Effective Ants Repellents - Safe, Natural, & Inexpensive

The flowers. The rain. The ants. Yes, along with the warm weather comes the ants. 

But instead of trapping (and dealing with the mess) or using harsh chemicals, here are some actually more effective and natural methods for ridding and repelling these unwanted houseguests...

​....inside and outside.

Although most ant species are harmless to people, some carry bacteria, making them potential transmitters of disease or infection. Plus, nobody wants ants crawling on their skin let alone their countertops as they prep or enjoy a tasty meal.

Again, many of the quick and easy solutions I'll share involve common household item may already have. 

Although considered "natural" and "safe", please exercise caution and common sense when using these items in a household with pets or children.

Estimated Time to Complete

As little as 30 seconds up to a 5 minutes depending on the option. Most methods require 30-second to 2-minute (occasional maintenance) thereafter during the height of ant seasons.

Level of Difficulty

Very easy.

Estimated Cost

Inexpensive. Varies depending on the option you choose. (You'll see.)

Instructions

Regardless of your method(s) of choice, here are the initial steps for effectively ridding and-repelling ants.

Identify & Block Ant Access

Identifying and blocking how ants enter your home enables you stop present and future invasions.

Check your home for their access points including

• cracks in the walls
• holes near floorboards
• around radiators
• plumbing
• chimneys
• cracked seals around windows and doors
• rips in window and door screens
• houseplants
• cracks and spacing between front steps and back steps
• gaps around bricks
• vines or vegetation touching or leans onto the exterior walls of your home and windows

Please don't take this personally but...
... make sure you are not bringing ants inside your home. Yard debris on shoes can track ants inside. And check newspapers and mail before bringing into your home. (I battle ants in and on my mailbox every summer.)

All this said, if you are unable to identify how the ants are getting in... no worries. That's the beauty of the Rid & Repel Methods. 

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Why are there more ants after it rains?
Heavy rains flood ant colonies and wash away their food sources, forcing them to relocate to drier ground and find new food sources... inside or around your home.

Cut Off Food Sources

In most cases... depending upon the location and method of treating the ant infestation... the next step is to cut off the ants' food sources. This should be done regardless of identifying the ants' access into your home.

Favorite ant hangouts for food sources include

• trash pails (including kitchen, bathrooms, office, etc.)
• dishwasher 
• garbage disposal
• countertops (& food prep areas)
• floors and walls around appliances
• dining areas
• furniture cushions
• foyers and entries
• ​laundry areas
• sinks (with dirty dishes)
• pantries
• pet feeding stations (including pet food and water bowls)
• plants & houseplants

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Common sense steps such as storing food in airtight containers, washing dishes immediately after use, and remaining vigilant in food prep and popular hangout areas (of your home) cuts off access to their food supply. 

Mommy keeps my quick-grab treats in ziplock bags inside this container. A white canister like this allows her to spot when any ants try to steal my treats.
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Click image for more info.

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Eliminate and Repel 

No ugly ant traps and messy cleanup. Here are some quick, simple,  and effective solutions. 

Boiling Water with Dishwashing Soap

Dawn dishwashing soap in boiling water is a good start in attacking surface level ants, as well as those dwelling in ant holes and anthills near your home.
instructions: Pour a solution of five or six drops of Dawn dishwashing soap in a quart of boiling water on ant trails and anthills near your home. Follow up with another of the deterrents (mentioned in this post).

Ants deposit pheromone trails that guide nest mates to food sources. The following natural repellents remove the pheromone scent that attracts ants. 

Glass Cleaner

Glass cleaner temporarily eliminates the scent and deter the ants from the area.
instructions: Spray on existing or former food source area. Do NOT wipe immediately… allow 5 minutes to sit for other ants to discover other deceased ants and "deterring" scent. Wipe surface. Spray again to clean surface leaving subtle residue. Repeat as needed. 

Ground Black Pepper

Ants find black pepper irritating, thus, it’s a natural and convenient ant deterrent.
instructions: Lightly distribute pepper in those tight crevices around baseboards and behind appliances. For continual effectiveness, clean up and reapply weekly.

Peppermint Oil

In my personal experience, peppermint oils has proved most effective in deterring ants, as well as other inserts such as ladybug infestations.
instructions: Use 10 (undiluted) drops on a paper towel or tissue and drop in a trash pail. Repeat after taking out trash for maintaining deterring scent. For inside desks, coffee tables, drawers, mailboxes, and “ant” areas of garages replace tissue weekly or when scent dissipates.

Cinnamon Essential Oil

Similar to peppermint oil, cinnamon oil proves effective on repelling ants and smells great.
instructions: Use 5 (undiluted) drops on a paper towel or tissue and drop in a trash pail. Repeat after taking out trash for maintaining deterring scent. For inside desks, coffee tables, drawers, mailboxes, and “ant” areas of garages replace tissue weekly or when scent dissipates.

Tea Tree Oil

The strong scent of tea tree oil sends ants running. While this (and other essential oils) may not kill them, it's incredibly effective at repelling them.
instructions: Use 10 (undiluted) drops on a paper towel or tissue and drop in a trash pail. Repeat after taking out trash for maintaining deterring scent. For inside desks, coffee tables, drawers, mailboxes, and “ant” areas of garages. Replace tissue weekly or when scent dissipates.

Lemons

For inside of pantries and food prep areas, this is ideal and effective. However, this doesn’t negate the need to store food in airtight containers. 
​instructions: After cleaning and ridding of sources (like crumbs), spray or wipe down inside and outside of cabinets with lemon juice. Placing lemon rinds in your cupboard can also discourage ants from returning. Retreat or replace rinds weekly or when scent dissipates.

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EcoRaider Ant Killer

This product is lethal to insects by blocking their neuron transmitter but does not affect humans, animals, fish or birds. No staining on most surfaces. Pleasant citrus scent that dissipates fast but effectiveness lasts up to 4 weeks.  
​instructions: Spray on active ants to kill them instantly. Spray ants’ entry points (usually around doors, windows or wall crevices) and along their trailing route to repel with the extended residual protection. Spray around trash cans, plumbing, doors and windows for preventative measures. Reapply every 4 weeks or after it rains.

Mommy also uses this spray on our front step and mailbox (inside and outside) after it rains to rid or as a deterrent to keep ants away. 

Ants & Mailboxes

For some reason, ants love the mailboxes in my neighborhood after a nice rain during the warmer months. And it doesn't help when bird droppings further attract them to surfaces. After cleaning and ridding ants with the above methods and deterrents, I've found leaving the mailbox open doesn't provide them with the dry, secure home they are looking for.... thus, proving quite successful in keeping ants out of my mail. Neighbors keeping their mailboxes closed experienced more ants not only inside their mailboxes but in the mail they're bringing into their homes. 

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If Nothing Else Works

Although pests, ants for the most part are harmless. With a little diligence, it’s possible to repel and eradicate ants over time using the natural methods shared.

If all else fails... no worries... it happens. Professionals are prepared and armed for removing these unwanted houseguests from your home... so you can enjoy functional stylish living again.