If you’re referring to a viral “ants hate this” home remedy, the most useful thing to know is that repellents usually don’t solve an ant infestation permanently. They may make ants avoid an area temporarily, while the colony remains elsewhere.
🐜 A simple approach that works better
- Clean up food and spills: Especially sweets, crumbs, pet food and grease.
- Remove their water source: Fix leaks and keep sinks and counters dry.
- Seal entry points: Caulk cracks around windows, doors, pipes and baseboards.
- Use ant bait rather than just repellent: Worker ants carry bait back to the colony, which can help eliminate the nest. Follow the product label carefully and keep bait away from children and pets.
- Don’t spray insecticide directly around bait: Killing the workers before they carry the bait home can reduce its effectiveness.
Things such as peppermint oil, cinnamon, vinegar or citrus peels may temporarily discourage ants, but evidence that they eliminate an established colony is limited.
If you tell me what kind of ants you’re seeing and where they are appearing (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, garden, etc.), I can suggest the most effective approach.
