You know that ants can become a real nuisance if they invade your home, wherever that may be. They seem to find your food no matter where you hide it, and you may have trouble getting rid of them for good.
But don’t worry, we have plenty of ways to rid yourself of these pesky critters.
Let’s learn more about how to get rid of ants easily.
What Is the Fastest Way to Get Rid of Ants?
Some consider ants one of the most annoying pests that can invade your home. They’re small, everywhere, and seem to get into everything. If you want the fastest way to get rid of them, you can try a few things.
One of the simplest and quickest ways to get rid of ants is to use commercial ant bait. These usually contain a poison that ants will take back to their nest, killing the entire colony. Another option is to use homemade ant bait. A popular recipe uses sugar, borax, and water.
The ants will attract to the sugar and take the borax back to their nest, killing them.
What Kills Ants Instantly Naturally?
Looking for a more natural way to kill ants? Try diatomaceous earth (DE). This natural substance made from shells of ocean organisms can kill ants by puncturing their bodies when ingested. You can also sprinkle a line of it around where the ants have marched.
They will likely not cross the line and head out the way they came. You can find diatomaceous earth at most hardware stores.
What Is the Best Ant Killer?
The best ant killer is the one that works the fastest and won’t harm you or your pets.
First and foremost, though, ants are attracted to food, so you can prevent them from invading by not having food around in the first place. Make sure to keep your counters and floors clean. Wipe up any crumbs or spills right away, and put food in airtight containers.
Pro Tip: We really like the Hot Shot Ant Bait
But sometimes ants still come in, even if everything is sparkly clean. When that time arrives, one of the best ways to quickly get rid of ants is retail ant bait. Keep it in an enclosed container and not easily accessible to pets. Although, the placement of the ant bait depends on the ant trail. Keep an eye on your pets regardless of where you place the bait.
Ants will take it back to their nest, where it will kill the entire colony. Be patient, as it may take a few days for the ants to find the bait. But eventually, they will, and then you can get rid of them.
You can also stop ants from entering your home using natural ingredients. Most of these ingredients won’t kill them, but the smells could deter them from entering.
Pro Tip: Ants aren’t the only pests that can be annoying to have in your RV. These are five ways to Keep Those Dang Bugs Out Of Your RV!
What Smells Do Ants Hate?
The smells that ants hate may surprise you because they are quite pleasant to most humans. Spraying a bit of peppermint essential oil near entry points can help to keep ants out of your home. You can also try placing lemongrass stalks near windows and doors.
Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons also have a strong smell that ants dislike. Cinnamon and eucalyptus oil can also keep ants away.
Another scent ants hate is vinegar. You can mix equal parts of water and vinegar and spray it where you see ants. The acidic smell will send them running. Coffee grounds are another possible tactic. Spread these around outside your home for a combination of ant repellant and soil revitalize.
With any luck, the smells we love will send those ants running.
Why Are Ants Afraid of Baby Powder?
Some say that baby powder kills ants by drying up their bodies and suffocating them when they inhale it. This is actually a myth. However, ants don’t like baby powder because it breaks up the scent line that draws them in.
So, go ahead, and sprinkle a bit of baby powder along the ant trail. While that won’t stop them forever, it can deter them while you do some serious cleaning around your doorways, floors, kitchen drawers, and countertops.
Will Ants Cross a Salt Line?
Baby powder may be a deterrent. Is salt one, too?
You’ve probably seen ants marching in a line one after the other. If you’ve ever wondered why they do this, it’s because ants communicate by leaving behind chemicals called pheromones. These pheromones act as a sort of map, leading ants from their nest to food sources.
Some say that a salt line will break up this map and prevent ants from entering your home.
This may be true, but also not true. While a mixture of water and salt placed in a spray bottle may kill some ants, it is often not effective in killing all of them. Ants have an exoskeleton protecting them from the dehydrating factors of the salt solution.
But what about a salt line? Will this prevent ants from coming into the house? It might, but more than likely, it won’t. Some experts state that ants like the smells of salty items just as much as sugary ones.
While ants may avoid salt-concentrated areas, they’ll often find ways around the barrier. In addition, salt can damage the environment and kill other desirable insects, so it’s not always the best solution for ant control.
Pro Tip: Keeping your RV well sealed can help keep the bugs out, so we uncovered Does Flex Seal Tape Work on RVs?
What Stops Ants From Coming in the House?
While you can use many natural techniques to deter ants from invading your home, remember that ants use a scent trail to determine where to go. If you destroy that scent trail, the scouts will find another one. One that hopefully leads them away from the house.
So, keep a clean kitchen, but when ants detect a scent from something sticky on your floor that you didn’t catch, no worries. You’ve got some tricks up your sleeve. And as long as the ants don’t crawl up your sleeve, you’re all set.
Have you had ants that wouldn’t go away? Tell us your experience in the comments!
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