the scent of sugar and grease, but even if you think you’ve got rid of these odours ants can linger and are hard to get rid of. One of the best things to do to prevent ants is by making access to your home more difficult by sealing up small cracks and spaces in your walls, ceilings, doors and window frames.If this doesn’t solve the problem.

Here are 4 simple and natural tips for keeping ants out of your house with ingredients that you may already have at home.

Vinegar

Deters ants because they don’t like the smell and it removes the scent trails that they use to get around. Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and 1/4 cup water in a spray bottle, shake well and spray around surfaces, windowsills, cupboards and any entry points.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice, like vinegar, deters ants by destroying the scent trails that they follow. Spray or wipe lemon juice in the areas that you see ants gathering in your home.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural powder made from the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton. It is completely safe for mammals, but insects that have an exoskeleton (like ants, fleas and cockroaches) die when they come into contact with it because it damages their waxy coating. Sprinkle a thin layer of DE on windowsills, around dustbins, under kitchen cabinets and appliances to kill existing ants and deter others.

Essential oils

Ants don’t like the smell of certain essential oils like peppermint oil, tea tree oil, orange oil, grapefruit oil and lemon oil. Citrus oils contain d-limonene which is toxic to ants. Wipe down your surfaces with a clean cloth that has a few drops of essential oil or leave an essential oil-infused cotton ball in cabinets, around baseboards and at entry points.

Make your own all-natural ant spray by following the following recipe:

Ingredients:

•    1/2 cup pure water
•    10 drops peppermint essential oil
•    10 drops lemon essential oil

Pour all the ingredients into a small spray bottle. Shake the bottle well and spray around baseboards, entry points, surfaces and anywhere you’ve seen ants. Repeat every few days until the ants have gone.

Visit the Australian Organic and Natural Directory for more natural pest control options.


Sources

https://www.care2.com/causes/10-ways-to-keep-those-pesky-ants-out-of-your-kitchen.html
https://www.mommypotamus.com/7-ways-get-rid-ants-naturally/