To get rid of small ants in the house, several effective methods include natural remedies and safer chemical solutions:
- Vinegar solution: Mix equal parts white distilled vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray on ant surfaces, trails, and entry points. Vinegar kills ants and masks their scent trails, deterring them.
- Lemon juice: Similar to vinegar, lemon juice masks scent trails. Spray or wipe surfaces with a lemon-water mix or fresh juice.
- Essential oils: Oils like peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus, and cinnamon act as natural repellents. Mix several drops with water and spray around entry points and trails.
- Boric acid or borax with sugar: Create a bait by mixing sugar with boric acid or borax. Ants are attracted by the sugar and then carry the toxic mixture back to their nest, killing the colony. Use cautiously around pets and children.
- Diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth around cracks and problem areas. It dehydrates ants and is safe for humans and pets.
- Cinnamon, pepper, coffee grounds, and chalk: These natural substances can repel ants when placed along ant paths or entryways.
- Cleaning and prevention: Clean all surfaces regularly, store food in sealed containers, dispose of garbage daily, fix leaks, and seal cracks to remove food sources and entry points.
If these home remedies do not work, professional pest control may be necessary.
This comprehensive approach combines killing ants on contact, disrupting their scent trails, repelling them naturally, and cutting off their food and water sources for long-term control. All of these methods have documented effectiveness for managing small ant infestations in homes.
