To get rid of ants in your home, try these homemade recipes, tricks, and tips.
Certain everyday products seem to make ants back off. While there is no hard-core evidence these products work or why they work many people swear by them to get the ants out. Simply choose one of the following items from the list and draw a line with it where the ants are coming in and they will not cross it. Be sure to go around the area or you will just be diverting them to a different location of your house.
1. chalk - Ordinary blackboard type chalk is all you need.
2. ground cinnamon - As a special bonus you can buy this at the dollar store for less than a dollar.
3. catnip - Apparently the ants do not seem to get the same enjoyment from it as cats do.
4. lemon scented dishsoap - Any kind will do as long as it is lemon scent.
5. cream of wheat - This doesn't have to be name brand ants reject store brands as well.
There are also some homemade concoctions that work well if you do not know where the ants are coming in or if you want something you can grab and spray. Mix up these recipes, put the in a spray bottle and take aim.
Water/Vinegar/Dishsoap Mix
2/3 cup water + 1/3 cup white vinegar + 3 tablespoons dish soap
This is said to work just like raid, so you could try it out on other pests.
Mint Tea Spray
2 cups boiling water + 2 mint tea bags
Brew as you would for a normal serving of tea.
Besides these ant-fighting tactics there are some other simple tips that can help keep you from attracting ants or enticing them to come back.
1. Clean countertops immediately after food preparation. Try using bleach water once a week to get deep down smells that ants could interpret as a food source.
2. Keep sugars and other sweet ingredients, like honey and molasses, in the refrigerator. This also keeps away other nasty insects that can make their way inside during warm months.
3. Check outside your home for branches touching your house and trim them back. Ants use these branches to climb onto your roof, down the gutters and inside.
One of the simple tricks, recipes or tips should help you end your ant troubles. Try out a few of them and see what works best in your home. Then pass this information along to friends or family that may be wondering how to get rid of ants in their home. You will be the hero of the next friendly get together or family reunion.
