Pest Experts Say These Common Mistakes Could Be Attracting Ants to Your Home

4 min read

As soon as you see a trail of ants marching through your kitchen, it’s a cause for concern. From spilled sugar and ripe fruit to an open box of cereal, even the smallest food source can attract ants to your pantry. And if you don’t figure out what’s drawing them inside, getting rid of an ant infestation can be a challenge. Although plenty of chemical sprays and traps are available, they’re not always the ideal solution.

There may not be a natural remedy that eliminates ants permanently, but consistent cleaning and a little preventative maintenance can make your home far less inviting. If ants have already made their way indoors, you may have effective natural deterrents sitting in your pantry or cabinets. Strong-smelling solutions made with vinegar or essential oils such as citrus and lemongrass can help create scent barriers that ants tend to avoid. Keep in mind, though, that these barriers are temporary and need to be refreshed once the smell begins to fade.

For a longer-lasting approach, it’s important to address both the ants you see and the conditions attracting them in the first place. Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the best ways to safely get rid of ants and prevent them from returning throughout the year, whether the problem starts inside your home or outdoors.

Additional copy by Alyssa Khan.

You may see only a few ants on your windowsill, but it's safe to assume there are many more where they came from. These steps will stop the whole colony from moving in.

Step One: Clean the Area Thoroughly

Ants are attracted to trash, food debris, and moisture. The first step to get rid of ants (or any critter for that matter) is to deep clean your home. If you've seen them mostly in the kitchen, we recommend removing everything from your pantry and wiping down each shelf. That can also help you locate any problem areas or ant hubs to focus your removal efforts on—like that open bag of cereal you forgot about.

Step Two: Wipe the Area With a Vinegar Solution

Ants absolutely hate the smell of vinegar. Mix one part distilled white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle. Spray each shelf, drawer, and countertop—making sure to get every corner and nook—and wipe it off with a cloth or paper towel. Just be sure vinegar is safe for the surface material before you start spraying; you shouldn't use vinegar on marble countertops, for instance.

Step Three: Create a Border With Scents Ants Hate

Once your place is clean, it's time to send a message telling the ants to stay out. Using any one of the ingredients below, sprinkle or spray a line you don't want the ants to cross. The smellier the ingredient, the better—ants naturally avoid strong smells. But the border will only work as long as the smell lasts, so it's important to re-up the lines once a month or so.

• Borax
• Coffee grounds
• Baby powder
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Citrus peels or essential oils
• Soap or all-purpose cleaner
• Vinegar
• Peppermint essential oil

An antbed or hill in the yard is a danger to anybody who steps on it—and an eyesore if you're a perfectionist about your lawn. It's important to get rid of outdoor ant beds if you have little kids or if the ants keep making their way inside.

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Step One: Locate the Source

You'll probably be able to identify an anthill or pile in your yard or near your home's foundation. Mark them with yard flags or something similar so you'll know exactly where to come back to.

Step Two: Drown the Ant Hill

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully carry the pot outside and slowly pour the hot water into the top of the anthill. The boiling water will flood the ant colony and prevent the ants from escaping and finding refuge inside your home.

Step Three: Create an Outdoor Border

This is basically an outdoor version of the indoor ant line, but you can use ingredients that are stronger since you won't be smelling them all the time. Try any of the below materials to create an antproof border to prevent ants from getting into your home.

• Boric acid
• Baking soda and powdered sugar
• Diatomaceous earth
• Vinegar and water
• Coffee grounds
• Mint plants

Step Four: Seal All Entrances

The best way to keep ants out of your home is to make sure that they can't get in. Fill all cracks with caulk, secure any loose baseboards, and patch any drywall holes. It's also important to walk around your home's exterior and examine the foundation for holes, cracks, or other potential entry points for ants and other pests.

If neither of these methods nor store-bought chemical ant repellents work and you can't locate the source of the ants on your own, it's time to call an exterminator. They have better tools and other tricks of the trade to help solve your ant problem once and for all.

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