Pest Control Blog | San Joaquin Pest Control

Fighting Ants Without Chemicals: 3 Methods

Written by Stephanie Morgan | Apr 23, 2018 1:00:00 PM

Spring is here, and with it come so many great things: sunshine, blooming flowers, baseball, and vacations. One of the few downsides to spring is the ants that tend to come around more often. This is because the ants are trying to take advantage of the sunny weather and forage for new food, water and shelter sources. During this time of the year it’s important to make your home a place that ants aren’t welcome or even interested in.

Some people tend to prefer methods of pest control that are more DIY or natural. This is a great approach, especially if you’re working to prevent an infestation before it happens. If you’re already dealing with a large infestation it may be a better idea to call a professional pest control company to help.

For now, here are some natural ant remedies that can help you make it through spring.

Keep the Kitchen Clean

You know what they say about prevention… and if you keep the kitchen clean, you’ll definitely help prevent ant problems. Every night, sweep the floor, take out the trash, empty the sink and wipe down all surfaces. Without food particles lying around, ants won’t have a reason to be in the kitchen.

Use a Little Peppermint Oil
Ever wonder how antsalways find their way to and from the food source, making those neat little lines? There are complicated biological explanations for it, but it’s basically a scent trail that leads them to the food. And if you disrupt the scent trail, you can send the ants scurrying away. There are various substances you can try, but we recommend peppermint oil. It’s effective, and it smells pleasant.

Make a Borax Solution
Borax is a naturally occurring compound that is most often used in laundry detergent, but it has several uses – including killing ants. Simply mix the borax with something sweet, like syrup or a sugary concoction (you can find recipes online) and leave it out for the ants. They’ll take the bait and return to the nest with it, and the Borax will make quick work of these bugs.