Summer is finally here. I mean, the kids have been counting down since like… May and, honestly I might have been more excited than they were. There’s something about that first real breath of hot air when you walk outside—sun is out, the grills are being dragged out of the garage, and suddenly you are finding reasons to drink things with lime on a patio somewhere. Things slow down, except ants. Ants are not slowing down.
Like clockwork. As soon as the weather breaks, bam! here they come. One or two at first, nothing serious, just a little scout wandering across the kitchen counter like it owns the place. And then, I don’t know how it happens, but bam! now you are dealing with an infestation. Tiny ants in lines, in your pantry, around your sink, near your trash, just… everywhere. It is manageable until you realize that you have to call pest control or an exterminator; however, if that happens, that can start to become pricey if they have to come out more than once.
So, if (or lets be real, when) the ants try to take over your house this summer, relax, there is hope. There are a lot of super simple, cheap, and easy things you can do that do not involve calling an exterminator or breaking the bank.
Before trying these brilliant hacks courtesy of Do You Remember, it’s important to determine how the ants are getting into your home. As with any pest, leaving your door open for prolonged periods of time will attract them. So unless you have a screen, keep those doors shut! Ants are also very attracted to sugary foods. Keep food off your counter, have a sealed lid on your garbage can, and be sure to wipe down any sticky counters immediately.
If you’ve tried all of these things and the ants are still invading your home, it’s time to try these 3 tricks.
1. Cinnamon
Ants hate cinnamon and will avoid any area where they can detect it. For this hack, you will need:
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil
- 1 cup water
- cotton balls or a cloth
- cinnamon cloves (optional)
First, mix the cinnamon essential oil with the water. Then, soak either the cotton balls or cloth in the solution. Wipe down your counters or any other surfaces where ants are a problem. Try doing this once a day until the ants disappear. You can also place cinnamon cloves near your doors and windows as an extra measure.
2. Vinegar
As with cinnamon, ants hate the smell of vinegar. For this hack, you will need:
- distilled white vinegar
- water
- lemon essential oil
- a spray bottle
First, add equal parts vinegar and water to the spray bottle. Add in a few drops of lemon essential oil and shake the mixture well. Spray on your floor, countertops, baseboards, or anywhere else where you see ants. Repeat this daily until the ants are gone.
3. Borax
Although this isn’t quite as humane as the other two hacks, it’s certainly powerful. The point of this hack is to attract the ants, not deter them. They’ll take the food (mixed with Borax) back to their nests to share with the other ants, which will eventually kill them all. For this hack, you will need:
- 2 tablespoons of peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of Borax
- 1 teaspoon of water
- plastic container with the lid
- an object to poke holes in the lid
First, mix all of the ingredients together in the container. Fasten the lid, then poke a few holes in the top of the lid and the sides of the container so that only ants can get in and out. With any hope, the ants will be gone in no time.
4. Borax And Cotton Balls
Speaking of Borax, here’s another ant-removal hack that works wonders. Just mix one cup of warm water with 1/2 cup of sugar and two tablespoons of Borax. Soak up the mixture with cotton balls, then place the cotton balls near any areas you detect ants in your home. They’ll feed on the cotton balls, and be history by tomorrow!
5. Rinse, Rinse, Rinse!
Before throwing any containers into your recycling bin, make sure you rinse them well first. Any sugary residue will attract ants, even if you keep your recycling bins outside. If your ants are drawn to your backyard recycling bins, they will find a way to get inside your house.
6. Look For Ant Hills
Ant hills are home to thousands and thousands of ants. Take a tour around your yard and look for ant hills. If you find any, running a hose over top of the ant hill for a few minutes should take care of the problem. If you can deter the ants from moving from the outdoors into your house, you’ll be one step ahead of keeping them at bay.
7. Cayenne Pepper
Ants absolutely hate cayenne pepper. If you suspect you know where the ants are coming from, sprinkle a little cayenne pepper in those areas. However, if you have pets or young children, this probably isn’t the greatest idea! Cayenne pepper can irritating to skin, eyes, and more.
8. An Ounce Of Prevention
As with anything, practice an ounce of prevention when it comes to keeping ants away from your home. Ants will generally start to invade in the spring (or whenever the weather gets more mild), so ensure you have any cracks filled, you keep your countertops and kitchen clean and free of sticky, sugary spots, and you clean surfaces in your home with the solution mentioned in #2.
If you’ve tried these hacks and your ant problem is still persisting, it might be time to seek out a professional exterminator. But hopefully after hearing about these, you won’t have to!
