Did you know that you can get rid of ants without spending money on expensive solutions, just by using products that I’m sure you already have in the kitchen? Approximately 12,000 species of ants colonize the world, with only a handful of species making a nuisance of themselves in the average home. Despite the fact that they feed on fleas, bugs, and spiders larvae, you don’t really want ants swarming in your house.
Ants are one of the most common household pests in the United States. If you see ants in your home, it’s not a sign of a dirty home. It’s simply a sign of ants’ tenacity and survival instincts helping them adapt to the modern age.
❗ The following actions may also reduce the number of ants in your home, making it easier for natural ant killers to work on the remaining pests:
◼ Wash garbage pails and recycling bins with warm, soapy water.
◼ Keep garbage pails and recycling bins outdoors if the ants return.
◼ Remove liner paper from kitchen cabinets and pantry shelves, which may have accumulated crumbs and spills from food sources.
◼ Keep your pet’s food bowls clean and remove them after your pet finishes eating.
◼ Houseplants are, unfortunately, attractive nest sites for some species of ants. Houseplants swarming with ants should be removed from your home.
🐜 Check out the 9 natural ant killers:
1. Vinegar
Pour a little white vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray it over all the corners where you’ve seen ants. This will neutralize pheromones, so the other ants in the team can’t follow the tracks. After the vinegar evaporates, repeat the process in the next days. This will stop ants from getting in your house.
2. Soapy water
It’s one of the most popular ant removal solutions. Simply, pour warm water and dish detergent in a spray bottle. This solution will kill ants, but will also remove their pheromone, which means that other insects won’t find the way to your home. You need to repeat the process a few days in a row to get good results.
3. Chalk
An ant will never cross a line drawn with chalk. Nobody knows why this is happening, but it’s an excellent way to stop ants from getting inside your home.
4. Baby powder
It has the same effect as the chalk, so sprinkle the powder over the corners where you spotted ants.
5. Lemon juice
Lemon can also be used to get rid of these insects. Squeeze a lemon in the place where ants have made their entrance. You will be surprised to see how this acidic fruit will drive them crazy and will no longer be capable to find a way to their nest.
6. Coffee grounds
Apparently, ants don’t stand the smell of coffee. If you sprinkle coffee grounds around the places where you’ve spotted ants, they will no longer appear. Also, sprinkle coffee grounds in the garden to keep ants away from the plants.
7. Corn cobs
Place a few pieces of shredded corn cobs in the ant’s way. They like corn cobs and they’ll take it to their nest. But because they can’t digest it, they will eventually be terminated by this product.
8. Salt
Salt won’t kill the ants despite the contrary beliefs. Mix salt with water and pour this liquid in the way of these insects. You will notice that they won’t pass over it.
9. Cayenne pepper powder
If you have small children in the house, make sure you don’t use toxic substances. But you can get rid of ants with natural insecticides like the hot pepper powder. Dried mint leaves are equally effective. Sprinkle some of them near the front door and on the windowsills. This will get ants disoriented and will certainly fail getting inside your house.
So there we have it, your guide on how to get rid of ants in the house. As you can see, there are many ways of killing the ants and decimating their nest, but we would urge you to seriously consider whether or not the ants are truly pests or just a mild nuisance before taking action. Otherwise, happy ant hunting!
Image Credits: Consumerreports
