Things You'll Need:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Spray bottle
- Borax
- Scented talcum powder
- Black pepper
- Cinnamon
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Step 1
Mix a solution of half vinegar and half water in an empty spray bottle. Use the solution to clean counter tops, windowsills, and baseboards. Spray along the creases of woodwork, around door frames and windows where you notice the ants entering your home. Vinegar is completely safe for pets and humans.
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Step 2
Sprinkle talcum powder (baby powder) along the baseboards, windows, and counter edges to discourage the ants from foraging for food.
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Step 3
Mix a solution of 2 tablespoons powdered borax (laundry booster), 1 cup of water, and 2 cups of sugar. Stir the mixture completely and place drops near points of entry, on countertops, and behind appliances. The sugar attracts the ants that consume the borax and take it back to their nest. This solution should be used over the course of a few days. Allow the ants to consume the mixture and return to their nest repeatedly without interference. If the ants aren't responding to the mixture, try using butter or mayonnaise in place of the sugar. Animals or humans should not ingest this borax mixture.
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Step 4
Visit your spice cabinet for a very simple and environmentally safe solution to repelling ants in your home. Sprinkle black pepper at entry points or behind canisters on the counter tops. Use cinnamon in the same manner. Sprinkle bay leaves, whole cloves, or cayenne pepper along windowsills and around door frames to discourage ants from entering your home. Peppermint, sage, and spearmint can also be used outside your home to treat the nest area.
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Step 5
Keep your counter tops clean and avoid eating in other rooms in the house. Crumbs are an ant's nirvana. Vacuum frequently to remove crumbs from the floor and discourage foraging ants from finding food sources in your home.
