One of the most prolific pests, ants are seen my some as a nuisance and annoyance, but by others as a beneficial pest to gardens and plants. But if you've seen ants trailing across your kitchen countertop, then you probably want to find an easy—and safe—way to rid your home of the little critters. Here are some ways to keep ants away naturally, without using chemicals, pesticides, or insecticides harmful to your family and pets:
- Spray them with plain Windex, Formula 409, or Simple Green. Not only will you kill the ants, you'll have a clean house!
- Mix a solution of one part liquid dish soap with 3 parts water and spray anywhere you see ants.
- Combine peanut butter or bacon grease, or sugar with Borax, and place the mixture into a small plastic container—the kind you get at the deli counter. Place the lid on the container and poke holes into it. Clearly mark the container "Ant Killer" and place it behind appliances. Keep children and pets away from the containers.
- Smear a thin layer of peanut butter or honey onto a small strip of aluminum foil, and then dust it with Borax and place it behind light switch plates to catch and kill ants in your walls.
- Cut several garlic cloves in half and place them on windowsills and near doorways to keep ants away. Ants hate garlic.
- Sprinkle windowsills, door thresholds, and garbage cans with cayenne pepper, black pepper, lemon juice, cinnamon, or crushed red pepper. Ants hate those spices and will not come near them.
- Dab a cotton ball with peppermint or spearmint flavoring oil, and apply it to baseboards, kitchen and bathroom backsplashes, windowsills, and anywhere you see ant activity. Since ants hate mints, they will not cross that line of oil.
Keep all food in airtight containers, and clean up food after eating. Don't leave dirty dishes in your kitchen sink. Rinse the food particles away. Sanitize kitchen countertops with ammonia or a spray cleaner. Use general good sanitation within your entire home, making it less hospitable for ants to feel welcome.
Author Bio
April Reinhardt
An administrator for a mutual fund management firm, April deals with the written word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attended Morehead State University to pursue a BA degree in Elementary Education. Learn more about April...
How to Pack a Truck
Before you rent a moving truck, take a complete inventory of your home. When you decide the size of truck you need, rent ...
Discover More
Cleaning Canvas Awnings
Canvas awnings provide protection and shade and will last years if you take the time to clean them. Never use a pressure ...
Discover More
Cleaning a Wedding Dress
Second to buying a home, purchasing a wedding dress is often times the most expensive investment newlyweds make. Most ...
Discover More
Use Acid and Poison to Make Homemade Ant Bait
Why spend a lot of money on bug sprays and baits that are not effective, when you can make homemade ant bait at home for ...
Discover More
Stop Ants from Getting into Your Home
If you want to avoid the nuisance of ants inside your home, then find a way to keep them outside. Seal their entrances ...
Discover More
Recognizing Carpenter Ants
How do you know if your have a carpenter ant infestation? The next time that you see ants foraging about your home, check ...
Discover More
Comments