With rainy and little warm weather comes lots of ants in house and garden area. House-invading ants can get into your food, damage property or cause stinging bites. These tiny creatures can also cause damage to your plants.
Dealing with ants can be very frustrating. Pesticides for ants contain chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment, but there are some natural, non-toxic ways to control ants. These may take some time and patience, but will provide good results.
# Cinnamon- Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil in a cup of water. Soak a cotton ball in this solution and wipe down the areas where ants may enter and dwell. Repeat once daily until all the ants are gone.
- You can also put ground cinnamon and whole cloves near entry points.
# White Vinegar- Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water.
- Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
- Add a few drops of any essential oil and shake the bottle thoroughly.
- Spray this solution around baseboards and other entry points.
- After an hour, wipe up the ants using a damp paper towel and discard them.
- Repeat once daily until the ants are completely gone.
# Lemon- Rub some lemon juice on door thresholds, windowsills and other possible areas where ants are getting in.
- Another option is to put a few drops of lemon essential oil on cotton balls and leave them in cabinets and other areas as needed.
- Scatter small slices of lemon peel around outdoor entrances.
# Peppermint- Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to 1 cup of water. Spray the solution on all areas where ants are present. Repeat twice daily, until the ants are gone completely.
- Sprinkle some dried peppermint around your doors, entryways and garbage areas to repel ants.
- You can even grow peppermint plants in your kitchen garden.
# Cucumber Peel- Peel a cucumber.
- Place pieces of the peel in all areas where you have seen ant activity.
- Replace them with fresh peels daily.
- Repeat as needed until the ants are gone