7 Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Ants in Your Home — Easy, Safe, and Effective

Summer brings warmth and sunshine, but also… unwanted guests — like ants. Though small, ants can be a real nuisance, especially when they invade your kitchen, pantry, or garbage bin.

The good news? You don’t need chemicals to get rid of them. With just a few natural ingredients you likely already have at home, you can keep your house ant-free in a safe and eco-friendly way.

🐜 1. Cinnamon – A Scent Barrier They Can’t Cross

How to use:

Mix ½ teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil with 1 cup of water.
Soak a cotton ball and wipe down areas where ants walk or gather: corners, countertops, windowsills.
Repeat daily until ants disappear.

✅ Extra tip: Place cinnamon sticks near doors, windows, or entry points. Ants avoid the strong scent.

🍋 2. Vinegar – Disrupts Their Trail

How to use:

Combine equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
Add a few drops of lemon essential oil for a fresher smell.
Shake well and spray directly onto ant trails or entry points.

Do this once a day. The vinegar destroys the scent trail ants use to navigate.

⚗️ 3. Borax and Sugar – A Homemade Ant Trap

How to prepare:

Mix 1 cup of warm water, ½ cup of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of borax.
Soak cotton balls in the mixture.
Place them where you see ants — doorways, baseboards, corners, trash area.

💡 Extra tip: Sprinkle a bit of baking soda in your garbage bin or place a cotton ball soaked in essential oil to repel ants with scent and reduce food odor.

🌿 4. Peppermint Oil – Smells Good to You, Horrible to Ants

How to use:

Mix 10 drops of peppermint essential oil with 1 cup of water.
Spray along cracks, door frames, windowsills, or baseboards.
You can also place cotton balls with peppermint oil in cabinets or drawers.

Ants hate the strong scent, which confuses and repels them.

☕ 5. Coffee Grounds – Simple and Surprisingly Effective

Sprinkle used coffee grounds near ant trails, wall edges, trash bins, or any ant hotspots.
The scent and texture make ants stay away.

✅ This is a non-lethal method that repels without harming them — safe for kids and pets.

🍊 6. Citrus Peels – Fresh and Functional

How to use:

Boil lemon or orange peels in water for 10 minutes.
Let the mixture cool, strain it, and pour into a spray bottle.
Spray around windows, doors, and countertops.

Citrus oils act as natural repellents and disinfectants.

🌽 7. Cornmeal – A Slow but Safe Solution

Sprinkle cornmeal where ants appear frequently.
Ants carry it back to their colony but can’t digest it — leading to colony disruption.

⛔ This is a slow-acting method, but completely non-toxic and safe for pets.

✅ Bonus Tip: Cleanliness Is Key

Even with the best remedies, ants will return if there’s food and moisture around:

Clean crumbs and spills immediately.
Never leave dirty dishes overnight.
Store food in sealed containers.
Empty trash regularly and keep bins closed.

Ants may be tiny, but with a few smart and natural remedies, you can keep them out — without harsh chemicals. These household solutions are easy to prepare, safe, and effective for daily use.