Want to get rid of ants once and for all?
Ants might seem like insignificant little insects, but as soon as they enter your home, they will start marching around and transform your kitchen into your highway. At best, they will be just a nuisance, but at their worst, they can pose a health hazard.
Statistics show us that ant infestations are more common than you might think. Annually, nearly one-third of homeowners in the US battle ant infestations, and any home, including yours, is at risk.
Hopefully, it is not that difficult to get rid of ants, and you don’t even have to use harsh or expensive chemicals. You can reclaim your space by using the day-to-day items all of us have in our homes, and it is all natural!
Prepare yourself for an ant-free home and use these useful and easily accessible methods.
1. Fresh coffee grounds
You’ve probably heard of this trick before, but we have to mention it because it is incredibly effective. Yes, fresh coffee grounds will help you get rid of ants, and the best part is that you surely have some left every morning to make coffee.
But how is this working? Do ants just hate coffee? Well, these insects have an impressive sense of smell, and the aroma of fresh coffee grounds is powerful, so it will feel overwhelming for them.
Another thing would be that the structure of coffee grounds is abrasive, and this will disrupt their pheromone trails. This means it will be harder for them to communicate, so they will most probably back up.
What we want you to remember is that this is a temporary solution. Firstly, the efficiency of coffee grounds against ants will get weaker as the grounds dry up and their aroma fades. For a more long-term fix, you will need to pair this with another method.
2. Borax
Ok, this is a permanent solution that will help you get rid of ants for good. In case you have an ant infestation, go to the laundry aisle immediately and grab some borax. Maybe its name sounds synthetic, but this is not a chemical; it is a naturally occurring mineral, and it is usually found in laundry boosters.
Borax works so well at fighting ants because it has a sneakier mechanism: it attacks the ant’s digestive system. So, you will want to create a tempting bait that will attract the ants and make them eat the borax.
It is important to understand what type of ant is invading your home. If you have to deal with sugar-loving ants like pavement ants or odorous house ants, the best strategy is to lace the borax with some sugar. On the other hand, if your invaders are protein-seeking ants, like carpenter ants, instead of sugar, use peanut butter.
What makes borax unique is its delayed effect. Ants that have consumed this substance will be fine initially and will carry the traces back to the nest in this way, unknowingly poisoning other ants. This will disrupt the whole colony, and in the end, the number of ants will decline until there are no more left.
3. Do a little bit of landscaping
Ants are amazing for the environment, and they have an important role in nature, but one thing is clear: we don’t want them in our homes. Surprising or not, your landscaping choices can help you protect yourself from an ant infestation, and we will explain how this works.
Your garden and the plants you have around your house are your first line of defense. You have to adapt them so they are not helping ants reach your home. These insects will use anything as a bridge and will immediately trespass inside.
Trim back any bushes, flowers, or vines clinging to your house walls. Try to create a perimeter that has no vegetation of about 18 inches. This will be all around your house. It will discourage ants, and they will probably never try to enter your home because it will be kind of inaccessible to them.
Also, don’t ignore the branches of the trees. You should also take care of them and don’t let them touch your windows. Keep the landscape neat and tidy, and it should be alright. This is more of a preventive measure, but it means you will never have to get rid of ants if there are no ants around.
4. Orange peels
Ok, if you have to get rid of ants and you are eating oranges right now, please don’t throw the peels away because you can use them later. They can be used as a powerful weapon against the little invaders because they have a secret ingredient that ants hate: limonene, a natural oil!
Ants have a complex communication system they use when searching for food, and limonene disrupts it. The strong citrus smell is messing up the pheromones and making them confused, and they will probably abandon their quest quite fast.
The same as in the case of coffee grounds, this is not a permanent solution, but it can be helpful if you want to keep ants away from a specific area of your house until you use a permanent solution.
So, if you want to get rid of ants, citrus peels are a great first defense line, and their beautiful aroma might be amazing for you, but ants will definitely hate it and walk away.
5. Use some chalk
This is a fun way to get rid of ants, but unfortunately, it is just a temporary strategy. What is important is that it is effective, and if you ever feel threatened by an army of ants, take any type of sidewalk chalk—bonus points if you choose a colorful one—and draw a line in the area ants use to enter your home. Another thing you can do is sprinkle crushed chalk powder directly on their trails.
But hold up, because there is some science behind the silliness. In the same way that other things on this list are good at disrupting pheromone communication between the ants, the calcium carbonate in chalk does exactly the same and manages to leave the insects disoriented and confused.
This is a great and playful distraction, but as soon as the chalk is gone, the ants will be able to find their way back into your home.
6. Seal the entry points
Ok, maybe one on your kitchen countertop is not a big deal, right? But keep in mind that one ant today might mean an army of ants next week, so you have to prepare. One of the best ways to get rid of ants is to deny them access in the first place.
Try to find out where the ants are entering. Begin by inspecting the windows and doors for any tears and gaps. Any tiny hole is the perfect entrance for these insects, and you will want to fix it right away.
Next, try to look around your house for any cracks in the foundation and along the tile grout lines. If you find any, you will need to seal them up with a caulk gun. It might be an investment, but we say it is worth it in the long run.
Sealing these entry points is essential, and if the ants don’t have a way of entering your home, you will be safe. They are looking for food, and if you stop them from finding it, they will not bother you.
If you have decided that borax is the way to go, then this one from Amazon might be a good choice: Borax 20 Mule Team Laundry Booster, Powder
Ready to get rid of ants?
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