There's nothing worse than walking into a kitchen only to discover the counter top is covered in hundreds of tiny ants. With these small insects having the ability to travel virtually anywhere in the home, this problem can quickly spread and leave individuals unsure what to do.
While chemical sprays can easily be found, they aren't the only solutions. You don't need to introduce harmful chemicals into your home just for the sake of getting rid of some ants. The natural remedies listed can help households take control of this problem and get rid of ants for good.
Chalk. Chalk is a common household item that most families have, whether for educational purposes or games. It's an excellent deterrent for ants, in particular, because they avoid walking through any type of powdery substance. Doing so interferes with their natural ability to follow scent trails from other ants, which can make it difficult for them to navigate a new landscape. To use this, individuals can simply draw a line of chalk in front of any door, window, or other entrance within their home. For those with a lot of ground to cover, they can crush few chalk sticks and sprinkle the powder around different areas.
Talcum powder. Luckily, talcum powder is a substance that most people have in their homes in cosmetics or toiletry items. Fortunately, because of its powdery consistency, it's a great tool for keeping ants out of different areas of the home. It's recommended for individuals to first identify the areas where ants are coming in so they know where to place the powder. From here, the talcum powder can be sprinkled in generous amounts so ants will not be able to crawl through the surface. Those that are able to climb the powdery mountain won't go far, as they will lose their scent trail and eventually die.
Cayenne pepper. While an excellent spice to use in cooking, cayenne pepper can also help get rid of ants because it's a strong irritant to these small insects. To use this, individuals should first find the areas where ants are entering and exiting around their home. In most cases, this will be the kitchen where ants look for crumbs to bring back to their colonies. From here, the pepper can be sprinkled along those areas to create a barrier for these tiny nuisances. To further prevent infestations, individuals can also sprinkle cayenne pepper into ant colonies that exist around the outside of the home.
Vinegar. Vinegar has hundreds of uses within homes, including both cooking and cleaning. However, it's also an excellent solution for ants because they dislike the pungent smell it naturally leaves behind. To use this, individuals should first find an empty spray bottle and fill it up halfway with water. Vinegar should then be added in until the bottle is filled to the top. After gently shaking to combine, this solution can be used to spray on floors, window sills or any other areas around the home where ants are entering. It can even be sprayed into colonies to prevent ants from leaving their nest.
Lemons. In addition to being affordable and excellent for cooking, lemons are great for helping to disrupt the scent trails that ants leave behind for their colonies. To use this fruit, individuals can simply cut a lemon in half and rub the raw side on the floor where ants are coming into the home. Alternatively, they can spray concentrated lemon juice in the same areas. The strong citrus scent will prevent ants from following scent trails, which will cause them to get lost and eventually die. Those who want to add even more scent can also sprinkle lemon peels around all entry points of their house.