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If you spot a line of ants marching through to your kitchen or elsewhere in your home, don’t fret. Like almost any other problem, this pest problem has desi solutions passed down through generations by moms and grandmoms. Although the task may seem like a domestic version of Mission Impossible, here are some natural ideas on how to get rid of ants:
How to Get Rid of Ants #1: Repel with Fragrances
To solve the problem of how to get rid of ants, natural repellants to the rescue! Mint and lavender are two scents that ants hate, so capitalise on that by using them as organic repellants that do more good than harm. Mix peppermint and lavender essential oil in water and spray along the nooks and crannies that either attract ants or serve as their entryway. Needless to say, this keeps your home smelling fresh and clean, too.
How to Get Rid of Ants #2: Clean Surfaces Regularly
This tip is more prevention than cure, but is also how you can avoid this pesky problem in the long run. Regularly wipe down your countertop and other kitchen surfaces, paying special attention to nooks and cracks where food particles may collect. Turn the same energy towards your dining and coffee tables to be safe. If you have outdoor furniture that you dine at regularly, dust them for crumbs before and after meals.
How to Get Rid of Ants #3: Remove Their Trail
Ants leave behind a trail of pheromones to direct other ants to the food source. It simply won’t do to shoo them away once, as they’ll be back again using the trail! To nip this in the bud and prevent more ant attacks, spray a homemade cocktail of vinegar and water along the route to break down the pheromones and destroy the trail. It’s also said that tea tree oil repels ants, so give it a shot if you have any unused essential oil lying around – this is still a more expensive option!
How to Get Rid of Ants #4: Seal Cracks and Holes
To prevent future ant attacks and stop current once, play the detective and find tiny holes and cracks in windows and floor skirting that may be ant entry points. Plug these cracks with a sealant to ensure ants stop entering through them. This is also a good trick to prevent other pests like roaches coming in and to keep your frames and floors neat.
How to Get Rid of Ants #5: Draw Chalk Lines
The reasons for why this trick works range from ants not enjoying sticky particles on their feet to ants being averse to calcium carbonate. Whatever the actual reason is, chalk is an effective non-toxic solution the question of how to get rid of ants. As a preventative measure, draw chalk lines around common entry points and on surfaces to keep ants at bay.
These natural remedies will serve to repel or finish off the occasional trail of ants making their way to your kitchen or home in general. However, if the problem persists, you may just be dealing with an infestation that’s best dealt with by experts! Read this too: 6 Home Fixes to Get Rid of Cockroaches.
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