Hey everyone!
Last summer, I noticed tiny black ants parading across my kitchen counter. Desperate to avoid harsh chemicals (I have a curious cat!), I tried vinegar sprays and cinnamon barriers. While vinegar worked temporarily, the ants just rerouted. A neighbor suggested diatomaceous earth, which finally broke their trail. Now I’m curious: what natural fixes have YOU used successfully? Share your wins, fails, and tips below!
Peppermint oil is my holy grail! I mix 10 drops with water in a spray bottle and hit their entry points. Ants HATE the smell. Has anyone used tea tree oil? Does it work as well?
I swear by borax + sugar bait. Mix equal parts, add water to make syrup, and soak cotton balls. Ants carry it back to the nest, and poof—gone in 3 days. Just keep pets away!
Lemon juice! Wipe counters with it—the acidity erases their scent trails. Also, coffee grounds around the garden keep them off my veggies.
For pet-safe solutions, I use food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) around baseboards. It’s harmless to my cat but shreds ants’ exoskeletons. Works like magic!
Cinnamon saved my pantry! I sprinkled ground cinnamon where they entered, and the ants noped out. Also, store flour/sugar in airtight jars.
Vinegar works short-term, but ants always come back. Dish soap + water sprayed directly on them kills on contact. Cheap and easy!
Ants farm aphids on houseplants! I use neem oil spray on leaves—kills aphids and repels ants. Also, sticky traps near pots help.Are ants harmful to succulents?
Chalk lines! Draw a thick line with plain chalk across their path. They won’t cross it (something about calcium carbonate?). Weird but works!
Cream of tartar! Mix with powdered sugar and leave near trails. Ants eat it, can’t digest it, and… well, you get the idea.
Citrus peels blended with water = natural ant spray. Orange or lemon peels work best. Spray it around doorways weekly.