Send Those Ants Marching! 3 Natural Ant Control Solutions

21 October 2020
 Categories: , Blog


Ants are tiny, but they are a big nuisance. Sure, there are endless selections of insecticide sprays and baits that will chase them off. But what if you want to take a more natural approach? Here are some natural ways to send those ants marching.

1. Sachets of cinnamon and cloves

Cinnamon and cloves may seem like holiday spices to you, but they won't make the ants feel too warm or cozy. Ants do not like the strong scent of cinnamon or cloves as it can make them feel disoriented. (They rely heavily on their sense of smell to navigate their way around, and these strong scents interfere with that.) To make cinnamon and clove sachets, start with some pieces of mesh or cheesecloth. Wrap up a few cinnamon sticks and a couple of cloves in each sachet, and secure them with ribbons. Place these sachets in places where you have seen the ants, such as in the backs of cabinets and inside drawers. Replace the sachets every few weeks or once you notice them starting to lose their potency.

2. Black pepper

Black pepper is another strongly scented substance that will disorient and repel ants. It works best if you grind it fresh for the job. If you're not worried about making a little bit of a mess, you can just take a pepper mill and grind black pepper along the baseboards, along each doorway, and along each windowsill. These lines of fresh, strongly scented pepper should keep too many ants from entering your home. At the end of the week, you can just vacuum up the old pepper and grind some new stuff.

3. Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a powder that is made from the shells of tiny, sea-dwelling creatures called diatoms. To humans, it is harmless, but to ants, it is dangerous. As it turns out, those tiny powder granules are actually pretty sharp, and they wear tiny holes and tears into the exoskeletons of ants, which dehydrates and kills them. While diatomaceous earth will not repel ants, it will kill any ants that come into contact with it. You can and should sprinkle it along doorways, inside window frames, and anywhere else you've seen ants entering your home. Vacuum it up and reapply it every few days as it becomes less effective if it absorbs moisture from the air.

With the natural ant control techniques above, you can send those ants marching! If you do not get the results you desire within a week or two, don't hesitate to call an ant control company.


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