How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Home [13 Most Effective Ways]

If you have an ant problem in your home, you’re not alone. Ants are common household pests in the US. They can be a real nuisance, invading your food and causing damage to your property.

In this article, we will discuss:

• how to get rid of ants
• what attracts ants in the first place
• how you can keep them away from your home permanently

What Attracts Ants? 

Let’s first understand what attracts ants in the first place before we take a look at how to get rid of them.

• Sugar

Ants have a sweet tooth and sugar is one of the most common things that attract ants. Ants are attracted to anything that smells sweet, including sugar, syrup, and honey. They also like spilled juice, candy, jellies, and cookie crumbs.

• Leftover Foods

The best way to get rid of ants is not to leave any leftovers in the kitchen. Ants are constantly on the lookout for food and an unhygienic kitchen is a party for them! Once they find a food source, they will send out scouts to locate more in the same area. If you leave any type of food out, even if it’s just a crumb, ants will be sure to find it.

• Moisture

Leaky faucets, damp basements, and clogged drains are all perfect conditions for ants to thrive in.

• Warmth

Finally, ants are also attracted to warmth. If it’s too hot or too cold outside, they’ll be more likely to come inside your home in search of food and shelter.

How to Get Rid of Ants? 

Let’s now proceed to how to remove ants from your home. All these tips are easy to follow and most of the ingredients will be easily available in your kitchen!

1. Use Vinegar

One of the easiest ways of removing ants is to use vinegar. Prepare a solution of equal amounts of vinegar and water, pour it into a bowl, and place it where you see ants coming in. The vinegar prevents the ants from coming into your home because they hate its smell.

2. Use Mint

Using mint is one of the best natural ways to get rid of ants. Place a few mint leaves in a bowl and put it where you see ants coming in. The mint will repel the ants and keep them from entering your home. You can also plant mint around your home, it will make your home greener while keeping the ants away.

3. Use Lemon Juice

Lemons are another great natural ant repellent. Simply mix some lemon juice with water, put it in a spray bottle, and spray it around your home. The lemon juice will repel the ants and keep them from coming inside.

4. Use Cinnamon

Another ingredient on our list of how to get rid of ants in the kitchen is cinnamon. Cinnamon is a great way of removing ants in your home. All you need to do is sprinkle some cinnamon around the areas where you’ve seen ants. You can also put cinnamon oil on cotton balls and place them near ant trails. The scent of the cinnamon will repel the ants and they’ll stay away from your home.

5. Use Black Pepper

Ants hate black pepper! They will not come inside your home if they find black pepper near it. You can sprinkle it around the areas where you’ve seen the ants or create a solution of water and black pepper. Sprinkle this on the area where you see the ants entering. Make sure you wipe it off afterward and repeat the process if necessary.

6. Use Boiling Water

If you’ve located the ant mound that the ants are coming from, boiling water is a great way to kill ants. Just pour some boiling water onto the ant mound and they will be gone. Ant colonies are huge so you might need to pour boiling water into every hole you see.

7. Use Cornstarch

Just put equal parts of water and cornstarch in a spray bottle and spray the mixture near ant trails or entry points. The cornstarch will form a sticky barrier on the surface that will trap the ants and they will eventually die.

8. Use Tea Tree Oil

You can also use tea tree essential oil in getting rid of ants. Just mix a few drops of tea tree oil with water in a spray bottle and spray it around the areas where you’ve seen ants. The scent of the tea tree oil will repel the ants and they’ll stay away from your home.

9. Use Neem Oil

Neem oil is frequently used on plants to protect them against insects and many also use it to get rid of termites. It is also one of the best natural remedies to remove ants. To use neem oil, mix one teaspoon of neem oil with one cup of water. Then, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it directly on the ants. The neem oil will kill the ants and stop them from coming back.

10. Use Boric Acid

If you’re wondering how to kill ants, boric acid or borax is the best option for you as it’s a good insecticide. Just mix equal parts sugar and boric acid together and place it near ant trails or entry points. The ants will be attracted to the sugar and they will ingest the boric acid which will kill them. Make sure you wear safety gloves while dealing with these ingredients.

11. Use Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is safe for humans and pets, and it will kill the ants without harming your plants or animals. To use diatomaceous earth, sprinkle it around the perimeter of your home. The diatomaceous earth will kill the ants and stop them from coming back.

12. Use Talcum Powder

Before we look into how to get rid of ants in the house using talcum powder, let’s go back to when we discussed what attracts ants. Moisture is one important factor and talcum powder acts as a drying agent. When you see ants, sprinkle them with talcum powder and they will dehydrate and die.

13. Use Chalk

Chalk is another natural drying agent. When ants walk over it, the chalk will absorb the moisture from their bodies and they will die. Draw a line of chalk around your doors and windows to keep the ants out.

Key Takeaways 

Can You Permanently Get Rid of Ants? 

You can permanently remove ants by taking some simple steps and being vigilant about keeping your home clean.

First, you need to figure out what is attracting the ants into your home. Once you know what they’re after, you can take steps to eliminate that food source and make your home less inviting to them. Finally, you’ll need to seal up any cracks or openings in your home where the ants might be getting in.

Conclusion 

Ant removal is easy once you know what’s attracting them. Make sure you keep your kitchen clean as food crumbs, sugar, and leftovers attract ants. With a little bit of effort, you can permanently get rid of these pesky critters and keep them out for good!