Effective Ant Prevention

Ants communicate in many ways including smells, touch, sounds, and body language. By disrupting the communication between ants, humans can deter them from entering our homes.

Ways to deter ants

Soap

Common household substances like glass cleaner, liquid dish detergent, and hand soap can deter ants by removing the scented pheromone trail that leads ants to the food sources. Mix spray-on glass cleaner and liquid dish detergent, then spray areas where ants congregate. Wipe the area after, leaving a light residue. Hand soap is a similar concept, with soapy water removing the scent of ant pheromones.

Coffee or Pepper

If the smell of soap or glass cleaner deters you from that method, never fear, there are other scents that naturally repel ants. Pepper and used coffee grounds both fall in this category. Leaving used coffee grounds near ant hot spots have been found to keep the insects at bay. Similarly, black and cayenne pepper scents are irritating to ants.

Essential Oils

If you’re an essential oils buff, you may have the following on your shelves already: peppermint essential oil, tea tree oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, and neem oil. Select one kind of oil and mix 10 to 20 drops of oil with 2 cups of water. Spray the mixture on your baseboard and windows of your home. As with all essential oils, do not ingest these oils as it can make you very ill. Keep these oils away from pets and children, who can also become very ill if exposed.

Vinegar

White vinegar is a proven disinfectant, and can be used to deter ants. Wipe up ants with a 50-50 vinegar water solution. This should repel the ants for a while. You can use the vinegar solution to clean hard surfaces, including floors and countertops, throughout your home.

This is most effectively used as a preventative measure, but has little to no effect on any current infestations in your home.

Why are these temporary solutions?

All of the methods described are only supported by strong anecdotal evidence. It does not kill the colony, but just removes them from targeted areas in your home, if you have the right placement and strength to mask the ant pheromones. These can be good remedies for when you find a single ant, or perhaps two, for the first time. But if you have a chronic problem, you might want to consult a specialist.

Our experts can provide immediate treatment and determine the best course of action to ensure a complete eradication of the colony. Give us a call today!

Source Image: Odorous House Ant by Katja Schulz