When it comes to ants, it should be noted that they tend to live in colonies. What this means is that if you see one ant in your house, there are probably thousands of other ants hiding all around you. So although you may feel that it is not that big a deal when you see a few ants here and there, it definitely can lead to an ant infestation if the right steps are not taken on time.
Did you know that there are more than 10,000 ant species in the world? That’s right – and the only places not inhabited by ants are Antarctica and some other inhospitable islands! Unfortunately, while ants may not be as destructive as termites, they are still more than capable of inflicting bites, contaminating food, and spreading several different diseases. That being said, here are seven simple home remedies you can do yourself to get those ants out of your house!
7 DIY Solutions to Keep Ants Out of Your House
Lemons
Lemons have a distinct sharp smell that can help eliminate the scent trails that ants follow. With this in mind, placing either lemon juice or lemon peel around your house is a great way to keep those ants away from your home. Another good thing that you can use is a citrus-scented cleaner. However, if you decide to use this option, you should do your best to avoid using any synthetic-scented products, as they won’t be effective on ants. You can also use other citric fruits like oranges, limes, and grapefruit as natural ant repellents.
White Vinegar
As you may already know, vinegar comes with many different benefits. But did you know that vinegar is also an excellent natural bug repellent? As soon as you see a few ants in your house, create a solution consisting of 50% white or regular vinegar and 50% water and then spray the solution in the area in which those ants like to hang out. A really good alternative to this would be to use a 100% vinegar solution. While this option does kill ants, it can also repel them if you use it before the ant infestation occurs. Since ants can smell the vinegar even after it has completely dried out, this method might even become a long-term solution to your problem.
Talcum Powder
Talcum powder is another good hack to get rid of ants that many people might not be aware of. It is a good repellent as ants simply don’t want to get close to it. The powder tends to break the ants’ pheromone trail, and it also kills them by blocking their airways. Now, if you don’t like the idea of killing insects, this might not be the best option for you, but it’s still an efficient way to get rid of ants nonetheless. And on top of that, talcum powder is pretty safe for kids and pets.
Peppermint
Peppermint oil is a natural and effective solution to get ants out of your way, as well as other pests like mosquitoes. Put a few drops of peppermint oil into an oil incense burner and then place it as close as possible to the source of the ant infestation. Another thing that you can do is dilute some peppermint oil in a bottle of water and then spray the solution over the affected areas of your house. One of the biggest reasons it is such a practical method for getting rid of ants is that you can use it around kids. Also, peppermint oil can make your house smell fantastic!
Glass Cleaner
Glass cleaners are another common ant repellent that people like to use. You can either spray it directly onto the source of the ant infestation or dilute it with liquid soap before using it. Glass cleaners do a great job of eliminating scented pheromone trails that the ants use to find their way back and forth. This is such a fantastic method since it doesn’t kill ants but makes them leave your home instead.
Coffee
One of the best ways to keep ants out is by disrupting their sense of smell by using things that have a strong odour, like ground coffee. Ants ooze scented chemicals to mark their path to the source of food or water and their nest. The aroma of coffee would make it hard for them to find their way and force them to leave your premises.
Simply keep some ground coffee on a disposable plate near areas where you see ants to get them to leave. You can also keep it in the different entry points of your house to prevent them from entering your home. But remember, the smell of the coffee loses potency over time, so keep changing it often.
Essential Oils
Certain essential oils have proven to be very effective when it comes to getting rid of ants. All you need to do is put a few drops of cinnamon, citrus, eucalyptus, or peppermint oil on cotton balls and then stick them in the problem areas. Also, make sure to replace the cotton balls every now and then because the scent will eventually fade away. You should also keep in mind that essential oils should always be kept out of reach of both children and pets.
Conclusion
Ants are some of the most common insect home invaders in the world. The good news here is that most ant species are relatively harmless. Although getting rid of ants might not be the easiest thing to do for some people, it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. You can repel and eradicate them using the simple methods mentioned above. There are also some commercial products out there that could help you get rid of these unwanted guests. Removing all ant hiding spots from your house is an excellent way to prevent a potential ant infestation from occurring. If all tricks fail, you can always hire a professional exterminator to help you out.
