7 Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally | Natural Home Remedies & Supplements

Table of Contents

Ants are crucial to our environment in several ways, but when they become pests and invade our home seeking shelter, food or both then you need to get rid of them. Many of us reach for intense chemicals to eliminate them. However, this is potentially harmful to everyone. So, why not use natural methods to keep your house ant-free? Although all ants appear the same, there are several types like fire ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants and carpenter ants. It is helpful to know the type of ant you are dealing with while handling an infestation. Mentioned below are few effective methods to eliminate ants.

Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally:

1. Vinegar:

Ants perceive smell with the help of their antennae. When a forager ant locates food, a trail is marked that leads to the colony. This trail is followed by other ants to reach the food source. By using vinegar, you disrupt their scent trails, which makes it hard for the ants to creep back. Mix together 1 part of water with a part of white vinegar and spray this mixture along the paths and also wipe the surfaces or counters with this mixture.

2. Essential Oils:

Ants do not like strong smell, as it is a hindrance to their communication and scent trails. Usually eucalyptus or peppermint oil does the trick, but you can try blending different oils to know what works the best. Mix peppermint essential oil (20 drops) in fresh water. Spray this mixture liberally at the entrances of your house. Repeat the spraying whenever necessary.

3. Lemon:

You do not need store bought insecticides to make your kitchen ant-proof. All you need is lemon juice. Mix lemon juice and water. Spray this mixture in areas where there are lot of ants. You need to spray consistently every day to get rid of them. Besides lemon other citrus peels like oranges, grapefruits etc., which contain D-limonene is also effective in killing ants.

4. Talcum Powder:

Talcum powder is an effective organic repellent. Just sprinkle some talcum powder around the house and other known points of entry like windows and doors. The other effective repellents include powdered sulphur, borax, oil of cloves and cream of tartar.

5. Diatomaceous Earth:

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is quite effective to get rid of ants as well as other crawling pests. It is a fine powder that is made using the remains of fossilized diatoms, which are a type of algae. Make sure to use only food grade diatomaceous earth. DE damages the waxy coat of the ants and hence they become dehydrated and are killed. Sprinkle DE along the window sills and doorways.

6. Baking Soda:

Mix equal parts of powdered sugar and baking soda. Place this mixture in a place where you feel ants are getting in. The sugar will attract them. As ants cannot distinguish between baking soda and sugar, they carry both to their nest. The acidic substance present in the ant’s body reacts with the baking soda, when they consume it, which can be fatal.

7. Soap Spray:

Soap kills ants and can eliminate them effectively. You can use any liquid dish detergent to make this soapy spray. If you want eco-friendly soap spray then you can consider using an organic, biodegradable dish detergent. Mix a tbsp. of liquid dish detergent into a pint of water. Spray this mixture directly on the ants. Soap strips the protective coating of ants thereby causing water loss and they die due to dehydration.