What Home Remedy Will Keep Ants Away?

If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of dealing with ants marching across your kitchen countertops, you’re not alone. Ants are one of the most common pest issues homeowners in Long Island face. Many homeowners prefer to try more natural remedies before reaching for insecticides or calling a professional ant control company, but DIY ant control methods can have varying levels of success. Let’s explore some common home remedy solutions to keep those pesky ants at bay.

Natural DIY Ant Treatments

Choosing the right DIY ant treatment can be difficult. If you are asking yourself what natural treatments work and what are just old wives’ tales, here are some of the most common DIY treatments:

White Vinegar

White vinegar is one of the most versatile household cleaners and can also help deter ants. Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe down areas where you are seeing ants. The strong scent of vinegar can interfere with ants’ pheromone trails, making it difficult for them to communicate and navigate your home. While effective in the short term, white vinegar does little to address the ant population. 

Borax Mixtures

Borax is another common household cleaner that, when ingested, can disrupt ants’ digestive systems and ultimately kill them. Create a mixture of borax and sugar, jelly, or syrup in a dish and place it in areas where ants frequent, either inside or outdoors. Using Borax can be highly effective at eliminating ants if the mixture is brought back to the colony, ultimately killing the queen.

Cinnamon

While the smell of cinnamon can bring back fond memories for you, ants dislike the strong scent of cinnamon, making it an effective deterrent. Sprinkling ground cinnamon or applying cinnamon oil near entry points or areas of high ant activity can discourage them from entering and kill them if inhaled. It is important to use high concentrations of cinnamon oil in common ant entry points for cinnamon to be most effective at deterring ants.

Boric Acid

Boric acid is a natural insecticide that disrupts ants’ nervous systems, leading to their death. Mix 1 part boric acid with 3 parts sugar and combine with water until it forms a paste and place it in ant-infested areas. The sweet paste will attract ants and then kill them once ingested. Boric acid can be effective if the paste is brought back to the colony, ultimately killing the queen and the rest of the colony.

When to Call in The Professionals

While natural remedies can be effective for minor ant problems, severe infestations require professional help. These DIY methods often do not address the source of the infestation and do little to eliminate the colony, which means your ant invaders will return quickly. The pest control technicians at Arrow Exterminating have the expertise and resources to address ant infestations safely and effectively, ensuring your home is ant-free and stays that way!

If ants have taken over your home and DIY solutions aren’t working, contact the ant extermination professionals at Arrow Exterminating today.