Summer Ant Control: Easy Tips and Tricks
Welcome Summer, But Beware of Ants
Summer brings sunshine, barbecues, patio drinks, and beach trips. Unfortunately, it also brings ants. When the weather warms up, ants find their way into our homes. A small ant problem can quickly escalate, and hiring exterminators can be expensive. If ants invade your home this summer, don’t panic. Try these cheap, easy, and quick fixes to get rid of those pesky ants.
Identify Entry Points
Before trying these hacks, determine how the ants are entering your home. Open doors attract ants, so keep doors shut unless you have a screen. Ants love sugary foods, so keep counters clean, food sealed, and garbage cans covered.
Effective Ant-Removal Hacks
1. Cinnamon
Ants hate cinnamon. You’ll need:
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil
- 1 cup water
- Cotton balls or a cloth
- Cinnamon cloves (optional)
Mix the cinnamon oil with water and soak cotton balls or a cloth in the solution. Wipe down surfaces where ants are a problem daily until they disappear. Place cinnamon cloves near doors and windows as an extra measure.
2. Vinegar
Ants dislike the smell of vinegar. You’ll need:
- Distilled white vinegar
- Water
- Lemon essential oil
- Spray bottle
Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, add a few drops of lemon essential oil, and shake well. Spray on floors, countertops, and baseboards daily until the ants are gone.
3. Borax
This powerful method attracts ants to poison them. You’ll need:
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon Borax
- 1 teaspoon water
- Plastic container with lid
- Object to poke holes in the lid
Mix all ingredients in the container, fasten the lid, and poke holes so only ants can enter. The ants will take the mixture back to their nest, eventually killing them all.
4. Borax and Cotton Balls
For another Borax hack, mix:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons Borax
Soak cotton balls in the mixture and place them near ant-prone areas. The ants will feed on the cotton balls and be gone by morning.
5. Rinse Containers
Rinse containers well before recycling to avoid attracting ants. Even outdoor recycling bins with sugary residue can lure ants into your house.
6. Destroy Ant Hills
Check your yard for ant hills. Run a hose over the hill for a few minutes to deter ants from moving indoors.
7. Cayenne Pepper
Ants hate cayenne pepper. Sprinkle it in areas where ants enter, but avoid this if you have pets or young children, as it can be irritating.
8. Prevention
When to Call a Professional
If these hacks don’t solve your ant problem, it might be time to seek a professional exterminator. Hopefully, with these tips, you can keep your home ant-free this summer!
