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Dealing with ants can be a real pain, but there are a few ways to get rid of them, naturally. Many natural, everyday solutions can help keep your home and yard ant-free. Here’s a look at some of the best home remedies to help you get rid of ants.
1. Vinegar
Ants rely on scent trails to navigate their way to and from their nests, and strong odors are a great way to confuse them and persuade them to move on elsewhere. Simply mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray around entry points and ant trails.
2. Lemon
One of the most effective ways to get rid of ants is by using lemons. Place slices of lemon along ant trails or spray lemon juice mixed with water around the areas where ants enter your house.
3. Cinnamon
Most insects, including ants, dislike the smell of cinnamon. Sprinkle ground cinnamon at entry points or use cinnamon essential oil mixed with water to spray around the home. As with any essential oil sprays, avoid spraying this mix on fabrics and carpets and keep it away from children and pets.
4. Peppermint Oil
With its pungent aroma, peppermint oil is a natural insect repellent that will persuade ants to move on elsewhere. Mix 10-20 drops of peppermint essential oil with 2 cups of water and spray the solution around baseboards, doorways, and windows.
5. Pepper
If you’re struggling to block up every nook and cranny where ants sneak into your house, sprinkle black or cayenne pepper around these areas to keep them at bay. Remember to reapply frequently, especially after rain.
6. Baking Soda and Sugar
Do you often feel that baking soda seems to be the answer to every household problem? Well, this miraculous powder can also help get rid of ants! Mix equal parts of baking soda and powdered sugar and place the mixture in shallow containers near the site of any ant nests. The sugar attracts ants to eat the powder, and the baking soda reacts with their digestive system, killing them.
7. Coffee Grounds
Ants dislike the smell and acidity of coffee grounds. Spread used coffee grounds around outdoor entry points such as doorways and window ledges.
8. Salt
If you’ve got an ant nest that stubbornly refuses to relocate, make a strong saltwater solution and spray or pour it into the nest.
9. Bay Leaves
To deter ants from entering your home, place freshly picked bay leaves in cabinets, drawers, and pantry areas.
10. Petroleum Jelly
This is one of my favorite ways to keep ants out of places where they are not wanted! Ants will not cross through a sticky barrier, so apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, aka Vaseline, around the bases of containers or surfaces where ants are a problem. This trick works particularly well on outdoor tables, helping to keep your al fresco dining experience ant-free!
11. Garlic Cloves
The strong smell of garlic is an effective way to repel ants and other insects. Place peeled garlic cloves in areas where ants are entering, or add them to water to create a potent garlic spray.
12. Eucalyptus Oil
Mix a few drops of eucalyptus oil with water and spray around entry points and ant trails. The strong aroma will confuse the ants and encourage them to move elsewhere.
13. Mint Leaves
Mint is incredibly easy to grow and is an effective way to keep your home and yard free from ants. Place fresh mint leaves around entry points and where ants are seen, and grow mint plants in containers near doorways and windows to deter ants.
14. Tea Tree Oil
Soak cotton balls in tea tree oil around entry points to keep ants at bay. Remember that tea tree oil can be toxic and must be kept away from children and pets.
15. Boiling Water
Ant nests under paving slabs are particularly hard to get rid of, but boiling water might do the trick. Pour boiling water directly into any entry points, especially over massive ant hills, and repeat daily until any remaining ants move on elsewhere.
16. Cornmeal
This method is slightly gruesome, but it definitely works! Ants find cornmeal very appetizing, but they cannot digest it and will starve due to a lack of nutrients. As the colony weakens, any remaining ants will seek a new home.
17. Neem Oil
Neem oil is a natural insecticide and repellent that helps to keep many different bugs at bay. Mix neem oil with water and spray around entry points and areas where ants are active.
18. Cloves
Ants find the strong aroma of cloves confusing. Place lightly crushed whole cloves around entry points and areas where ants are commonly seen.
19. Dish Soap
Dish soap is a great natural pesticide that can help get rid of ants. Mix a few drops of dish soap with water in a spray bottle and spray directly on ants and their trails.
20. Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth around the areas where ants are entering. This natural powder is abrasive to ants and can dehydrate and kill them. Use food-grade diatomaceous earth, which is safe for humans and pets.
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Kate Chalmers
Kate is a passionate gardener who has a keen interest in all things related to homesteading and sustainability. She resides in Portugal with her husband and menagerie of animals and has over 15 years of experience in the UK veterinary industry. In 2020, Kate and her husband took on a dilapidated Portuguese house and abandoned olive grove, turning it into an abundant food forest and home for nature.
Life on the homestead is never the same from one day to the next, and Kate has mastered many skills that she is keen to pass on to anyone with an interest in becoming more self-sufficient. Kate believes that living a sustainable lifestyle is the key to happiness and fulfillment and that everyone can make simple changes that connect us back to nature and reduce our impact on the planet.
