10 Genius Tips to Keep Ants Out of Your Home

Ants are easily one of the most problematic pests you’ll find in your home. While they are physically small, their colonies can contain thousands of ants; this can quickly become a bigger problem than that one bothersome mouse you can humanely release. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent ants from ever entering your home. You can find more tips and projects at the National Pest Management Association, but here are 10 genius tips to help keep ants out of your home and out of your hair.

Chalk

Chalk is composed of calcium carbonate – a natural compound that occurs in chalk, limestone, and marble. There are two ways to use chalk to help prevent ants from entering your home: draw lines around home entry points; crush up your chalk and scatter the powder around your house and in your garden.

Flour

Much like chalk, flour is a natural ant repellant. The best way to use flour is to sprinkle small amounts along the back of your pantry and your home’s entries. Like chalk, ants won’t be tempted to cross over into your home.

Lemons

Lemons are also another great natural, humane ant preventative. Squirt lemon juice on all the entries to your home – including windows! Scatter small slices of lemon around the outside of your home as well. If you have issues with other pests too – like roaches or fleas – you can mix lemon juice with water and mop your floors.

Oranges

Oranges work much like lemons do. You can follow the same steps listed above or create an orange puree to pour directly around the ant hills in your yard.

Vinegar

Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle to create the ultimate ant repellant. Simply spray the ant hills and places where you see the insects.

Salt and Pepper

Like chalk and flour, simple sprinkle either salt, pepper, or both along the entries of your home. Even the most determined ants will be discouraged from entering.

Storage Containers

Put tempting ingredients like sugar in plastic or glass storage containers to help prevent infestations.

Boiling Water

Depending on your infestation problem – or the intensity of your rivalry – you may want to take a different approach to prevention: extermination. One of the best ways to eliminate a colony is to place a flower pot – a Terracotta pot with a drain hole – upside down on top of the ant hill. Pour boiling water into the drain hole to effectively drown the colony.

Boric Acid

You can use a baster to dust appealing areas – hard to reach corners, the back of your pantry – in a light coat of boric acid. Just be extra careful when using this; this can be highly toxic to children and pets.

Hire a Professional

Sometimes, the best option is to hire a professional. Certified exterminators can spray around your home and help remove ant hills as they pop up. In the case of an infestation, they can also effectively remove the pests. Our expert team here at Total Pest Solutions are ready to help!