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You are here: Home / Naturally Frugal Living / 7 Ways to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

7 Ways to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

April 25, 2014 by Editor 3 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
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lots of ants on tile counter and wall inside home
ants on a pretzel

It seems like it is always ant season! They come in when it rains in the spring, come back when it gets hot in the summer, and visit again when it gets too cold in the fall. If you are like me and avoid using chemicals in your home, you need some ways to get rid of ants naturally.

lots of ants on tile counter and wall inside home

Ants come inside our homes no matter how clean we keep them! Has getting rid of ants naturally become a top priority for you? With the temperatures warming up, many find that these pesky bugs have invaded their homes. Fortunately, there are safe ways to get rid of ants so that you don’t go crazy. It may take two of these remedies used together to kill the ants in your home as well as keep new ones from entering.

7 Ways to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

Below are 7 ways that you can get rid of ants naturally. Most of these pest control methods can be done with items already found in your home!

Baby Powder

Sprinkling baby powder along the door frames, windows, and walls can help keep the pesky insects at bay. This is a natural repellent for ants because they do not like to cross the lines of powder that have been set out.

Vinegar

The smell of vinegar is not friendly to ants, so they will typically stay away from areas that have been cleaned or disinfected with the liquid. Vinegar also kills scent trails left behind by ants, so they don’t know how to get back home once the vinegar is present.

Borax & Sugar Combination

Sugar attracts ants, who pick up a grain of it to take back to other ants in their colonies. However, Borax is toxic for ants. Some of them are bound to mistake a grain of Borax for the sweet sugar, allowing the ants to be depleted over time. Borax isn’t pet-frindly or kid-friendly either, so this should only be used where they cannot come into contact with it.

Baking Soda & Powdered Sugar Combination

This mixture works the same as sugar and Borax, though it is much safer if animals or children should come into contact with it. Mix equal parts of the sugar and baking soda to attract ants. Since they cannot digest the baking soda, they will eventually be eliminated.

Cornmeal

Cornmeal is yet another substance that ants cannot digest well. Sprinkle the meal around the areas where you see the most activity from ants. They will carry it home and try to eat it – failing to properly do so.

Coffee Grounds

Ants do not care for the smell of coffee, so the grounds can be a deterrent to the insect. Pouring used coffee grounds into ant hills is also effective. The grounds make it virtually impossible for ants that have left the hills to make it back to their home. Thus, their offspring and other ants left inside will not receive food and will eventually die.

Herbs & Spices

Many seasonings we use for our meals give off odors that ants cannot stand. Simply sprinkle black pepper, peppermint, or cinnamon (to name a few) along the doors and other entryways for ants. Once those already in your home are eliminated, you should be ant-free!

ants on floor in home

More Natural Ways to Get Rid of Pests

7 Natural Ways to Repel Rabbits from Your Garden

How to Make Natural Moth Repellent

7 Essential Oils to Repel Pests in your Home and Garden

5 Natural Ways to Repel Deer

Tips for Getting Rid of Cockroaches without Pesticides

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Comments

  1. Nicole says

    June 15, 2018 at 5:24 pm

    I have the medium size and large Black Ants in my kitchen and it’s so weird cause they are only seen at night time
    I also have earwigs on my front porch PLSSSSS HELP..SPRAY ANT SPRAY BUT DONT LAST.

    Reply
  2. Joe Felegi says

    July 21, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    Good tips! The problem with most natural remedies is that most of them are only temporary fixes. The best way to get rid of pests is to prevent them altogether. One tip I would add is placing rosemary and other repellents around your house as a way to get rid of ants specifically. Thanks for the post and offering your tips!

    Reply
  3. Brenda says

    October 10, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Thank you for stating that Borax is Toxic to dogs. I see so many posts about the wonders of Borax but very few mention that it is Toxic to dogs.

    Reply

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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.

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