And here they are again! In single file, waddling around everywhere, on the garden path, in the kitchen near the pantry or even in a corner of your room looking for the tiniest crumb. You can guess who we are talking about, right? Yes, those pesky ants are coming back with a vengeance! However, they were not invited, but seeing that they are already well established, their nests are inevitably found in the area. Discover our tips to keep them away from the house and garden.
How to scare away ants?
Black and small, ants are not always easy to spot. But, with a few exceptions, they are not used to walking around alone. Just open your cookie jar and see a bunch of them everywhere. And more often than not, it is easy to spot a thin line of these little insects making their way along the baseboards. Do you often wonder where they can get into your home? Through any crack or crevice, around windows or under doors. Ants can also migrate from neighbors to come and make a pilgrimage to you. One thing is certain, they are multiplying rapidly, so you must act without delay to avoid a massive invasion. There is no need to complicate your life or invest in expensive and toxic insecticides to get rid of ants. These natural and reliable home remedies will only cost you a few cents!
Cinnamon
Like most insects, ants have a sensitive sense of smell. And it turns out that they hate the smell of certain aromatic spices. At the top of the podium, cinnamon bothers them the most. Can you imagine? While we love this heady spice that gives such a unique flavor to our cakes and hot drinks, ants avoid it like the plague. So this is the ideal repellent to start with.
How to do it?
All you have to do is sprinkle it here and there, in every corner of the house. They will smell its aroma from afar and immediately turn around!
white vinegar
We continue with this other well-known repellent. Of course, we ourselves sometimes have a hard time enduring the strong smell of vinegar, so we can imagine that it must be a real torture for these little bugs. So, take advantage of this to prepare a well-measured mixture. Here is the procedure to follow.
How to do it?
- Mix three parts white vinegar and one part water.
- Then pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray generously under doors, on the patio, or even around your bed.
This acidic liquid will help trap them and deter them from hanging around. Oh yes, don’t forget to use it when you’re cleaning: by pouring a little vinegar into the bucket, you’ll not only make your floor shine, but you’re also guaranteed to keep these unwanted people away.
Corn flour and boric acid.
To combat a possible ant invasion, this remedy is practical.
How to do it?
- Mix corn flour (9 tablespoons) and boric acid (1 tablespoon) with a generous portion of soybean or peanut oil.
- By carefully merging them together, you will obtain a paste. The latter is harmful to ants if they get too close.
- Also, to deter them, place some pieces near holes and cracks, where you notice their trail.
Caution
Boric acid should be kept out of the reach of children and pets.
Baking soda
This is one of the ultimate home remedies that puts an end to the scourge of ants! If you already benefit from its amazing versatility in various areas, especially at home, you will now be happy to know that this white powder will eradicate ants. To use it wisely, you must follow these steps.
How to do it?
- Find the path that ants usually follow and, if possible, their anthill.
- From there, sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda on those high-traffic areas.
- After a while, you will notice that they have literally left the place. Once they are gone, you can clean up the baking soda residue.
Borax
The last reliable remedy, but handle it with caution. It is borax, a mineral often used in many cleaning products. Since it is deadly to ants, it is best used only as a last resort.
How to do it?
- You can make a paste with borax, powdered sugar and water.
- Add this mixture to shallow containers with small openings (even the size of an ant);
- And finally, place them near the anthills.
For your information
Although borax has a low toxicity rate, these traps should be kept away from children and pets. Better to warn…
Vinegar
The strong, penetrating smell of vinegar will quickly deter ant colonies.
How to do it?
- You simply need to fill a spray bottle with water and any type of vinegar (white or apple cider).
- Spray it on plants to repel ants.
- Rest assured, it won’t harm your plants – some even like its acidity!
coffee grounds
Instead of throwing away coffee grounds, recycle them and turn them into a natural ant repellent. As an added benefit, they make excellent fertilizer for plants.
How to do it?
- Pour it on the ground (the areas where ants pass through) and its smell will do the rest. All harmful insects will be quickly evicted!
- You can also make a preparation using water and coffee grounds. Pour 5 tablespoons of coffee grounds into a litre of water. You can then water the garden with this preparation.
