Ants are a never-ending pest that can sneak into a home without the owner noticing until there is suddenly 50 of them trudging their way across your countertop. We want to help you keep ants out of your home, which is why we are providing these 5 easy DIY methods.
Don’t Give Them a Reason
The first and most important tip on how to keep ants out of your home is not to give them a reason to come inside. By keeping your home clean and storing all foods in air-tight containers, the ants will have no reason to go inside looking for food.
Sometimes, keeping the house squeaky clean just isn’t enough, which is why the next four tips are natural substances you can use to deter ants from entering your home.
Lemon
Ants are not a fan of lemon scents, and you can use that to your advantage. Squeeze lemon juice into ant entryways or block it with a lemon rind. You can also wash your countertops and floors with water mixed with a smidge of lemon juice.
If you want to take it a step further, you can use lemon eucalyptus oil. Lemon eucalyptus oils contain citronella, a hated commodity by many animals. To use, just soak a cotton ball with undiluted oil and stuff it where ants enter your home. Please note that this is an unhealthy substance for pets and children, so keep it well out of reach.
White Vinegar
Another scent that ants do not like is white vinegar. If you happen to see some ants, you can dump it straight on them. It is instant death for the existing ants, and it will repel others from joining them. In addition, washing your floors with a water and white vinegar mix will not only get them shiny clean, but it will also leave behind a strong scent for ants that humans can’t smell.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a strong scent for anyone, and for ants it is overwhelming. Sprinkling cinnamon or cloves at ant entry points as well as on windowsills and baseboards are an excellent deterrent; plus, it will make your home smell delightful!
Like with lemon, you can also get cinnamon leaf essential oil. Within the oil, there is trans-cinnamaldehyde, which is a powerful ant killer and repellent. You can soak cotton balls in the oil and place them at ant entryways. While not overly harmful to non-ant individuals, we still suggest keeping it away from pets and children.
Peppermint
If you don’t mind your home smelling like the holidays, peppermint is another natural remedy to keep ants away from your home. Simply mix ten drops of peppermint oil with a cup of water. Next, sprinkle the mixture wherever you find ants. This mixture isn’t nearly as powerful as the ones listed above, so you may need to reapply the mixture twice a day until the ants take the hit to get out!
Are none of these tips working, and you need professional help? Give us a call today, and we will help you choose the right treatment for your home.