Let’s face it; no one likes pesky pests in their house. Pests like ants may appear to be harmless, but they can cause a lot of damage. Having a few ants running around your house is one thing, but a colony of ants can create big problems.
Some ant varieties like Harvester and Fire ants can even bite humans. On the other hand, Carpenter ants cause heavy damage to furniture and other materials in the house. Not just that, but ants can also contaminate food.
Because of all these reasons you should get rid of ants as soon as you spot them in the house. Ants mostly appear in summers when they come out in search of food. In this guide, we will tell you how to get rid of ants using effective home remedies. If you have ants causing the problem in your house, you should give this article a read.
Also read: 14 Natural Weed Killers to Kill Weeds Naturally in Your Garden
Luckily, there are multiple ways you can try to get rid of ants from your home. If you have small kids at home, having ants can be a big problem. Ant bites are certainly not good for kids and even for adults.
Table of Contents
List of Ways to Get Rid of Ants
1. Diatomaceous Earth (Silicon Dioxide)
Diatomaceous Earth is a type of silica that comprises fossilized remains of diatoms. For those who don’t have an idea, diatoms are aquatic organisms.
Diatomaceous Earth or silicone dioxide is not poisonous, and therefore, you can use it without any worries. It is very effective in killing ants and other insects by drying them out. It absorbs all the oil in its skeletons.
For caution, avoid inhaling it as it is an irritant. Also, avoid getting it on your skin. You can easily find it on any online store that sells insect and bug killers.
2. Dish Soap
Dish soap is readily available in all our homes. You can use it to remove ants from all corners of your house.
In case you didn’t know, soapy water helps remove the scent of ant pheromones. To get rid of these little buggers, apply them on ant trails and at all points of entry in your home. Without the scent of pheromones, ants cannot communicate with each other. You can use any type of soap with a strong smell. For example, even glass cleaners can be a good option for you.
3. Lemons
Did you know that even lemons can be an effective ant removing agent? If not, you know it now! All you need to do is squeeze a lemon at the entry points of the ants. You can also use lemon peels and place them from where they enter your home.
To take extra precautions, you can also wipe your floors with water and a little bit of lemon juice in it. Ants don’t like the smell of lemon juice, and therefore, they will stay away from your house. Anything that smells bitter and sour is effective enough to keep the ants away. At the same time, make sure that you don’t keep anything sweet in your kitchen as it attracts ants.
4. Pepper
If you are wondering how to get rid of ants, use pepper! Ants hate pepper the way they love sugar. All you have to do is sprinkle some pepper in the areas where they enter your house and let it do its magic. Pepper is highly effective in shooing away ants from your home.
You can also use cayenne pepper as ants hate them. To make it more effective, you can prepare a solution of water and pepper and spray it near the entry areas. It will not kill the ants but will surely deter them away you’re your house. Make sure you clean the area properly where you sprinkled pepper before. This is an effective way of getting rids of ants.
5. White Vinegar
White vinegar is available in almost every household. You can use it to remove ants from your house. Ants cannot tolerate the strong smell of white vinegar.
Take equal amounts of white vinegar and water. Add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture and shake well. Store this solution in a plastic bottle and sprinkle it at the entrant points of the ants. Sprinkle it once daily, and it will keep the ants away from your home. It should be noted that it doesn’t kill the ants. It only keeps them away from entering your house. If your goal is to kill them, you better look for some other method.
6. Boiling Water
Using boiling water is another very simple way of getting rid of ants. If you notice several ant holes near your house, pour boiling water into them. This will immediately kill the ants present inside the holes.
Anthills may look small, but they can accommodate huge colonies of ants underneath them. So if you notice some of these anthills close to your house, don’t take them for granted. Sooner or later, they will try to invade your house, and that will be a big problem. To avoid any such thing from happening, use boiling water to kill as many ants as possible. Make sure to treat every ant close to your house.
7. Neem Oil
You can also use neem oil to remove ants and other bugs. It is extracted from the leaves of the neem tree. When used at full strength, it can repel ants from entering their homes. This technique of removing ants is very popular in India.
However, it should be reminded that neem oil will not kill the ants. It will only prevent them from entering your house. Products containing neem extract or diluted neem may not be very effective on ants. To get the best results, you must use raw neem oil. You can buy neem oil from any online store.
8. Boric Acid
Before you use this method, you should know that boric acid is a type of poison. So you should use it carefully. Boric acid has been proven to kill worker ants within 2-3 weeks of exposure. It kills them by eroding their stomachs and outer shells. If you are using boric acid, make sure you keep it away from your kids and pets.
To use boric acid, follow these steps:
- Prepare a solution of 1/2 teaspoon boric acid, 1 cup of warm water, and 8 teaspoons sugar.
- Stir it nicely until the boric acid and sugar get completely dissolved.
- Take small cotton balls and dip them in the solution.
- Now place these saturated cotton balls around your home and at the entry points of the ants.
- You can also leave the solution out in containers. After you are done, make sure to wash the containers thoroughly. It would be better to discard the containers.
Also read: 10 Ways to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Instantly at Home
By following any of these methods, you can effectively remove ants from your home. Some of these methods will kill the ants, while others will keep them away. Now that you know how to get rid of ants, you shouldn’t have to tolerate their nuisance in your house.
