3 DIY Ant Prevention Methods

If you live in a moderately warm climate like Grand Prairie, Texas, ants can be a mortal enemy in your home. When you spot a soldier ant or two crawling on your countertops, it could mean that there are thousands more hiding somewhere in your house. This ant sighting will not be bothersome if you encounter it in the park when you have a picnic to enjoy the great outdoors.

However, it becomes a different story when you see ants making themselves comfortable in your home. Imagine walking to your kitchen to make a steaming cup of joe, only to realize these tiny nuisances have infiltrated your house. An ant infestation on your property is unacceptable, and you want these pesky critters gone as fast as possible.

Fortunately, you can find many ways to eradicate ants and their vast colonies in your house. Lucky for you, there are so many natural do it yourself (DIY) solutions to try. These safe formulations assure that you will not add harsh chemicals into the environment. At the same time, you can rest easy knowing your loved ones are safe from toxic fumes or pesticides. Read on below to discover the top 3 best natural remedies which you can use to exterminate these ants infesting your abode.

Use Spicy Cayenne Pepper or Black Pepper 

These two peppers are not only condiments to make your dishes tasty. Both cayenne and black pepper holds power to ward off ants. Ants find the smell of pepper irritating. A study conducted at Texas A&M University, Department of Entomology, show proof that black pepper works well in acting as an ant deterrent. Similarly, anecdotal evidence suggests that cayenne pepper works as well. Best of all, these common kitchen staples are most likely in your kitchen already, so you don't need to spend more money to fight off ants.

To administer this treatment:

1. Look around your home.
2. Try to locate and identify the source of the ant infestation issue.
3. Go ahead and sprinkle generous amounts of pepper in the area.
4. For best results, make a barrier surrounding your house.

This will act as a wall that shall prevent the ants from coming into your home. Furthermore, since pepper flakes are all-natural and safe, you can sprinkle them all over your baseboards and even behind your furniture pieces or appliances. With a good dusting of pepper all over your home, you will notice that fewer ants invade your property.

As an alternative therapy, you can also try mixing generous amounts of pepper with water. You can then use this solution to spray on the ants directly. Though your DIY spray will not instantly kill the ants, it will make them think twice about returning.

Give Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth a Try

Diatomaceous earth may be a mouthful to pronounce, but it is a type of silica. It is akin to silica gel that comes with new shoes. Those little packets contain silica pellets that absorb water and moisture to prevent molds. Similarly, this food-grade silica kills ants and other bugs by thoroughly absorbing the oils present in their skeletons. Each powder contains microscopic sharp edges. As a result, these razor-like blades cut the ants' exoskeletons, causing their body to dry out. Without moisture, these insects die.

As you can see, food-grade diatomaceous earth works wonderfully as an ant retardant. If you are wondering what they are made of, this silica is composed of aquatic organisms' fossilized remains. This marine phytoplankton is often called diatoms, hence the name. According to the National Pesticide Information Center, this substance is common in nature and naturally present in 26% of the earth's crust in terms of weight. The diatoms accumulate as sediments in riverbeds, streams, lakes, and other bodies of water. Since these are all-natural, you can sprinkle a thin layer in the following areas:

• Underneath the fridge
• Beneath your stove
• Within cabinets and drawers
• All over your trash bins

You can confidently put generous amounts of diatomaceous earth wherever you see ants. Repeat this sprinkling treatment once a day until you see all the ants are gone. For best results, you can wear a mask and gloves when sprinkling this powder. This is only a precautionary measure to avoid any possible allergic reaction. Remember, diatomaceous earth is safe as it is a gift of nature. For this reason, it holds a food-grade rating. However, it is still better to err on the side of caution, especially if it is your first time using this powder.

Invest in Good Old Peppermint

Peppermint is not only an ideal candy, ice cream, or mouthwash flavor. You'd be amazed that this herbal plant is a natural insect repellent. It would be a wise idea to plant peppermint all over the perimeter of your property to ward off insects like pesky ants. You get a bonus of having them protect your home while having a handy-dandy plant where you can harvest lives to use as a food ingredient or for garnishes. If you are serious about this, you can try the following:

• Plant mint shrubs all over your home perimeter.
• Place mint in nice pots to surround entryways.
• Put them in small pots and place them over window sills.

If you don't have a green thumb, you can also try peppermint essential oil as an all-natural remedy for warding off ants. The scent is an irritant for ants, so they scurry away the moment they smell it. Lucky for you, peppermint gives a minty scent that will surely make your home smell fresh and clean. As a bonus, peppermint opens your nasal passages, relieves stress, promotes clear thinking, and invigorates both your mind and body.

Apart from diffusing the oil, you can try placing several drops of peppermint oil in a cotton pad. Then use this to wipe down areas where ants commonly congregate. Furthermore, you can place a cotton ball generously soaked in peppermint oil and leave them inside cabinets or other areas that ants like to frequent.

Seek Professional Help

If you've already tried applying these top three all-natural approaches, but the ants remain stubborn, it is time to call in the pros. Call us at Romex Pest Control for assistance. Our skilled team members can help you identify what type of ants you are dealing with. Most of all, we will help you get your problem under wraps. We are happy to help Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas residents by providing safe solutions that combat these pesky home invaders.