Ants tend to go away during the cooler months but they don’t always entirely disappear, and in the warmer months it seems like an endless hassle. We’ve all been there at some point! If you’ve got problems with ants in your apartment, try some of these remedies to eliminate ants naturally. Harsh chemicals are not needed. In fact, your cabinet may already have everything you need to rid your apartment of pests. Ants are like any other pests; as the weather gets cooler, they may look for refuge inside your warm home. Let them know they are not welcome with these simple solutions.
Start by killing any ants that have found their way into your space. Borax is a great natural solution that is effective and inexpensive. You will need to follow this recipe to mix the Borax with sugar. Ants need the sugar portion to attract them to the bait and the Borax portion to take back to the nest to kill more of the colony. Be sure to keep this mixture out of the reach of pets and children, as it is harmful if swallowed.
If you can find the nest, you can also take measures to destroy ants in their home. A gallon of boiling water can be mixed with ¼ cup of dish liquid and poured onto the nest. You can try mixing the water with salt instead to make a strong salt solution. Again, pour onto the nest to kill the ants. If neither of these methods work, try pouring apple cider vinegar directly onto the nest area. Try these methods several times over a few days to get the entire colony. Be careful, though, as these methods will also kill the grass on the nest and in the surrounding area.
Once you have eliminated your ant problem, you can also take measures to make your home look less attractive to the pests. Above all, keep surfaces and floors clean. Keep dry foods in airtight containers. Empty the garbage regularly, and clean any items before placing them in a recycling bin. There are also several natural repellents that will make any ant think twice about entering your home. Try spreading one or more of these solutions around windows, doors, holes, baseboards and more.
Cinnamon
Ground black pepper
Bay leaves
Whole cloves
Red chili powder
Red pepper flakes
Salt
Sage
Essential oils can also be an all-natural method of deterring ants. Try swabbing peppermint, lavender or eucalyptus around any entrance points. You can also mix up a peppermint ant deterrent spray. This is an effective way to keep those ants outdoors where they belong.
There is no need to buy toxic and expensive ant sprays and baits. You can mix up your own with items you have on hand in your home. Try all of the methods above to eliminate ants from your home naturally.