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Ants in your home may be a reason for big nuisance. It can be frustrating to see ants wandering around. Remember, ants can be the reason for damage. It is unhygienic to have ants in your home. Some ants, such as Harvester and Fire, can bite humans. Moreover, carpenter ants are famous for damaging building materials. For this reason, it is necessary to get rid of ants in the kitchen.
Ants in your home can contaminate your food. They can transfer bacteria in your food. Fortunately, it is possible to get rid of ants with the help of some home remedies. Here are some fantastic options:
14 Tips to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen
Chalk
Chalk is a simple home remedy to prevent ants in your kitchen. It has calcium carbonate to keep ants away. Spray some chalk powder in different areas of your home, especially entry points of ants. Furthermore, draw a line with chalk at the entrance. No doubt, there is no scientific evidence for this line, but it can undoubtedly stop ants and bugs from entering your house.
Silicon Dioxide (Diatomaceous Earth)
Diatomaceous earth is a silica type, and it contains fossilized remains of sufficient organisms known as diatoms. It is not a poison but can kill bugs and ants by absorbing oil of their skeletons. Remember, it is an irritant; therefore, do not breathe in silicon dioxide. Please keep it away from your skin. Make sure to buy food-grade silicon dioxide to kill ants.
Oranges to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen
Oranges can keep ants away from your kitchen and home. Prepare a paste of some organ peels and a cup of warm water. This paste is useful to get rid of ants. Make sure to spread this mixture around different entry points of ants.
You can put orange peels on your kitchen slabs. It can act as a natural deterrent for ants. To keep ants away from your kitchen, you can bring some orange rinds in your home.
Lemons
Put lemon peels at the entry points of ants or squeeze one lemon. You can wash floors with water that has some lemon juice. Ants do not like the smell of lime juice; therefore, they will stay away. Moreover, you can use something bitter and sour to keep ants away.
Remember, ants like sugar; therefore, keep sweet things away. Even a small sweet item can attract ants. Keep your kitchen clean and put the peels of lemon at different points.
Liquid Detergent and Glass Cleaner
Combine a spray-on glass cleaner and dish soap or liquid detergent to deter ants from your kitchen. This mixture can remove a scented pheromone trail to deter ants. Remember, ants create this trail to alert nearby ants about food sources or death trap.
Prepare a mixture and spray it on different areas where ants can congregate. After spraying, wipe down a place to leave some residue.
Pepper
Ants hate pepper; therefore, you can sprinkle pepper at different areas, such as entry points of ants. It can keep ants away from your kitchen. Black pepper or cayenne pepper is useful to keep ants away.
Prepare a solution of water and pepper and spray this mixture to different entrant areas. The pepper may not kill ants, but keep them away from your home. Clean an area before spraying a pepper solution.
Salt
Spread salt near corners and nooks from where ants enter your home. It will keep them away from your kitchen. Remember, table salt is cheap and the best way to avoid ants naturally. Use ordinary salt instead of health-boosting rock salt.
For the best results, boil water and add salt to it. Stir it to dissolve completely and pour in one spray bottle. Spray this mixture at different areas to keep ants away.
Hand Soap
Use of hand soap can be sufficient to get rid of ants in the kitchen. Spray soapy water to remove the scent of ant pheromones. You can use this mixture on entry points or ant trails in your home. Ants cannot communicate without a pheromone trail.
Peppermint
Peppermint has natural qualities to repel insects. It is an adequate remedy to repel ants and several other bugs. Mix almost 10 – 20 drops of peppermint oil in two cups of water. Spray this blend around the windows and baseboards of your house.
Keep peppermint away from cats and other pets. They can become seriously ill with the exposure of essential oil. Remember, peppermint essential oil is available at grocery stores.
White Vinegar
Ants hate the white vinegar smell; therefore, you can use a solution of water and vinegar. Prepare a mixture of equal amounts of white vinegar and water. Add some drops of essential oils to water and mix it well. You can store this mixture and sprinkle at different corners and entry points of ants.
Spray this mixture twice a day to keep ants away. This solution will not kill ants but keep these small bugs away from your kitchen and home. You can spray it around the doorways, windowsills and several other places.
Clove and Cinnamon
Put cloves and cinnamon on the doorway of your house and the places from where ants can enter your home. In this way, you can spread an earthy aroma around your home. Cinnamon is a useful option to control ants.
Remember, cinnamon is a natural repellent for ants. It can keep ants away with its pungent smell. For significant results, mix cinnamon powder with essential oil to bust a strong smell for ants.
Cornstarch
To deal with large colonies of ant, use cornstarch and smother them. You can pour cornstarch on different ant groups and add some water on it. You may find it messy, but it will kill several ants.
Moreover, cover the ants with cornstarch and vacuum them up if they do not want to use water. It is essential to dispose of the sealed vacuum bag immediately outdoors.
Neem Oil
This oil is useful to repel ants. Neem oil is obtained from the neem tree. It is helpful to restrict ants from entering your home. Diluted neem products may not offer maximum strength of neem. Fortunately, neem oil is available at food stores.
Boric Acid
It is a poison to kill ants within three weeks. Boric acid can erode the stomachs and outer shells of ants. Make sure to keep it away from children and pets. You have to wear gloves before using boric acid.
For the best results, prepare a solution of warm water (1 cup), sugar (8 teaspoons), and boric acid (1/2 teaspoon). Stir well to dissolve boric acid and sugar thoroughly. Saturate some cotton balls and put around different corners of your house to kill ants.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, ants are annoying and dangerous around your home. You can use different natural products to kill ants in your surroundings and kitchen. Fortunately, various home remedies will help you to get rid of ants in the kitchen.
Bait traps are available with pesticides to enclose ants. These baits have boric acid or other chemical compounds. You should keep them away from your children. Moreover, wear gloves and mask before using these products.
