If you let ants into the house, they can be difficult to get rid of; they’re a nuisance and unsanitary. Ants are attracted to food; once they smell food in your house, they will find a way to get in. You have to maintain clean hygiene in the dining areas to ensure no spills or crumbs.
Using a combination of strategies can take care of the ants in your home. This involves using natural repellents, keeping your living space tidy, and destroying their nests if they have already settled in your house. We shall go into more detail on how to get rid of ants in your house.
What Attracts Ants To Your House?
Understand how they get into your house first before applying any solution to get rid of them. This will help you prevent them from getting into your home after you clear them. Let’s see the culprits that drive ants into your house.
Food
You’ll always find ants around food items in the house; whether it’s leftover food, crumbs, or scraps, they’ll always be seen around such types of food. However, they’re more attracted to sweets than other food items. When you drop sweet residues like honey, sticky jam, or discarded lollipops, you will suddenly see the appearance of ants in that area. A massive infestation of ants will appear in the area if a single ant finds a source of sweetness.
Shelter
When ants find a warm and cozy home, they’re more likely to settle there, provided food is available to them. They can create a shelter in any place they find comfortable. They don’t necessarily need to create a nest like rodents. With access points like caulk or a crack inside the weather stripping, they will come inside.
Moisture
Not only food, ants also need water to survive. If there is moisture in the environment, ants can be seen around. Watch out for accumulated condensation, potted plants, broken pipes, and water bowls for pets. They can attract nearby ants.
Using Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Ants
Using home remedies is a quick way to get rid of ants because you already have the items and ingredients at home. Let’s take a look at some of the effective home remedies you can use to chase ants out of your home.
Chalk
The main content of chalk is Calcium Carbonate which is an excellent compound for keeping ants away. All you have to do is grind chalk and spread the powder around their entry into your home. Chalk is so effective that even drawing a line will prevent their entry into the house. Make sure the areas you spread the chalk are out of reach for children because some can easily consume it and cause health problems.
Pepper
This is the next home remedy you can use to chase ants out of your house. Sprinkle pepper powder around their path and exit; in no time, you will see them disappear. You should use either a black or cayenne pepper; ants hate them. The pepper will not kill the ants but will chase them away so they won’t return to the house. After the ants are gone, clean the area to avoid getting in contact with children.
Oranges
Oranges are also good for keeping ants away from your house; you need to create a paste with water and orange peel. Identify the entry points and spread the paste around the area. Orange peels can also be placed instead of creating a paste. When the ants are gone, you should wipe and clean the area. This is a natural repellent that doesn’t come with any side effects. Don’t hesitate to use orange peels around ant infestations in your house.
Lemons
Just like oranges, lemons are also very effective at getting rid of ants in any environment. You can use lemon peels or squeeze the lemon on all entry points in the house. You can always squeeze lemon in water and then wash the floor. They hate the smell of lemon, and they will avoid that area quickly when they sense it. Thanks to the bitter and sour odor, which gives lemon the ability to chase ants away.
White Vinegar
Ants also don’t like the smell of white vinegar, and that’s why it’s used as a natural repellent for ants and other little creatures in the house. If you have white vinegar, you should prepare a solution with water. Then add some drops of essential oil and shake the solution. Locate the ant areas and sprinkle the liquid in these areas to chase the ants away. You have to sprinkle the liquid daily if you want to keep ants away from your home. Vinegar is a repellant; it will not kill the ants on the spot.
Salt
Ordinary table salt can be used to get rid of ants in the house; it’s cheap, and you probably have it in the household. You should spread salt around corners and hooks where ants can be found inside your home. Don’t use other salt types like health-boosting rock salt; just a table salt is enough. Boil some water and add enough quantity of salt to it; you should stir until the salt dissolves completely. Use a spray bottle to spray the solution around their entry points and paths.
Peppermint
The next repellent that’s good at chasing ants away from your house is Peppermint. It has a strong fragrance, and ants will avoid areas where they smell Peppermint. You will need peppermint oil and water solution for this to work; get one cup of water and then add 10 drops of peppermint oil. Sprinkle the liquid around the areas you see ants. Peppermint dried powder can also be used instead of using oil; the dried Peppermint should be spread on all entry points.
Cinnamon and Cloves
Lastly, you can use Cinnamon and Cloves to get rid of ants in your house. These powerful ingredients are very effective repellents that will help you remove ants in your home. Use Cinnamon and Cloves around their entrance, and they will chase the ants away from your home. This is a good DIY solution that will repel ants in any environment. If you want these ingredients to be more effective, you should add a few drops of essential oil to the powder to increase the fragrance.
Conventional Methods For Removing Ants In The House
Ant Spray
There are many spray products out there for ants; they’re designed to kill ants instantly whenever they inhale or get in contact with the spray. Once ants smell these areas, they will die or will move away quickly to avoid getting in contact. This is a fast and effective way of dealing with an ant infestation in the house. If you have a large infestation colony, this should be a quick way to get rid of them in the house. The downside is that they’re toxic; they shouldn’t be used around your kids or pets in the house as they may harm them.
Ant Baits
They’re small covered pods concealed with poison; once the ants consume these small posts, they get killed immediately. You need to use the ant baits on areas trafficked by ants. They’ll happily consume the pods and then die on the spot due to the poison inside. Ant baits are effective at eliminating ants in the house and are affordable. However, make sure they’re out of reach for children and pets.
Ant Traps
Another effective solution for getting rid of ants is using traps; you need to buy them, and once an ant enters, it can’t get out. Many of them will be captured without getting out of the trap; you will catch them in large numbers. Also, some traps come with poison that kills the ants on the spot when they’re caught. This is also an effective and affordable way of getting rid of ants in the house.
How To Dissuade Ants From Getting Into Your House
Some measures can be taken to ensure that ants aren’t attracted to your house. Here are some tips that will help prevent ants from entering your house;
- Clear food spills; Don’t let them stay overnight or wait for days before cleaning food spills in the kitchen or on the floor.
- All sweet items should be kept in airtight containers; Ants are attracted to sweet food items, as mentioned earlier. Ensure items like sugar and crackers are always enclosed in airtight containers inside the house if you don’t want to attract ants.
- Keep ripe fruits inside the refrigerator; fruits like ripe pineapple or bananas shouldn’t be left outside. You have to store them inside the refrigerator before they attract ants.
- The tub and sink should be dried immediately; you should plug the drain with a stopper.
- Inspect under the sink; other appliances should also be checked for leaks so that you can tackle moisture problems right away.
- If you notice ants in the pantry, you should add condiment jars into gallon plastic bags.
- Pet bowls should be left wet; clean and wipe them dry after use.
- Clean the toaster and toaster oven; After every use, you must empty and wipe them.
- Always check indoor potted plants; this will allow you to notice insect activities quickly.
- Outdoor trash cans should be away from your house and placed a minimum of 10 feet away from the house. Also, make sure to wash them with Ammonia once a month.
- Add Cayenne pepper or cinnamon to your garden; If you notice ants in the garden, you should sprinkle cinnamon or pepper to deter them before they find their way into your home.
FAQs
How Can I Get Rid Of Ants Permanently At Home?
Use special formulas designed for ants, they’re mostly sprays and powder, and they can come in liquid form. If you have a large infestation in your surroundings, you should use spray specifically for ants, and you will get rid of the ants immediately. You can use Borax or diatomaceous earth to get rid of them; peppermint, clove, and essential oils are natural repellents that chase ants away. Lastly, you must clean your home to ensure no food and moisture if you want to eliminate ants in your house permanently.
What Do Ants Hate The Most?
They hate natural repellents like lemons, oranges, peppermint, Vinegar, grapefruit peels, and chalk. You should scatter these items in areas you notice ants roaming.
How Do I Kill Ants Instantly With Home Remedies?
The best remedies you can use are Baking Soda and sugar; mix these two ingredients together in equal parts and spread them on the entry points and other areas they’re present. They’ll die instantly by consuming this mixture. Vinegar is also another remedy that kills ants instantly in the house.
How Do I Prevent Ants From Crossing My House?
Use chalk and draw a line; ants can’t cross chalk lines because it is a strong repellent. Draw the chalk line around the exterior doors, tables, porch or patio when dining outdoors to prevent ants from entering nearby areas.
What Type Of Powder Can Kill Ants?
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is your best option because it’s effective and affordable. Not only that, but it’s also non-toxic, making it safe to use in the house with kids, pets, and pets. The powder can destroy ants, beetles, slugs, bed bugs, cockroaches, fleas, ticks and earwigs. The powder sticks to their feet as they walk across and then get into their body and kill them.
How Do I Find Where The Ants Are Coming From?
You can trace their source by using a flashlight to check various locations in the house. Check sinks, dishwashers, microwaves, stoves, under refrigerators, and cabinets. Also, check behind wallpaper, around floor drains, around walls, and in cracks and crevices in your cabinets. You have to check every location you have a hint; check areas where you have sweet food items. Also, monitor their movement to see if you can trace the main source they’re coming from. Places with moisture should also be checked because they like to create colonies in moist areas.