Ten Natural Remedies To Get Rid of Ants

Looking for a natural way to get rid of ants? If you live in a place where ants are a problem (and who doesn’t?), you know how it starts.

First, there is that one little ant crawling on the floor or countertop. You think, “Oh, no big deal, it’s just an ant.” Then the next day you notice a few more, and you realize you’re about to be dealing with a major problem.

Sure enough, the next day, you have an entire trail leading into your kitchen cupboard. The invasion is in full swing.

You could buy an insecticide to try and get rid of your ants, but insecticides can be dangerous when applied improperly. They can be harmful not just to insects, but also to pets and plants, and children.

And when it comes to getting rid of ants in your kitchen, the last thing you want to do is contaminate your food or surfaces where you prepare it. That is why you should consider finding a natural way to kill ants!

How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

Thankfully there are many home remedies to get rid of ants. Here are a few which you can try before your resort to insecticide or the exterminator:

1. Vinegar

Vinegar is an awesome natural defense against ants since it disrupts the chemical trails that they leave behind. This means they can no longer find their way around. This will not necessarily be enough to totally get rid of them, but it can sure be a big help! For the best results, spray the vinegar several times a day along the ant routes.

2. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

This is a completely natural compound made from the fossil remnants of diatoms. The dust has sharp edges which can cut the exoskeletons of insects, which causes them to dry out and die.

Diatomaceous Earth is the organic farmer’s favorite natural ant killer since it is safe for use with livestock. In fact, many ranchers will rub the DE in their animals’ fur to kill biting insects such as mites or ticks. It’s commonly spread in their bedding as well.

Learn how to use diatomaceous earth to get rid of ants indoors.

3. Essential Oils

There are a few different essential oils that deter ants. Peppermint oil, tea tree oil, clove oil, lemon oil, and orange essential oil all can work wonders.

Mix one or more of these into a spray bottle with water, and use it in places where ants are getting into your home or leaving trails.

It should help to disrupt their chemical trails—plus, clove oil can kill ants. You can even mix a little vinegar in for extra effectiveness if you want. The bonus here is that essential oils will make your house smell great!

 4. Baking Soda and Powdered Sugar

Ants love powdered sugar, so if you want to bait a trap, it works really well. Mix together powdered sugar with baking soda and you will have a lethal combination. Baking soda is poisonous ants, and they will die when they eat it.

5. Boric Acid

This is one of the most effective natural insecticides you are going to find. Like all the methods here, it does take time and diligence to get the results you are looking for. Use it to create traps like the one with baking soda and powdered sugar. Make sure you keep it away from pets and children as it is toxic.

6. Chalk

Chalk contains calcium carbonate, which as it turns out is an ant deterrent. If you have identified where ants are getting into your house from outside, you can use the chalk to draw a line around the structural weakness.

You can even make a game of it for the kids! This border should prevent the ants from coming in.

7. Flour

Flour also repels ants, so use it to make a line where you don’t want ants to cross.

8. Salt

Here is an ingredient practically everyone should have handy! Ants don’t like it, so use it to make lines to deter them.

9. Talcum Powder

Ants don’t like talcum powder, so you can sprinkle this around entrances and trails to get rid of ants.

10. Orange and Lemon Peels

Just as ants do not like lemon and orange essential oil, they do not like the actual juice or peels of the fruit either. Squeeze some lemon and orange juice into a spray bottle with some water and spritz it around your kitchen. Then scatter the peels around to further deter your uninvited dinner guests.

As you can see, there are numerous different home remedies you can try if you want to get rid of ants naturally without the use of insecticide!

Please note that it may take a few weeks or even months before you manage to completely eliminate your ant problem using these methods. If you are patient and stick with it, you should see results.

If you still are not getting the results you want, or you simply want to speed up the process, a call to your local exterminator may be in order!

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