Get Rid of Ants with These Natural Deterrents

There’s nothing more disconcerting than discovering ant trains around the kitchen. Granted there are far more pesty creatures out there but there is something pretty icky about ants marching around all over the counter. It’s also nature’s way of telling us that we probably didn’t tighten the honey jar well enough. While there’s a plethora of sprays and pesticides out there, there are also some simple and more humane ways of keeping those crawlies at bay.

Chalk it Up

This surprising little trick can actually prevent ants from invading your kitchen. By simply drawing a line of chalk on the exterior side of the ants will sense the calcium carbonate and simply turn the other way. People may think your kids of gone a little wild with the art supplies, but at least you won’t have ants.

Sprinkle Some Cinnamon or Flour

Another natural and unharmful repellent is cinnamon and flour. Try sprinkling it along your windowsill, inside the pantry, or where ever you store foods. It might be a tad messy but it’s a non-chemical way to deter those nibbling ants. If you’re opting for any kind of a mess, it probably should be flour or cinnamon sprinkles rather than ant attacks.

Squeeze That Citrus

Bring on the zesty tropic juices with lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits. Lemon juice in particular is super helpful around windows and doors. The acid keeps ants away (without causing harm.) You can even leave a couple of peels in various openings. They will sense the citric acid and promptly get out of there!

Go Green

It’s no secret that ants adore sugar and all those sweet treats. Even with the tiniest trace of sugar, the ants will come running. This means that your pantry is potentially a magnet for these creatures. How to keep them at bay? Add herbs like sage or bay leaves. You can even place the leaves in the containers or right beside them.