As we near the end of spring and starting to see the first signs of Summer, the warmer weather means different insects start looking for food – and they don’t know that your house is off-limits!  

Whilst pest control services are helpful, they can also be expensive!  And they also tend to use harsh chemicals to do the job – which you might not want.

How To Prevent Ants From Getting In Your Home

The first step in managing ant issues is to prevent them from getting in your home. Ants have a very strong sense of smell and love sugary things, so don’t leave food unprotected on the counter or in the cupboards because they will find it very easily. Even an opened, empty can of soda will attract ants because of the sugar left on the rim, so take the time to rinse containers that have been in contact with food before you put them in the trash or in the recycling bin.

How To Get Rid Of Ants

Sometimes ants find a way to your food even if you keep your home clean and your food tucked away. Luckily, there are  some natural homemade tricks you can try to keep ants at bay!

I’ve tried these myself and can attest to the fact they do work!  My wife and I spend a great deal of time up in the foothills of the mountains in Cyprus, where it is quite wild and recently we had these little visitors – and they were quite persistent until we used the following!

1. Cinnamon

Ants will avoid places that are scented with cinnamon.

What you’ll need

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon essential oil
• 1 cup water
• Cotton balls or cloth
• Cinnamon sticks (optional)

What to do

1. Mix cinnamon essential oil with water
2. Soak a cotton ball or a cloth in the mixture
3. Wipe your counters and other areas where you spot ants
4. Repeat once a day until the ants disappear
5. You can also leave cinnamon sticks near doors and windows (I’ve also used cinnamon powder when I didn’t have the sticks… messy, but you can just apply it overnight and clean it up in the morning).

2. Vinegar

Vinegar is another natural ingredient whose smell repels ants.

What you’ll need

• Distilled vinegar
• Water
• Lemon essential oil
• Spray bottle

What to do

1. Mix equal parts of distilled vinegar and water in a spray bottle
2. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil
3. Shake well before each use
4. Spray around baseboards and places where you see ants
5. Repeat daily until ants are gone

3. Borax

This is not to repel but to attract ants so that they’ll want to take the food back to their nest and share it. The borax that hides in the food will ultimately kill all of them.

I recommend this only as a last resort.  Why kill nature unless it’s a persistent problem.  Try the first two methods for a few days first.

What you’ll need

• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon borax
• 1 teaspoon water
• Plastic container with lid
• Sharp object to poke holes

What to do

1. Mix all ingredients in the container
2. Seal with lid and poke a few holes through the lid and the sides of the container so only ants can get in and out