Ants are not vermin, but they can still be very annoying. Are paving slabs being undermined, mounds of sand stretching across your property like signposts or does the ant trail run right through your home? Instead of resorting to chemicals, you can use a simple household remedy to keep the pesky creepy-crawlies at bay. In this article, you’ll find out why it’s so effective, how to use it correctly – and what mistakes you should avoid. Fighting ants made easy: simple, cheap and immediately effective!
Why ants come into the house in the first place
Ants follow clear scent trails that their conspecifics leave on the ground with formic acid. This is how their typical trails are created. They are constantly on the lookout for food, preferring sweet or protein-rich leftovers. A small crumb is often enough to attract a whole column. Once they have found their way into the house, they will return again and again – unless you deliberately cross their route.
Why lime is a good household remedy against ants
The effect is not only due to the dusty surface, but also to the alkaline pH value of the chalk, which neutralizes the formic acid. This causes the insects to lose their orientation and turn around. You can therefore draw a chalk line around areas that you want to protect most from ants, such as the front door of your apartment or balcony, your plants or your patio.
Tip: Ants are clever and will try to avoid the line. The chalk line must therefore be continuous and as thick as possible.
Chalk has this disadvantage
However, there is a small disadvantage: the chalk lines have to be redrawn regularly as they fade over time and therefore become ineffective. The lines also need to be renewed after a rain shower. Perhaps you have children who would like to help you with this.
You can also get rid of ants with these household remedies
Not only chalk or lime can be an effective remedy in the fight against ant invasion. The following tips can also help:
- Keep your area clean and free of food scraps or crumbs.
- Use natural scents such as cinnamon or peppermint to keep ants away. Strong odors drive ants away because they disrupt their sense of direction. Spices, oils or herbal concentrates such as lavender, lemon peel, cinnamon, chili and cloves have proven effective. These can be placed in front of entrances, on ant trails and in front of ant nests.
- Use a mixture of water and vinegar to repel ants.
- Seal all potential entrances through which ants can enter your home.
- Use cooking oil or Vaseline to lubricate the legs of tables and chairs to prevent ants from climbing up.
Important: Do not sprinkle baking soda on them. Not only is the effect limited, but the small animals can also die in agony from ingesting baking soda.
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Fighting ants with chalk is an ingenious and natural trick against the annoying insects. Simply draw chalk lines on windows, doors or ant trails – and the animals will avoid the barrier. A simple, non-toxic solution that really works and costs nothing!
Source: Focus
