Natural Ant Repellent – 5 Natural Remedies for Indoors and Outdoors

Looking to remove ants from inside or outside your home but don’t want to harm them or use harsh chemicals? There are lots of natural ant repellents available, and many of them you can find in your cupboards. You can keep ants away with lots of different common household products. 

These natural products repel ants while not releasing any toxins or chemicals into your environment. With these solutions, you can rest knowing you are using ingredients that won’t cause harm to you, the ants, or the planet. Below are some natural ant-repellent options you can use inside or outside your home.

Natural Ant Repellents for Indoors

There are many ways to get rid of ants in your home without the use of chemicals. However, before we jump into the different natural ant repellents, it’s a good idea to try to identify what is attracting the ants to enter your beautiful home. 

Try and see the route they take into your home and see if there are water or food sources. Even just a drop of honey or a spoon with food residue under your sink could be attracting ants. Ultimately, you want to find what they are looking for and remove it. 

As a rule of thumb, never leave food out on open surfaces, and always store leftovers away in sealed containers or your refrigerator.

Sometimes taking these small steps is enough to encourage the ants to move out on their own. In saying that, if these tips aren’t enough, you can also try some of the below natural ant repellents. 

1. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil has been advised to naturally deter many insects, including ants. This is because the smell of the oil is very potent. However, despite its potency, it isn’t enough enough to harm insects. Peppermint oil can be used inside the home and outdoors to prevent unwanted insects from entering your home. 

All you have to do is add some to a spray bottle and spray it around your home to keep insects away. There is a bonus with this one in that the peppermint will leave your home smelling incredible. 

2. Vinegar

Ants are also not huge fans of vinegar, so a mixture of white vinegar and water can be effective in removing them from your home.

The reason it works so well is because ants hate the smell of vinegar. All you have to do is mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle and spray areas of your house the ants are attracted to. 

For instance, it is a good idea to spray around your foot cabinets, entry points, and window sills. It is also important to note that this repellent can kill ants, so remember to spray with care. The main aim is encouraging the ants to go back outdoors not wipe them out! 

3. Cinnamon

If the above natural ant repellents aren’t runners for you, your favorite Autumn spice might do the trick. Some studies have found cinnamon can repel ants.

The reason for this is that it contains a compound called trans-cinnamaldehyde. Once again, it has a very strong smell that ants are not fond of. 

For this one, you can grab some cotton wool or balls and put some cinnamon oil on them. Alternatively, if you do not have access to cinnamon oil, you can use cinnamon powder. Then, simply place them close to the ant-prone areas within your home.

4. Citrus

Made some cocktails last night or a zesty dish? Save those lemons and limes. Ants hate the smell of citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, and lemons, so having them in your home is a surefire way to remove the ants.

You can grab those peels that you would have otherwise placed in your compost and scatter them in the ant-prone areas in your home. The peels will act as natural deterrents without causing any harm to the ants!

Natural Ant Repellents for Outdoors

We’ve discussed some natural ant repellents you can use in your home, but how can you get rid of ants naturally outdoors?

Getting rid of ants naturally outside may be more challenging than removing them from inside your home. However, it is possible to repel them so that they are not around the outside of your house.

Some of the things you can use in your home to get rid of ants naturally can also be used outdoors. For instance, vinegar – that same spray bottle solution you made up for use in your house can be used in your garden and outdoors. You can spritz your front door, windows, and around your home with this, as well as your lawn. 

Moving onto other natural ant-repellent remedies, you can also try baking soda or baby powder. Simply sprinkle it around the outside of your home entryways, and the ants will go somewhere else, away from your house. You can also use your old orange and grapefruit peels outside your home to encourage the ants to go back into their homes. 

Besides that, you can keep ants from entering your home by keeping doors and windows shut. You should also look for any cracks or exposed crevices on your doors and fill these.

Remember to keep your home clean and store food away. As a final note, remembering to take your rubbish out can help keep ants away from your home.

Summary

Ants are fascinating creatures, and while they are relatively harmless, you don’t want them moving into your home. They belong in the great outdoors, and if they enter your home, they can bring unwanted bacteria, which can be potential transmitters of infections or diseases. While you don’t want the ants in your home, it is important not to harm them. 

There are many natural ant-repellent options and many of the ingredients you will find in your cupboards. From vinegar to baking soda and old grapefruit peels, there are many ways you can remove ants from your home without causing them harm.

Not to mention, these natural ways allow you to repel the ants without releasing any toxic or harsh chemicals into your environment, which could impact your health. 

Ants do not belong in your home but that does not mean you should inflict harm on them, just like bees, they are important species in our ecosystems.