Get Rid of Ants Naturally

You may have ants that find their way into your house from time to time. The good news is that you don't have to use harsh chemicals to get rid of them. You don't even have to kill them. Some natural options just deter them and don't harm them. Here are the most common ways to get rid of ants naturally.

Essential Oils

When an ant finds a food source, it leaves a scent trail back to the nest so that others can find it. The key is to disrupt that scent, or pheromone trail, so that the ants can't find their way. Pure food grade essential oils are very strong and can easily mask the pheromone trail. I've personally used peppermint oil with great success. You can wipe a drop along the path that the ants are using. Or if there is a long path, you can make a spray containing water and essential oils. Tea tree and citrus essential oils are also effective. Citrus oils like lemon, lime, and grapefruit are actually toxic to ants. Clove essential oil is particularly strong and can be used against other pests because it contains eugenol which is considered an insecticide.

Borax

Borax is an insecticide, so your success depends on luring the pests to consume a sugar or protein borax mixture and take it back to the colony. There are many ways to do this. Some recipes call for soaking cotton balls in a solution of borax, sugar and water. You then place the cotton balls along the pests path. Depending on the type of ant and their preference, using a protein, like peanut butter, may work better. Make sure not to use too much borax because the ants can detect it and will not be attracted to your bait.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a powder that is comprised of the remains of a fossilized type of algae. It works as a natural form of pest control because the microscopic pieces are razor-sharp and will cut the exoskeleton of insects. Once the outer layer of the insect has been pierced, the insect will dehydrate and die. Make sure to use food grade diatomaceous earth because it is safe to breath. Just sprinkle a thin layer on the problem areas.

Castile Soap

Castile soap breaks the exoskeleton on insects like diatomaceous earth. You can make a spray by diluting castile soap with water in a ratio of 4:1. Spray the mixture daily on the problem area until you don't see any more insects.

Vinegar

Vinegar will mask the scent of the pheromone trail like essential oils. You can dilute it in half with water and spray or wipe the affected area. Or you can use it straight. Once it dries, you aren't likely to be able to smell it. But the insects won't be able to find their way to the food they are after.

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