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How to Kill Ants

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I try to use natural methods to kill ants, especially they are in location near my children and pets.

My first line of defense is soapy water using Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap. I put it in a spray bottle and squirt any ants I see. This temporarily disables the ants making them easier to remove. As I clean up the ants, the soapy water is removing the ant trail making it less likely that other ants will follow it back into my house. The peppermint smell also acts as a natural repellant.

How to Make Natural Ant Spray:

Items Needed:

2 tablespoons Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap

1 pint of water

a spray bottle ( you can pick these up at the Dollar Store

Directions:

Combine the soap and water in a spray bottle and shake vigorously to mix.

Spray on ants as soon as you see the first one. Continue to spray following the trail you think the ant took to get in your home. Clean up with a wet rag.

More Natural Methods for getting Rid of Ants:

When the ant problem escalates, I make homemade ant bait.

Here are more tips getting rid of ants naturally as well as a list of natural repellants.

Reduce Exposure if you Use Pesticides:

As an absolute last resort, when nothing else works, and we are being over run with ants, I will use a chemical ant killer in moderation. This happened to us after we had our house tented for termites. I didn’t realize that termites were natural ant killers – too bad they are so bad for your home’s infrastructure!

When using pesticides, take precautions and either do not use the pesticide near food or remove the food from the area before using. After you have killed the ants, clean up the dead ants and the pesticide with a 50/50 water and vinegar solution, as the vinegar will interfere with any living ants ability to follow scent trails. Gels and Baits are preferable to sprays because they are less likely to come in contact with other items in your home. Be very careful where you place Ant Bait because you do not want your child or pets to be able to get into them.

How do you get rid of ants in your home?

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About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.