Ants, by themselves, are typically safe. However, there are still several reasons you need to get rid of ants in your home.
Ants carry bacteria and dirt, contaminating food and kitchen surfaces. Particular ant species, such as fire ants, are known to attack humans. Other species of ants, like carpenter ants, bite humans and damage the wood that makes up your furniture and home.
Ants are hardy creatures. Even the tiniest scraps of food are their primary source of food. Though insecticides may be available over the counter, a spray bottle kills ants on sight, but they won’t solve your ant infestation problem entirely. Though they may kill ants in segments of your home, you need to apply permanent remedies that address infestation issues, not just kill ants once you detect them. Moreover, spraying chemicals haphazardly may harm your children and pets.
In Arizona, common indoor invaders include odorous house ants, pharaoh ants, and carpenter ants. Factors such as monsoon humidity and structural gaps can increase the risk of infestation, even in homes that appear clean. Sudden spikes in ant presence may also signal nearby construction or weather shifts disrupting outdoor colonies.
To get rid of ants, here are a few effective home remedies that can control the ant population:
Natural Ant Infestation In-House Remedy
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is a powerful ant repellent. If you want to repel ants from entering your property, spray areas where ants enter your home with a mixture of 15 drops of peppermint oil and seven drops of lemon oil with water (250mL). Spraying this mixture over your food preparation areas will deter ants effectively from their food source.
Tea Tree Oil
Though humans love the smell of tea tree oil, ants naturally have an aversion to its scent. Spraying a mixture of 10 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle filled with water on ant-ridden areas and ant trails will keep them from returning to the exact location within a few days.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a safe way to kill ants, as pets would have to consume large quantities to be harmed. Mix equal parts of confectioner sugar and baking soda in a cup. Place this mixture in high-traffic areas, such as ant trails, nests, or outside their mounds. To attract ants from other species, you may need to mix other sweet substances, such as jam, honey, or peanut butter, with the bait. The mixture attracts ants and allows them to consume the baking soda, which dries up their bodies once they have ingested it.
Lemon Juice
Mixing four tablespoons of lemon juice with 8 ounces of water will effectively kill carpenter ants and other types of ants. Spray the mixture on high-traffic areas and suspected ant nesting sites to eliminate ants. Acids found in lemon juice are natural ant killer that acts by destroying their exoskeleton.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth acts as a natural ant deterrent by destroying their respiratory system once they inhale it. Best of all, they don’t suspect the harmfulness of food-grade diatomaceous earth and would walk over them without realizing these are like shards of glass to humans. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth over ant trails and points of entry into your home. Whether you are dealing with harvester ants, Argentine ants, pepper ants, fire ants, or Pharaoh ant varieties, diatomaceous earth is a natural repellent that eliminates ants quickly.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is a poison to ants. To kill ants, especially food ants, you need to entice them to ingest boric acid by mixing them with sugar or other food treats ants love. However, it would be best if you didn’t mix a potent mixture to kill an entire colony. Instead, mix 3/4 tsp of boric acid with one cup of food, such as confectioners sugar, jam, or peanut butter. Spread the mixture near ant trails and suspected colonies. This is to ensure that boric acid doesn’t kill worker ants instantly and to let them spread the food sources back to the colony.
Cayenne Pepper
Another DIY ant control remedy for keeping ants from propagating is cayenne pepper. Sprinkle pepper in a line where ants enter your property. The line creates a barrier that ants won’t cross.
White Vinegar
A solution composed of one part white vinegar and one part water is an effective ant deterrent. The mixture is enough to kill scout ants or ants walking along ant trails.
Coffee Grounds
Another way of repelling ants is by using coffee grounds. Besides being excellent fertilizers, Brewed coffee grounds can also deter ants. Sprinkle freshly brewed coffee grounds on pieces of paper and leave them where ants congregate, such as near pet food. Change the coffee grounds once they have dried out to ensure maximum potency.
Cinnamon Powder and Cinnamon Oil
One of the most effective natural remedies for addressing ant infestation in-house is using essential oils. Among these, cinnamon oil is an effective way of killing ants, especially the red-biting variety. Saturate cotton balls with a few drops of cinnamon oil and place them where you usually see them.
If Home Remedies Against Ant Infestation Don’t Work:
There are instances when ant infestations go out of hand. Even natural remedies may not help the situation because of the abundance of food sources and the proliferation of colonies on your property. In that case, you need to call reliable pest control companies to do the following actions and answer questions on how to get rid of ants when DIY solutions can’t address the situation:
- Bait traps
- Commercial Repellents
- Assessing and Formulating a Pest Control Program to Prevent Ants from Infesting Your Property
Arizona Pest Solutions has been solving the pest problems of Arizona residents for decades, as well as addressing common household pest species. If you need to eliminate all the ants inside your property without harming beneficial insects, call us at (480) 359-9600. Obtain a free estimate by completing our quote form.
