We all think about how we can be less invasive to the environment. That’s why, if you want to try some eco-friendly solutions yourself, here are 20 ways to keep ants away that you can do on your own:
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Keep It Clean: Ants search for food, so be sure to thoroughly clean kitchen surfaces, avoid leaving food scraps out, and regularly empty trash cans.
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Store Food in Airtight Containers: Store food, especially sweets and breadcrumbs, in sealed containers to prevent ants from accessing them.
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Seal Cracks and Entry Points: Inspect and seal cracks, gaps, and other potential entry points in walls, windows, and doors to keep ants from entering the house.
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Essential Oils: Some essential oils, like peppermint, eucalyptus, or citronella, can repel ants. Mix a few drops with water and spray the problematic areas.
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Eliminate Water Sources: Ants also search for water. Fix leaky faucets and pipes, and make sure not to leave dishes with water in the sink.
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Commercial Bait Traps: Use commercial bait traps that contain insecticide. These traps attract ants with a sweet bait that they then carry back to their nest.
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Gardening and Exterior Maintenance: Keep the area outside your home clean and tidy. Clear away leaves, branches, and other debris, and keep plants and shrubs trimmed to prevent ants from finding shelter near your home.
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White Vinegar: Clean surfaces with a mixture of white vinegar and water in equal parts. Vinegar removes the pheromone trails that ants use to follow their paths and discourages them from returning.
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Lemon Juice: Squeeze lemon juice in areas where you see ants. Its acidity acts as a natural repellent and also leaves a fresh scent.
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Essential Oils: Mix essential oils like peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, or citronella with water and spray in areas where ants are active. These oils are natural and have repellent properties.
Correction: This entry was duplicated, so only one version was kept, and the numbering was adjusted. -
Cinnamon: Sprinkle cinnamon powder in areas where ants enter your home. Cinnamon is a natural repellent, and its strong smell drives them away.
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Baking Soda and Sugar: Mix equal parts of baking soda and powdered sugar. Place the mixture in small lids near ant trails. The ants will be attracted to the sugar, but the baking soda will interfere with their digestive system.
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Chalk or Talcum Powder: Draw lines with chalk or sprinkle talcum powder at the entrances and access points of ants. These powders act as barriers that ants avoid.
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Citrus Peels: Place lemon, orange, or grapefruit peels near areas where you see ants. The oils in citrus peels are toxic to ants and repel them.
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Coffee Grounds: Sprinkle used coffee grounds around ant entry points. The caffeine and strong smell act as natural repellents.
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Cornmeal: Place small amounts of cornmeal on ant trails. The ants will consume it and take it back to the nest, but they cannot digest it, which can eventually control the population.
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Garlic: Place crushed garlic cloves or its juice in areas where ants are present. The strong smell of garlic acts as an effective repellent.
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Cucumber and Citrus Peels: Ants avoid these peels because as they decompose, they become toxic to them.
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Mint: Mint leaves or tea bags can help repel ants. Place them around windows, doors, and cracks where these insects access your home.
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Herbs and Spices: These release strong odors that repel ants. Place them in cabinets and drawers. Additionally, cinnamon, black pepper, or garlic serve the same function, so try sprinkling these spices in areas where you’ve seen ants.
These traditional and eco-friendly methods are effective and safe for the environment, as well as easy to implement with ingredients you likely already have at home. However, keep in mind that ants are highly adaptive creatures, constantly finding new ways to access their food. For this reason, if you find it necessary to consult an expert, do not hesitate to call us, and we will gladly help you.