The Best Way to Get Rid of Ants Naturally

Ants are small and generally go unnoticed. That is until you have half a dozen of them climbing up your leg because you’ve accidentally stood in or by their nest. The most common ants are black and just 2.5 to 3cm in length. These ants are comparatively harmless although, it should be noted that there are over 1,300 species of any in Australia and some, such as the bull ant, are more aggressive.

Regardless of whether they are aggressive or not, you need to be aware that ants walk through everything. As such, they carry bacteria on their feet. These bacteria can be spread anywhere they go, including on your food preparation surfaces.

That’s why, if you notice ants in your property, it’s time to call the exterminators. They will be able to assess how big the issue is and deal with it promptly for you. You can check them out here.

If you prefer to tackle the issue yourself there are several natural options.

Use Aromas

Ants dislike a variety of smells, these are generally the stronger ones that can overpower their smell receptors and leave them disorientated. By placing these strong smells near entry points you will discourage the ants from entering your home.

Some of the best smells you can use are cucumber, bat leaves, and any variety of mint.

It is worth noting that they also hate cornmeal. Simply sprinkling a little around the areas where ants are most likely to be will keep them away.

Clean With Vinegar

Ants follow a trail. This means they locate a food source and then leave a trail of pheromones that other ants can follow. This allows other ants to find the food as well and is the reason you rarely see just one ant in your home.

The best way to get rid of the ants is to disrupt the trail, preventing them from finding the food. All you have to do is put a cup of vinegar in three cups of water and mop your floors as well as wiping over known ant spots.

The vinegar displaces the pheromone smell, preventing the ants from finding their way back to the food.

Store Food Properly

Ants are attracted to the warmth of your home and they like the food on offer. One way to ensure they are not attracted and existing ones disappear is to put all open food packets in sealed containers. This will prevent the ants from smelling the aromas and remove the reason for them to enter your home.

Seal It Up

Sealing your property is a great way to keep an array of pests out. All you have to do is walk around the edge of your home looking for any gap that could allow ants and other pests in. Seal it immediately with sealant and the ants will no longer be able to enter your home.

You then simply need to be vigilant to make sure the ants stay where they belong, outside your home.