A line of ants marching in and out of your house is a common but unwelcome one. It usually means they’ve found a source of food they’re attracted to and work diligently to carry it back to their HQ. But if you’re tired of seeing ants all over your tables, chairs, or floors, then here are some suggestions on how to get rid of ants indoors to keep your home pest-free.
7 simple and natural ways on how to get rid of ants indoors
1. Vinegar
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For how to get rid of ants indoors, you need to disturb any scent trails they can follow. Ants have a keen sense of smell. And vinegar does a wonderful job at not only removing tough stains but removing food scents.
If you’re using vinegar as a cleaning solution, make sure not to mix with certain products. Otherwise, you risk making a harmful chemical combination!
2. Lemon peels
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Lemons are very diverse in their household uses. The juice is effective at removing sweat stains from your collar, in addition to other tough stains from your clothes.
And the skin can be used to keep ants away from your home. A chemical toxic to ants called d-limonene is found in the hard exterior. To utilise the power of this ant-repellent and for how to get rid of ants indoor, make a solution to spray around the house.
Heat a pot with vinegar covering the peels. Once it’s bubbling, let the mixture sit overnight. Strain the liquid and put it in a bottle spray. Spray where you commonly see the critters crawl to be ant-free for a while.
3. Chalk
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Chalk is a surprisingly effective way on how to get rid of ants indoors. It’s not fully clear why it works, but it may be because of the calcium carbonate. It also might just be because the chalk disturbs scent trails.
But either way, it’s a simple method to deter ants from your home. Draw a line across their entry path you notice they use. You can even say in your best Gandalf impression “you shall not pass!”
4. Borax
One of the more lethal methods for how to get rid of ants indoors involves this interesting household item that is deadly for ants to consume. Mix equal parts sugar and Borax and sprinkle where ants commonly go. They won’t be able to distinguish between the Borax and sugar and will die after ingesting it.
5. Essential oils
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Great for ambience, essentials oils are also an effective ant deterrent because of their strong smells. In particular, essential oils of cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves or garlic work well for this purpose. For how to get rid of ants indoors, apply a few drops onto a cotton ball and rub on surfaces you see ants venture.
Clove is effective because it has eugenol but has a very strong scent. If you’re combining with other oils, only add a few drops.
6. Coffee grounds
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Put those remaining coffee grounds to use after enjoying your morning pick-me-up! The scent repels insects and cats (for some reason!)
Coffee grounds are a great fertiliser because they’re full of minerals. So how to get rid of ants indoors by drinking coffee? Spread the grounds around the outside of your house and in your garden. They will steer clear of your house for a while!
7. Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth
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Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a talc-like power used as a swimming pool filter. The swimming pool grade of DE is highly toxic. However, the food-grade variety of DE is non-toxic and is an effective way of keeping the door closed on ants from entering.
Sprinkle the powder in problem areas you commonly notice they walk.
Try any combination of these tips to prevent the ants from marching into your home to get out of the rain!