Home ants are a common problem, especially in spring and summer. Before you reach for chemicals, get to know the natural methods of repellent ants. Find out why ants get into your home and how to get rid of them effectively, and it is safe for your home and the environment.
Why do ants come to the home?
Ants can find their way to your home despite the smallest joints. What attracts them? First of all, food. These insects have a highly developed smell and can recognize crumbs, sweet syrups or fruit left on the counter at a distance of several meters. They are particularly attracted by products with a high sugar and protein content. A drop of juice or a badly washed drinking cup is enough to attract the entire colony.
Another factor is moisture. During drought, ants often look for water sources in households, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Wet rooms are becoming an attractive place to discover.
How do ants enter the house?
Recognizing the ways in which ants get into your home is a key step in the fight against these uninvited guests. The ants most often get through the joints in the foundations, leaking windows and doors and joints in the walls. They can also get through the ventilation holes and through the pipes and cables. They can be pushed through the smallest gaps, making it difficult to secure all entrances.
To find out where the insects are entering your home, watch his traces. Ants leave pheromones along their routes, allowing other individuals to follow the same path. When you see a number of ants, you can easily find their entry point and provide space accordingly.
Natural ways to get rid of ants in your home
When you know why and how ants are entering your home, you can act. Natural methods are not only safe for household members, but also ecological.
Ocot
It is one of the most effective natural insect repellents.
- Mix the same parts of vinegar and water and then spray the mixture at the places where the ants appear. Use the solution daily for the week, then twice a week.
Vinegar disrupts their pheromone tracks, disorient insects and complain to communicate.
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Lemon
It works similarly to vinegar.
- Lemon juice or lemon oil diluted with water (15 drops per 250 ml of water) can be used to wipe the kitchen countertop, window sills and other surfaces on which ants appear. For best results, use the mixture every 2-3 days.
The intense citrus aroma effectively repels them.
Cinnamon
This is another natural medicine that does not tolerate ants.
- Pour a small amount of cinnamon (about a teaspoon) where you notice ants or prepare a mixture of cinnamon and water (1 teaspoon per cup of water), which you spray on problem areas every 3 to 4 days.
@_ceo_of_randomness #ants #cinnamon ♬ original sound – Annalanier2
Leaves of peppermint
- Place fresh leaves to the entrances or prepare an infusion (2 tablespoons of dried leaves on a cup of boiling water) to spray surfaces. Use every other day to maintain an intense mint fragrance that ants hate.
Cucumber peel
- Ants hate the substances contained in cucumbers, so Placing a few slices or skins in strategic places can discourage them from visiting. Remember to replace the skin every 2 days.
School or borii chalk
Draw a chalk line around windows, doors or other entrance points to prevent infestation. Ants do not like to pass through the surfaces covered with chalk due to the ingredients it contains. After the rain or the floor washing, the chalk must be re -applied.
Prevention – how to prevent ants from entering your home?
The best way to fight ants is to prevent their occurrence. Several simple habits can significantly reduce the risk of invasion.
Keep your kitchen clean
Regularly clean the crumbs, wipe the spill and store the food in tightly closed containers. Beware of sweets and fruits, which are particularly attractive to ants. Daily wiping the worktop with vinegar or lemon significantly reduces the risk of invasion.
Seal potential entry points
Check the walls, foundations, windows and doors for cracks and gaps. To blocking these access roads Use silicone or other sealing materials. Check the house every 3-4 months.
Empty the garbage containers regularly and keep them clean
The remnants of food in trash containers are a real feast for ants, Therefore, it is worthwhile to carry out garbage and wash the containers at least once a week with a vinegar solution.
Remove moisture sources
Correct leakage taps and pipes, wipe the spilled water and damp spaces such as bathrooms and laundry, ventilate well. Regular ventilation of rooms (15-20 minutes a day) will help reduce moisture.