How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally (2024)

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Do you have ant problem at your house? Skip the chemicals and try these ways to get rid of ants naturally. They work great to get rid of ants and some will make your house smell fantastic.

It's that time of year. The weather is warm, the windows are open letting in a breeze, and the ants are joining us once again.

It seems it happens the same way every year. I see one of those little guys and think it's annoying.

Then I turn around there are 10 or 20 ants. Although I will use bug spray on the outside of our house, I really don't like to use it inside.

Especially in our kitchen where we seem to get them the most.

I am always looking for a natural (and inexpensive!) way to get rid of ants. Over the years, I have tried quite a few different methods, and these are a few of my favorites.

So if you have those little buggers all over your house check out these great ways to get rid of ants naturally.

How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally

There are a variety of different ways to get rid of ants naturally.

Some smell great and others are a little stinky. Some of the things you may need to get rid of the ants are:

  • garlic (minced)
  • peppermint oil (I love this brand)
  • vinegar
  • cinnamon (ground from the spice section)
  • cornmeal
How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally (2)

How To Get Rid Of Ants With Garlic

Garlic is one of the best ways to get rid of ants naturally. I have used it multiple times with success. The downside to garlic is it smells.

So, on a hot day, you will be smelling that garlic all day long.

Just set out a small bowl with some minced garlic and the ants disappear.

After a couple of days, you can throw the garlic out and the ants should be gone.

How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally (3)

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Cornmeal To Kill Ants

Cornmeal is a very inexpensive way to kill off ants. Just lay out a small hill of cornmeal and they will take it back to their home.

The ants can't digest the cornmeal and they will all die.

This is a good one to use if you have small children or pets and don't want them getting into garlic or peppermint oil.

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Get Rid Of Ants Naturally With Vinegar

Toget rid of ants naturally with vinegar just mix up a spray bottle of 50 percent water and 50 percent vinegar.

Spray all the ants and then wipe them up. You can keep them from coming back by spraying down the windowsills and doors where you see them coming in.

It's easy and quick to do, plus you don't have a mess.

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Peppermint Oil To Keep Ants Away

Peppermint oil is a great smelling way to get rid of ants. Just put a couple of drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball and place by where the ants are.

The ants will retreat to where they came from and you will have a kitchen that smells wonderful.

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Cinnamon To Get Rid Of Ants

Much like the peppermint, cinnamon is a better smelling option to keep the ants away.

Just pick up some cheap ground cinnamon and sprinkle in the areas that you have seen the ants.

The ants will quickly leave and not come back. It's easy and smells great! It's one of my favorite ways toget rid of ants naturally.

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Keep Countertops Cleaned From Crumbs

Another good way of getting rid of the ants is to keep your kitchen clean of any crumbs and dirty dishes.

I am not surprisedthat our ants came while our dishwasher was broken. I wasn't staying on top of washing each dish when we finished with it and attracted some ants with our leftovers.

By making sure that all the crumbs and food are gone you will leave them looking somewhere else.

NOTE: If you have children or small pets you will still need to be careful where you use these methods.

My ants are usually on the kitchen counter, so I don't have to worry about putting garlic out for the ants. When I have ants on the floor I use the vinegar method so the dogs don't get into any food.

Next time you see some ants, don't grab the ant spray. Try these easy and frugal ways to get rid of ants naturally.

Want some more easy cleaning tips?

  • How to get rid of spiders naturally
  • Free Weekly Cleaning Schedule Printable
  • How To Keep Mosquitos Away

How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally (8)
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How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally (2024)

FAQs

How To Get Rid Of Ants Naturally? ›

Cayenne or Black Pepper

Like many people, ants find the smell of raw pepper to be irritating. Sprinkle pepper around the areas where ants access the house. Or, according to a Texas A&M study, for a more permanent fix, create a water and pepper solution and spray it directly onto the ants.

What is the fastest way to get rid of ants naturally? ›

6 Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Ants
  1. Mint. Plant mint around perimeter of your home to repel insects. ...
  2. Vinegar. Mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. ...
  3. Lemon Juice. ...
  4. Cinnamon. ...
  5. Cayenne Pepper or Black Pepper. ...
  6. Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth.
Feb 20, 2017

What keeps ants away permanently? ›

Cayenne or Black Pepper

Like many people, ants find the smell of raw pepper to be irritating. Sprinkle pepper around the areas where ants access the house. Or, according to a Texas A&M study, for a more permanent fix, create a water and pepper solution and spray it directly onto the ants.

What is the best homemade ant killer? ›

To make this ant killer, Luca says you'll need to mix equal parts confectioners' sugar and baking soda in a cup. "Using confectioners' sugar is essential in this case. Regular sugar can easily be separated by ants from the baking soda," he says.

What do ants hate the most? ›

Ants may not like the smell of:
  • black and red pepper.
  • coffee grounds.
  • white vinegar.
  • some essential oils, like peppermint, tea tree, and lemon eucalyptus.

What is the secret to getting rid of ants overnight? ›

Table salt is one of the most effective and inexpensive natural ant repellents. Spreading salt around nooks and corners where ants enter the house can help keep them away. Use regular table salt rather than health-promoting rock salt. Add a significant amount of salt to boiling water and let it dissolve.

How do I get rid of 100% ants? ›

To get rid of ants, you can use natural remedies like diatomaceous earth, detergents, pepper, essential oils, white vinegar, baking soda, chalk, citrus fruits, salt, cornstarch, and boric acid, or chemical methods such as ant baits, traps, and sprays.

How long will vinegar keep ants away? ›

Vinegar only remains effective for as long as the scent lingers. When the solution dries up, homeowners need to reapply the solution in the problem areas to keep ants away. However, it's important to remember that vinegar shouldn't be treated as the main line of defense against ant infestations.

What smell do ants hate? ›

Household items like citrus fruits, black pepper, peppermint oil, cayenne, thyme, and lavender can create natural ant repellents. Great for avoiding pesticides or conventional ant traps! Mixing parts of these substances with water in a bottle and spraying the solution around the house can keep ants at bay.

What happens when ants eat baking soda? ›

Ants, like all living creatures, have a delicate pH balance within their bodies and that's where baking soda comes in. This magical compound, when ingested by ants, disrupts their pH balance, sending them spiraling towards their inevitable demise.

What is a homemade formula for killing ants? ›

Make a paste of borax (one part) and sugar (three parts) and stir it into water to dissolve the mixture. Place it in a glass jar or any other container. Ants are attracted to this sweet paste, which they will carry to the queen. This can destroy the entire ant colony.

What is the most powerful ant killer? ›

Final Verdict. Our best overall choice for eliminating ants is the Amdro Ant Home Perimeter Ant Bait. A single application can eliminate over 20 different species of ants for up to three months. Terro T300b Liquid Ant Baits are our best indoor option because they are easy to use and highly effective.

How do I get rid of ants forever? ›

Two of the best ways to eliminate ants are Borax and diatomaceous earth. Essential oils, including peppermint and clove, are a natural way to repel and kill ants. Food and moisture attract ants, so keep your home clean and dry to get rid of ants permanently.

How to control ants naturally? ›

Vinegar, lemon juice, and peppermint oil are excellent natural repellents against sugar ants, utilizing their strong scents to deter ant invasions. Boiling water, diatomaceous earth, and mixing baking soda and powdered sugar effectively kill ants by disrupting their nests or deceiving them with lethal bait.

What is the fastest way to get rid of ants in the kitchen? ›

One easy way to get rid of kitchen ants is to sprinkle pepper in areas where ants are likely to be spotted. Ants hate the strong smell of pepper. This is a great option because it's safe for pets and children, so you can use it liberally everywhere.

What does baking soda do to ants? ›

This is because in order for baking soda to actually kill ants, the ants have to eat it first. Once they do eat it, "baking soda reacts internally and generates carbon dioxide gas," says James Agardy, technical and training lead at Viking Pest Control. But Agardy notes that baking soda alone won't be very appetizing.

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