Organic Ant Control For Your Home

Unless you live in Antarctica, it is a fact of life that pests will make themselves at home in your house or apartment at some point. 

There are a variety of insect pests you need to think of and no two are alike.  They can show up in the air, your carpeting, your kitchen counter and other places you’d rather not find them.  However, deciding how to get rid of the pests can be a bit tricky.

Rather than spraying toxic chemicals in your home, consider using organic, non-toxic pest control.  It’s safer for you, your family and your pets.

Let’s take a look specifically at ant control for your home and outdoor spaces.  Remember that organic pest control varies somewhat with the pest you’re dealing with and that just like with inorganic chemical pest control, you don’t always use the same thing for ants as you do for other pests such as fleas.

Here’s a look at your organic options for ant infestation in your home.

For the organic treatment of ants, a common summertime pest, you need to make sure your countertops are free of crumbs and anything sticky or sweet.  Cover your food well and keep your honey or other sticky/sweet items wrapped tight.  Leave water sources off during the night and don’t leave dirty dishes lying around.  The same holds true for your deck or patio.  Clean all food up after an outdoor meal and teach your children not to throw food into the yard, like watermelon pieces or other sweet foods that might attract critters.

Your organic pest control continues with a small spray bottle filled with soapy water that you can spray directly on the ants.  Put cucumber peels or slices in your kitchen, especially where the ants come in.  You can also put tea bags with mint tea in them or cloves around the places where the ants are very active.  See if you can trace the column of ants back to their entry point and set out a line of cayenne pepper, citrus oil, lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds as ants won’t cross those lines.

For serious organic pest control against ants, mix a small amount of honey with an equivalent amount of Borax and aspartame.  Put about a teaspoon and a half of the mixture in a bottle and set the bottle (without a lid) on its side where ants are active.  This acts as a kind of toxic bait that the ants bring back to their colony.   If using this method keep small animals and children away from the bait.

Another organic pest control trick is to leave a low-wattage light bulb or nightlight around where the ants are.  It disrupts their day and night pattern and can confuse their patterns of food hunting.

If ants are on your deck outside, use your organic pest control skills and put a few cloves of garlic, previously cut into pieces, between the cracks of the deck slats.  Ants don’t like garlic and will steer clear of the strong odor.

You can use some of the same indoor tricks outdoors, especially those involving the use of cayenne pepper, citrus oil, lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds.  Don't use the honey/borax bait outdoors as some small animals can get into it.

There’s no reason to resort to harsh and dangerous chemicals, indoors or out, when perfectly acceptable organic pest control for ants will keep your home ant-free in a much safer way.  As long as you keep your kitchen and the rest of your home clean and follow the above methods to discourage or destroy ants, your summertime experience will be more enjoyable and healthier for you and your family. 

For more green living tips follow me on Facebook & Instagram and be sure to subscribe to my Website for your FREE Green Living Planner