There are several natural ways to get rid of ants. And luckily, most of what you’ll need will be in your kitchen or available for purchase at grocery stores.
1. Essential Oils
Essential oils are concentrated liquids extracted from plants. When used to get rid of ants, they have little to no negative effects on humans. Still, you should keep children and pets away from them.
There are various oils that can be used as natural ant repellants, such as:
Follow one of these two methods:
First Method
Mix 10 drops with about 2 cups of water
Put the mixture in a spray bottle
Spray surfaces where you’ve seen an ant or more
Second Method
Saturate it without dilution with one of the essential oils
Leave it in corners or where you’ve spotted ants
Replace it on a weekly basis
2. White Vinegar
The smell of vinegar is very disturbing to ants. Also, it eliminates the smell they leave behind for other ants to follow.
Mix two equal quantities of vinegar and water
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle
Add 10 drops of any of the essential oils above
Shake well and spray it daily on ants and surfaces
This will kill ants within only a few hours.
3. Cornstarch
Cornstarch isn’t toxic, but it can be used as a trap to get rid of ants without using insecticides.
Bring a cup of cornstarch
Pour it close to the ant colony
Wait 12 to 24 hours for ants to come out trying to carry the starch to their nest
When there’s a large number of ants, spray little water on the starch
It should look like cement (not liquid)
Give it enough time to dry up and kill the trapped ants
One disadvantage that comes with using this technique is that it takes a long time. Another is having to clean up the messy spots of dry starch.
4. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds work as natural ant repellents. After drinking coffee, take the freshly-brewed grounds and put them on a plastic sheet near the areas where ants typically dwell.
Note, however, that once the coffee grounds dry up, the repelling effect is lost.
5. Black Pepper
Ground black pepper can kill ants within an hour and it’s suitable for outdoor use.
Just mix half a cup of water with two teaspoons of ground black pepper in a spray bottle. Shake well, and spray the area infested with ants.
Avoid inhaling the mixture and keep it away from children and pets.
6. Garlic and Cayenne
A mixture of both is effective if your garden is swarming with ants.
Blend a cup of water, five garlic bulbs, and two teaspoons of cayenne pepper, then pour it into a spray bottle.
Next, spray affected areas as well as into anthills. Ants will never come back.
7. Silicon Dioxide
Silicon dioxide is a natural substance that can be found in sand and can be manufactured. You can buy it online at reasonable prices.
Sprinkle some silicon dioxide powder and it will kill ants by dehydrating their skeletons. Be sure not to inhale it or expose your skin to it to avoid irritation.
8. Boric Acid
Although boric acid can be found in nature, it’s quite poisonous. It can be used as an insecticide because it damages the ant’s nervous system and skeletons.
Sprinkle its powder over ants, or mix it with honey and stick the mix in corners as a trap.
Avoid using it in gardens as it may kill plants as well.
9. Lemon Juice
This is an excellent ant repellent with an extra advantage; it smells good.
If you regularly spray it in your kitchen or garden, you will get rid of ants in no time as ants can’t stand its acidity.
It’s recommended to squeeze fresh lemons because concentrated lemon juice products at most supermarkets may contain sugar, which will make your ant problem worse.
10. Boiling Water
This works best if you’ve noticed anthills in the ground near your house.
Simply boil some water and wait for a few minutes to lose some of its heat. Next, pour the water into a bottle and add some salt to it, as advised by many home experts.
Now, all you have to do is simply pour it into anthills to get rid of ants.