In themselves, ants are not harmful insects. But when they appear en masse in every corner of your interior and sneakily sneak into your pantry, it quickly becomes a nightmare. And since they reproduce at lightning speed, it is better to get rid of them quickly, otherwise the invasion is inevitable. Fortunately, there are various simple and natural ways to keep ants away from the pantry.
Have you tried everything to chase away those nasty ants, but to no avail? Try the cork trick. You will be surprised at the result!
Why do ants enter the house?
Generally, ants enter our interior through doors, windows, the garden or any other crack in the woods. They are mainly attracted to leftover food or crumbs. That’s why they often linger in the kitchen or in the pantry. These insects usually visit homes in the spring, when they leave their nests where they take refuge during the cold months. On the other hand, if you notice a colony of ants in the house in the middle of winter, then it is very likely that they have set up their nest there. As these little beasts are very intelligent, it is not always easy to fight them. But if you can’t stand them anymore, you can try to dislodge them naturally without using aggressive methods.
Ants are extremely sensitive to smells, much more so than humans. Your first instinct would definitely be to spray some industrial repellent and throw out all the spoiled food, but that’s not the most recommended option. First, when you decide to get rid of ant-infested food, be sure to wrap it up in a heavy bag and throw it away immediately to avoid spreading it to other parts of the house. On the other hand, the use of chemical repellents is strongly discouraged, especially in the kitchen, as it can harm your health. Especially since the idea is not to kill these insects, but to simply keep them away so that they don’t come back around. Therefore, bet more on natural methods to drive them away and at the same time preserve your health.
Perhaps the most effective option is to use the cork method: all you need is sugar, baking soda and a bottle cork.
Inside the cork, pour equal parts sugar and baking soda. Then you just need to place this plug in the ant infested area, in this case the pantry. You are probably wondering why use sugar, when it is the favorite ingredient of ants? Well precisely, its smell will attract them. But, as it is mixed with bicarbonate, a product that revolts them, they will quickly flee this place. Thanks to their flair, they will very quickly detect its unbearable scent and will avoid approaching it. You will have freed the pantry without killing these undesirables.
Other natural tips to get rid of ants
Pepper mint
As noted above, ants have a highly developed sense of smell. They do not support various odors, in particular those of certain essential oils. Opt for peppermint, to be applied alone or mixed with baking soda for an even more effective effect. In addition to the essential oil, dried, chopped leaves can also do the trick. Keep them in small tulle bags and install them in the corners of the house most frequented by ants. In addition, so that they no longer come around at all, you can also consider growing mint or tansy plants in the garden, balcony or terrace. They have a powerful repellent action, you will finally be rid of this scourge.
Vinegar and lemon juice
Finally, there is yet another natural remedy that has been widely proven. A water solution made from white vinegar or lemon juice. Two birds with one stone: you can use it to clean the pantry and kitchen furniture, and at the same time chase away those intruders. So not only will your surfaces be clean and disinfected, but the smell of this remedy will make the ants clear off in no time.
Read also: How to use oregano to get rid of ants naturally?
Via SPM